He ye / lotus leaf (and lotus parts)
Nelumbo nucifera
Other names: 荷叶 / 荷葉 héyè; 莲子 liánzǐ; 莲藕 lián'ǒu; 莲心 liánxīn; 莲房 liánfáng, He ye / lotus leaf (and lotus parts)
Edible plantPhoto credit: T.Voekler
Safety information
Safety information
Toxicity: Low for the foods (root, seed). Leaf/embryo alkaloids are bitter and bioactive; very high doses not well characterized. Generally low-toxicity at culinary/tea amounts.
Contraindications: Pregnancy at medicinal doses not well characterized; theoretical caution with antihypertensive/sedative drugs (alkaloids).
Interactions: Theoretical additive effects with antihypertensive and sedative agents; not well characterized.
Pregnancy & breastfeeding: Medicinal doses not well characterized.
Evidence level
Supported by laboratory or animal studies; not yet confirmed in humans.
Preparations
decoction/infusion · leaf
Part used: leaf
Traditional use: clearing summer-heat, raising clear yang (summer-heat, modern weight/lipids)
Proposed mechanism: aporphine and bisbenzylisoquinoline alkaloids (nuciferine, neferine), flavonoids
edible · seed/rhizome
Part used: seed/rhizome
Traditional use: seed tonifies spleen and secures essence/calms spirit; root cooked vegetable(Folk and historical sources have not been validated by clinical research.)
preparation · embryo (lianxin)
Part used: embryo (lianxin)
Traditional use: clearing heart fire
Associated conditions
Edibility
Edible parts: Lotus root (rhizome) a widely eaten cooked vegetable; seeds eaten in soups, congee, sweet paste; leaves used to wrap rice and as tea.
Toxic lookalike warning
Harvest only from clean water and identify Nelumbo correctly - do not confuse with water lilies (Nymphaea) or other aquatic plants; lotus root, like all raw aquatic produce, should be cooked (risk of waterborne parasites/Fasciola if eaten raw).
Nutritional notes
Functional foods; lotus root provides carbohydrate, vitamin C, potassium, fiber; seeds provide protein and starch.
Healing traditions
Sources (2)
- Nelumbo nucifera (Wikipedia), English, accessed 2026, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nelumbo_nucifera
- Lotus / Nelumbo - Drugs.com natural database, English, https://www.drugs.com/npp/lotus.html