Kamal (Sacred Lotus) Information and Medicinal Uses

Kamal, Padma, or Indian Lotus is the national flower of India. It is the most sacred plant in Hinduism. It is sacred to the goddess of prosperity, Devi Lakshmi. Lord Brahma, who is God of creation, sits on a lotus flower emerging from the navel of Lord Vishnu. He is manifested from Lord Vishnu to assist in secondary process of Universe creation.

By T.Voekler (Own work) [CC BY-SA 3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)], via Wikimedia Commons

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The lotus root and seeds have been used for devotional practices, as the plant is believed to improve the mind’s ability to focus and encourage the development of a person’s spirituality. The lotus is considered a metaphor for the soul, rooted in the mud of the material world but transcending limitations to rise towards the top of the pond.

The pink lotus is called Brahma Kamal and it appears in all Hindu temples. It symbolizes purity, beauty, water, source of divine immaculate birth, fertility and growth. Blue lotus flower is known as Indivar, Neelkamal, Pushkar, Rajwa and Vanaja. Padma and Kamal, Koknad is name given for red lotus flowers and Pundarika is name for white flowers.

Abhi, Arvind, Kanwal, Niraj, Nalin, Pankaj, Padma, Pushkar, Rajiv, Saroj, Utpal, all these names are synonym of Kamal or Lotus in Hindi.

Kamal is an aquatic medicinal herb too. It can be seen growing in lakes and pounds. All parts of the plant such as Seed, Leaf, Root, Flower, Filament, Anther, and Stalk, are edible and used for therapeutic use. In Ayurveda, for medicinal purpose generally, white lotus flower is used.

Health Benefits of Lotus

Various Lotus parts offers several health benefits. Lotus is cooling, promoting complexion, sweet and cure diseases of kapha and pitta, such as burning sensation and inflammatory skin conditions.

The stamens are used in flavoring the tea.

The seeds can be popped like popcorn, ground into powder and eaten dry or used in bread making. The roasted seeds can be used as coffee substitute.

Tender rhizomes, stems and leaves of lotus are edible and its seeds are rich in protein as well as minerals. Lotus stem consists of 6, 2.4, 0.2 mg/100 g calcium, iron and zinc respectively. Root is also a source of starch or arrowroot.

Lotus plants provide several bioactive ingredients like alkaloids, flavonoids, antioxidants, antisteroids, antipyretic, anticancerous, antiviral and anti-obesity properties. They have antidiarrheal, anti-inflammatory, antipyretic, hypoglycemic, immunomodulatory, psychopharmacological, antioxidant, aphrodisiac, lipolytic, antiviral, anticancer and hepatoprotective activities.

General Information

Kamal is a large, aquatic herb with creeping stem, occurring throughout warmer parts of the country up to an altitude of 1000 meter.

Scientific Classification

The botanical name of Kamal is Nelumbo nucifera Gaertn. It belongs to plant family Nymphaeaceae. Below is given taxonomical classification of plant.

• Kingdom : Plantae – plantes, Planta, Vegetal, plants
• Subkingdom : Viridiplantae
• Infrakingdom : Streptophyta – land plants
• Superdivision : Embryophyta
• Division : Tracheophyta – vascular plants, tracheophytes
• Subdivision : Spermatophytina – spermatophytes, seed plants, phanérogames
• Class : Magnoliopsida
• Superorder : Proteanae
• Order : Proteales
• Family : Nelumbonaceae – Indian lotus
• Genus : Nelumbo Adans. – lotus
• Species : Nelumbo nucifera Gaertn. – Sacred lotus

Synonym:

1. Nelumbium nelumbo Druce
2. Nelumbium speciosum Willd
3. Nelumbo speciosa Willd.

Description of Plant

The lotus is an erect, large, attractive aquatic herb with large circular, leathery leaves measuring about 20 inches (50 cm) in diameter. The overall height of the plant is 3 – 6 ft. (1 – 2 m) high. The leaves and large, fragrant, white or pink flowers with a yellow Centre float on the water. Slender, elongated roots reach down into, and fan out through, the mud of the pond. The flowers are solitary and the plant has many-seeded ovoid fruits. The lotus grows in shallow ponds and marshland throughout India up to an altitude of 5,400 ft. (1,800 m).

Part(s) used for medicinal purpose: Plant, Seed, Leaf, Root, Flower, Filament, Anther, Stalks leaves.

Plant type: aquatic herb

Flowering & Fruiting: March – December (January).

Distribution: It is native to Asia and distributed from South and East Asia (Bhutan, China, Indonesia (Java), Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Myanmar, Nepal, New Guinea, Pakistan, Philippines, Russia (Far East), Sri Lanka and Thailand) to far eastern Russia and to N. Australia and America.

Habitat: A range of shallow wetland habitats, including fresh water ponds, lakes, marshes, swamps and the backwaters of reservoirs.

Propagated by: division of rhizomes and by seeds.

Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils. Suitable pH: acid, neutral and basic (alkaline) soils. It cannot grow in the shade. It grows in water.

Etymology: The genus name is derived from the Tamil word Nelum, which means blue, and the specific epithet ‘nucifera’ derived from the Latin words, nux (= nut) and fera (= bearing), for nut-bearing.

Economic Importance: Leaves are used for wrapping food and as plate. Flower is used as the source of lotus perfume. Dried flowers are used in preparation of fragrant herbal tea. Young leaves, petioles and flowers are eaten as vegetables. Tender seeds are edible.

