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    Yemama Apothecary

    Bencao Gangmu Reference Library

    Summer-Heat Clearing, Spleen-Yang Ascending & Lipid-Lowering Sovereign (清热解暑 / 升发清阳凉血止血降脂减肥消食降糖药 — 降脂减肥升清第一水生圣草)

    荷叶 / 莲叶 / 荷盖 / 荷叶炭 / 莲须 / 莲子心 — Nelumbo nucifera Gaertn. (syn. Nymphaea nelumbo)

    Pinyin: Héyè / Liányè / Héyètàn / Liánxū / Liánzǐxīn · Malay: Daun Teratai / Teratai / Bunga Teratai · Family: Nelumbonaceae (莲科)

    Botanical Illustration

    Energetics

    Neutral to Cool (平 / 微凉; Charred Ho Ye Tan is warm-astringent)

    Flavor

    Bitter, astringent, slightly sweet (苦、涩、微甘)

    Meridians

    Liver (肝), Spleen (脾), Stomach (胃), Heart (心)

    Traditional Edict

    Sacred Lotus Leaf (Daun Teratai / He Ye). Superhydrophobic peltate giant aquatic leaf. Ascends Spleen-Yang, clears summer-heat, and acts as the supreme sovereign herb for dissolving visceral fat and reducing obesity (Jiang Zhi Jian Fei); charred leaf stops bleeding.

    Cautions & Contraindications

    • Do not boil >20 min to preserve aporphine alkaloid potency. High clinical, dietary, and culinary safety (used as dim sum sticky rice wrap). Contraindicated in severe emaciation without fat/damp accumulation.

    Clinical Applications

    • Hyperlipidemia and metabolic visceral obesity (adipocyte lipolysis and pancreatic lipase inhibition), non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), summer-heat dampness dizziness, and dysfunctional uterine bleeding (charred He Ye Tan).

    Quality Markers

    Nuciferine (荷叶碱) >= 0.50% & Quercetin-3-O-glucuronide (Chinese Pharmacopoeia standard)

    Mechanism & Phytochemistry

    1. Nuciferine activates AMPK and stimulates $eta3$-adrenoceptor lipolysis in white adipocytes, inhibiting FAS and PPAR-$gamma$ to prevent fat accumulation. 2. Quercetin glucuronides inhibit pancreatic lipase. 3. Aporphine alkaloids vasodilate coronaries.

    Preparation & Dosage

    THE SOVEREIGN LOTUS LEAF LIPID-LOWERING & SLIMMING TEA (He Ye Jiang Zhi Cha): 10 to 15 g dried cut lotus leaves boiled with 10 g Shan Zha (Crataegus) and 10 g Jue Ming Zi in 1 L water for 15 min; consumed daily for weight loss. Charred leaf (He Ye Tan): 6-10 g.

    Appended Prescriptions

    • 1. The Sovereign Lipid-Lowering & Slimming Triad with Crataegus pinnatifida (Shan Zha) and Cassia tora (Jue Ming Zi). 2. Summer-Heat Spleen-Awakening Decoction with Pogostemon cablin (Guang Huo Xiang).

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    Yemama Apothecary · Petaling Jaya, Malaysia · For educational and clinical reference only