Ayurvedic Properties
- Taste (Rasa)
- Sweet, astringent
- Quality (Guna)
- Heavy, Seeds and root (unctuous), dry, light (nodes, stamen)
- Potency (Virya)
- Cooling
- Post-digestive (Vipaka)
- Sweet
- Dosha Effect
- Dos.aHIIHFW39.ï.LQH[FHVV
- Key Constituents
- Saccharides Raffinose Alkaloid Asparagine Tannin Minerals Calcium, iron (Bensky & Gamble 1993)
- Dhatu
- All tissues
- Srotas
- Digestive, respiratory, circulatory, reproductive, nervous
Overview
Lotus (Nelumbo nucifera), known in Sanskrit by many names including Padma, Kamala, and Pushkara, is India's most sacred plant and a symbol of spiritual unfoldment. Its primary parts used are the seeds and root. Lotus has a sweet and astringent rasa, cooling virya, and sweet vipaka. Its energetics are PV- K+ (in excess), pacifying Pitta and Vata while potentially aggravating Kapha in excess.
Lotus works on the plasma, blood, marrow and nerve, and reproductive tissues, affecting the digestive, circulatory, reproductive, and nervous systems. Its actions include nutritive tonic, rejuvenative, aphrodisiac, astringent, hemostatic, and nervine properties. The seeds and root have distinct therapeutic emphases: seeds function primarily as a cardiac tonic and seminal tonic, while the root has stronger astringent and hemostatic properties, working more on lower digestive disorders such as diarrhea and hemorrhoids.
As a food, lotus seeds can be taken as a powder (5 grams three times daily) with basmati rice or other tonics like Shatavari and Ashwagandha. Sacred to Lakshmi, the goddess of prosperity, lotus is said to bring both material and spiritual abundance. It calms the mind and subdues restless thoughts and dreams.
Lotus should be avoided in conditions of Ama (toxins), indigestion, food stagnation, and constipation. It is prepared as a decoction, powder (250 mg to 1 g), or as food.
Source: The Yoga of Herbs, Section B: Special Oriental/Ayurvedic Herbs
Ayurvedic Properties
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Rasa (taste) | Sweet, astringent |
| Vīrya (energy) | Cooling |
| Vipāka (post-digestive) | Sweet |
| Guṇa (quality) | Heavy, unctuous (seeds and root), dry, light (nodes, stamen) |
| Doṣa effect | Dos.aHIIHFW39.ï.LQH[FHVV |
| Dhātu (tissue) | All tissues |
| Srotas (channel) | Digestive, respiratory, circulatory, reproductive, nervous |
Therapeutic Actions
- Stambhana: Stops leakage of fluids; blood, semen, mucous
- Kas.a- ya: Astringent
- Raktapittahara: Prevents bleeding from high pitta Śon.itastha- pana Haemostatic
- Va- jı-karan.a: Aphrodisiac
- Rasa- yana: Rejuvenative
- Medhya: Brain tonic
- Biomedical: Haemostatic, nutritive tonic, aphrodisiac, nervine, astringent
Safety & Contraindications
Contraindications: Sluggish digestion, food stagnation with ama or constipation
Safety: No drug–herb interactions are known.
Dosage & Combinations
Dosage: 0.5–10g per day dried or 3–20ml per day of a 1:3 @ 25% tincture. heart and reproductive system. The stamen, kiñjalka, is astringent, aphrodisiac, and again benefits pitta with burning. The flower stalk, mr. n.āla, increases breast milk. The root, śa-luka, is astringent, stops bleeding, heals the colon. The roots benefit mu-ladhāra and base chakra tissues, the seeds anāhata and heart chakra tissues. Q Neelota (Nymphoea stellata) is also used in certain preparations such as chywanaprasha.
Combinations:
- Manjishtha, amalaki, safflower for bleeding with the node.
- Ashwagandha, kapikacchu, shatavari for tonifying reproduction with the seed and stamen.
- Nutmeg, haritaki, amalaki for diarrhoea and piles with the seed, stamen and node.
- Brahmi, gotu kola, shankhapushpi for the nerves with the seed and root.
How to Use Lotus by Condition
Explore how Lotus is used for specific health concerns — with dosage, preparation methods, and classical references for each.
▶ Classical Text References (4 sources)
References in Astanga Hridaya Sutrasthan
Sleep on soft bed prepared with flowers of banana, kalbara, lotus etc.
— Astanga Hridaya Sutrasthan, Ritucharya adhyaya Seasonal
beautiful woman wearing bangles of soft lotus stalk, blossoms of lotus in their hair, moving about nearby.
— Astanga Hridaya Sutrasthan, Ritucharya adhyaya Seasonal
89-90 म ृणाल बसशालूककुमुदो पलक द ुकम ् न द माषककेलट ू श ृ गाटककसे कम ् ौ जादनं कलो यं च ं ा ह हमं गु Mrinala (lotus stalk), bias (lotus root), saluki (lotus tuber), kumuda (utpala kanda), nandi, mashaka, keluta, srngataka, kaseruka, kranucadana and kalodya are dry (cause dryness).
— Astanga Hridaya Sutrasthan, Annaswaroopa Food
Na Sajjate Hemapange padmapatre ambuvat visham || In a person who has been given Gold bhasma for a long time, the poison can not do any harm, similar to a water drop that can not touch the leaf of the lotus.
— Astanga Hridaya Sutrasthan, Anna Raksha Vidhi
Kashaya Varga (Gana) – group of astringents: वगःकषायः प या ं शर षः ख दरो मधु कद बोद ु बरं मु ता वाला जनगै रकम ् बालं क प थं खजूरं वसप ो पला द च Group of astringents consists of Pathya – Chebuic Myrobalan (fruit rind) – Terminalia chebula, Aksha – Terminalia bellirica, Shireesa, Khadira – Black catechu (heart wood extract) – Acacia catechu, Madhu (honey), Kadamba, Udumbara, Mukta (Pearls), Pravala (Coral), Anjana – Aqueous extract of Berberis aristata (antimony), Gairika – Purified Red Ochre, B
— Astanga Hridaya Sutrasthan, Rasabhediyam Tastes, Their
Source: Astanga Hridaya Sutrasthan, Ritucharya adhyaya Seasonal; Annaswaroopa Food; Anna Raksha Vidhi; Rasabhediyam Tastes, Their
References in Charaka Samhita
Pure blood resembles heated red gold, firefly, red lotus, lac resin, or gunja fruit in color.
— Charaka Samhita, Sutra Sthana — Fundamental Principles, Chapter 24: Blood Characteristics & Consciousness Disorders (Vidhishonitiya Adhyaya / विधिशोणितीय अध्याय)
Two prasthas of ghee should be mixed with the above mentioned decoction, eight prasthas of milk, and the paste of svagupta, jivanti, meda, rishabhaka, jivaka, shatavari, riddhi, mridvika, sharkara, shravani and bias (lotus stalk), (half prastha in total) and cooked.
— Charaka Samhita, Chikitsa Sthana — Therapeutic Principles, Chapter 11: Chest Injury and Emaciation Treatment (Kshatakshina Chikitsa / क्षतक्षीणचिकित्सा)
)), gostana (cow's breast), thumb, kasheruka, shringataka, shringi, beaks or tongues of a fowl, a peacock or a parrot, and buds of lotus or karyika.
— Charaka Samhita, Chikitsa Sthana — Therapeutic Principles, Chapter 14: Hemorrhoids Treatment (Arsha Chikitsa / अर्शचिकित्सा)
If morning eaten food is undigested and still if anyone takes evening food it may not be more vitiative since in day time all the srotas (channels) are dilated and heart is active similar to the lotus which blossoms with sunrise.
— Charaka Samhita, Chikitsa Sthana — Therapeutic Principles, Chapter 15: Digestive Disorders Treatment (Grahani Chikitsa / ग्रहणीचिकित्सा)
) and rhizome of lotus should be mixed with ghee washed hundred times and is applied externally as a lepa.
— Charaka Samhita, Chikitsa Sthana — Therapeutic Principles, Chapter 21: Erysipelas Treatment (Visarpa Chikitsa / विसर्पचिकित्सा)
Source: Charaka Samhita, Sutra Sthana — Fundamental Principles, Chapter 24: Blood Characteristics & Consciousness Disorders (Vidhishonitiya Adhyaya / विधिशोणितीय अध्याय); Chikitsa Sthana — Therapeutic Principles, Chapter 11: Chest Injury and Emaciation Treatment (Kshatakshina Chikitsa / क्षतक्षीणचिकित्सा); Chikitsa Sthana — Therapeutic Principles, Chapter 14: Hemorrhoids Treatment (Arsha Chikitsa / अर्शचिकित्सा); Chikitsa Sthana — Therapeutic Principles, Chapter 15: Digestive Disorders Treatment (Grahani Chikitsa / ग्रहणीचिकित्सा); Chikitsa Sthana — Therapeutic Principles, Chapter 21: Erysipelas Treatment (Visarpa Chikitsa / विसर्पचिकित्सा)
References in Sharangadhara Samhita
The Prana Vayu, stationed at the navel, touches the interior of the heart-lotus, exits through the throat, and goes out to drink the nectar of Vishnu's abode (atmospheric air).
— Sharangadhara Samhita, Purva Khanda, Chapter 5: Kaladikakhyanam (Description of Kalas etc.)
Kumbhika, Sikatavartma (sandy lid), Lagana (blepharitis), Anjana-namika (stye), Kardama, Shyavavartma (dark lid), Bisavartma (lotus-fiber lid), Alaji (inflamed lid), and Utklishtavartma (everted lid) — these are the diseases arising from the eyelids.
— Sharangadhara Samhita, Purva Khanda, Chapter 7: Rogagananam (Enumeration of Diseases)
In Pitta Jvara (Pitta-type fever): Chandana (sandalwood — Santalum album), Ushira (vetiver — Vetiveria zizanioides), Padma (lotus), Utpala (blue lotus — Nymphaea stellata), Dhanyaka (coriander — Coriandrum sativum), Parpata (Fumaria indica), Nanaka, and Musta (Cyperus rotundus) should be decocted.
— Sharangadhara Samhita, Madhyama Khanda, Chapter 2: Kvathakalpana (Decoction Preparations)
In Tridosha Jvara (fever involving all three Doshas): a decoction of Musta (Cyperus rotundus), Parpata (Fumaria indica), Padma, Utpala (blue lotus), Chandana (sandalwood), Shunthi (dry ginger), and Guduchi (Tinospora cordifolia) destroys Tridosha Jvara.
— Sharangadhara Samhita, Madhyama Khanda, Chapter 2: Kvathakalpana (Decoction Preparations)
Amalaki Gutika [for Trishna/thirst]: Amala (Emblica officinalis), Kamala (lotus — Nelumbo nucifera), Kushtha (Saussurea costus), Laja (puffed rice), and Vataroha (aerial root of banyan) — a pill made from the powder of these with honey should be held in the mouth.
— Sharangadhara Samhita, Madhyama Khanda, Chapter 4: Gutikakalpana (Tablet/Pill Preparations)
Source: Sharangadhara Samhita, Purva Khanda, Chapter 5: Kaladikakhyanam (Description of Kalas etc.); Purva Khanda, Chapter 7: Rogagananam (Enumeration of Diseases); Madhyama Khanda, Chapter 2: Kvathakalpana (Decoction Preparations); Madhyama Khanda, Chapter 4: Gutikakalpana (Tablet/Pill Preparations)
References in Sushruta Samhita
There are twenty sharp instruments (shastras): (1) Mandalagra (circular-tipped scalpel), (2) Karapatra (saw), (3) Vriddhipatra (broad-leaf knife), (4) Nakha-shastra (nail/claw knife), (5) Mudrika (ring knife), (6) Utpala-patra (lotus-petal knife), (7) Ardhadhara (half-edged knife), (8) Suchi (needle), (9) Kushapatra (kusha-grass-leaf knife), (10) Atamukhya (sharp-mouthed), (11) Shararimukha (arrow-faced), (12) Antarmukha (inward-facing), (13) Trikurchaka (triple-bristled), (14) Kurchaka (bristle
— Sushruta Samhita, Sutra Sthana, Chapter 8: Shastravacharaniya Adhyaya - Sharp Surgical Instruments
For PUNCTURING (vedhya) — practice on the veins of dead animals, lotus stalks (utpala-nala).
— Sushruta Samhita, Sutra Sthana, Chapter 9: Yogya Sutriya Adhyaya - Training on Practice Models
Sushruta prescribes specific practice models for each surgical skill: gourds for cutting, leather bags for incision, animal hide for scraping, dead animal veins and lotus stems for vein puncture, and worm-eaten wood for probing.
— Sushruta Samhita, Sutra Sthana, Chapter 9: Yogya Sutriya Adhyaya - Training on Practice Models
(5) Pundarika-mukhi — lotus-faced;
— Sushruta Samhita, Sutra Sthana, Chapter 13: Jalaukavacharaniya Adhyaya - Leech Therapy
(6) Savarika — unctuous, lotus-leaf colored, 18 angula (13.
— Sushruta Samhita, Sutra Sthana, Chapter 13: Jalaukavacharaniya Adhyaya - Leech Therapy
Source: Sushruta Samhita, Sutra Sthana, Chapter 8: Shastravacharaniya Adhyaya - Sharp Surgical Instruments; Sutra Sthana, Chapter 9: Yogya Sutriya Adhyaya - Training on Practice Models; Sutra Sthana, Chapter 13: Jalaukavacharaniya Adhyaya - Leech Therapy
Medical Disclaimer: The information on this page is for educational purposes only and is not intended as medical advice. Ayurvedic treatments should be pursued under the guidance of a qualified practitioner (BAMS/MD Ayurveda). Always consult your healthcare provider before starting any new treatment. Content is sourced from classical Ayurvedic texts and may not reflect the latest medical research.