Ceremonial Uses: Flowers are used as offerings in temples. Fiber obtained from lotus plant is used for weaving special robes for Buddha images, and the flower is considered a symbol of fortune in Buddhism. Lotus flowers are essential part of Durga Puja in West Bengal.

Vernacular names/Synonyms

1. Latin name: Nelumbo nucifera
2. Sanskrit: Padnakanda, Saluka, Ambhoruha (Rhizome) Abja, Aravind, Padma, Kalhara, Shatapatra, Pundrahva, Pundarika, Prapaundarika (white), Sitopala, Pankaja, kokanada (red), Indivara (Bluish), Padma kesar (Adr.)
3. Assamese: Kamal Kakdi (Rhizome) Podum (Flower)
4. Bengali: Padma Phool, Salaphool (Flower)
5. English: Sacred Lotus
6. Gujarati: Loda (Rhizome), Kamal (Flower)
7. Hindi: Kamal Kand, Kamal Kakdi (Rhizome), Kamal, Kanwal (Flower)
8. Kannada: Tavare Kande (Rhizome) Kamal, Tavare, Naidile, Tavaregedd (Flower)
9. Kashmir: Nadru (stem)
10. Malayalam: Tamara Kizangu (Rhizome) Tamara, Venthamara, Chenthamara, Senthamara (Flower)
11. Marathi: Kamal Kand (Rhizome) Komala (Flower)
12. Oriya: Padma (Rhizome)
13. Punjabi: Kaul, Bhein (Rhizome) Kanwal, Pamposh (Flower)
14. Tamil: Tamardi Kizangu (Rhizome) Tamarai, Thamaraipoo, Aravindan, Paduman, Kamalam, Sarojam (Flower)
15. Telugu: Tamara Gadda (Rhizome) Kaluva, Tamarapuvow (Flower)
16. Urdu: Kanwal Kakdi (Rhizome) Kamal (Flower)
17. Siddha: Tamarai malar
18. Myanmar name: Badonmakyar
19. Other Common Names: Lian ou, Lin ngau, Hasu, Renkon, Yun gun
20. Kamal is known as Neelofer / Nilufer in Unani-tibb. Its Mizaj (Temperament) is considered Cold and Dry.

Rhizome: Rhizome has distinct nodes and internodes, cylindrical, 0.5-2.5 cm in dia., longitudinally marked with brown patches, smooth, yellowish white to yellowish-brown; root adventitious, less developed, 0.5-1 mm thick, attached to node of rhizome; dark brown.

Flower: Entire or pieces of flowers, comprising of calyx, corolla, androecium, gynoecium and thalamus; entire flower 10-15 cm in dia., yellowish-brown; sepals leaf-like, crimpled, 3-5 cm long, 1.3-2 cm wide, dark brown, broken pieces also occur; petals numerous, crimp led, elliptic, obtuse, membranous, finely veined, 2-4 cm long, 1.2-2 cm wide yellowish-brown; anther, erect, linear 1.4-2 cm long, extended into clavate appendages; gynoceium apocarpous; carpels many, free, embedded in a creamy, top shaped fleshy thalamus (torus) 3-5 cm long and 2.5-3 cm wide; fruit an etaerio of achenes, becoming loose in their sockets when ripe; seed hard, black, starchy and large.

Constituents

Flowers yielded quercetin, luteolin and their glycosides and kaempferol glycosides. Leaves gave quercetin, isoquercitrin and leucoanthocyanidin. Leaves contain alkaloids, nelumbin and roemerin.

Ayurvedic Properties and Action of Rhizome and flower

Rhizome:

1. Rasa (taste on tongue): Kasaya (Astringent), Madhura (Sweet), Katu (Pungent), Lavan (Saline), Tikta (Bitter)
2. Guna (Pharmacological Action): Guru (Heavy), Ruksha (Dry)
3. Virya: Sita (Cooling)
4. Vipaka (transformed state after digestion): Madhura (Sweet)

Karma: Chakshushya, Krimighna, Kaphahara, Pittahara, Ruchya, Vrishya, Varnya, Vishaghna, Vishambhakara, Dahashamaka, Raktadushtihara, Durjara, Stanyajanana, Sangrahi, Mutravirechaniya, Vatakara.

Therapeutich uses: Trishna, chardi, Raktapitta, Murchha, Kasa, Vatagulma, Visarpa, Visphota, Mutrakrichhra, Dansodbhava, Jvara, Bhrama, Shosha, Hridroga

Flower:

1. Rasa: Madhura, Tikta, Kashaya
2. Guna: Shita, Laghu
3. Virya: Shita
4. Vipaka: Madhura
5. Karma: Kaphahara, Mutra Virajaniya, Pittahara, Santapahara, Varnya
6. Therapeuticuses - Raktapitta, Visarpa, Trishna Daha, Vishavikara.

Important formulations containing Kamala

1. Anu Taila
2. Arimedadi Taila
3. Bhringraja Taila
4. Balaswagandhadi Tailam
5. Drakshadi Kashayam
6. Pushyanuga Churna
7. Kanaka Taila
8. Ushirasava
9. Varunasava
10. Triphala Ghrita

Dosage of Various parts of Lotus / Kamal

Various parts of lotus can be given in following dose to adults. Children of age 5-16 years should be given half of the adult dosage.

Flower (Kamala) as powder: 3-6 gram

Rhizome (Bisa / Bhen): 30-50 gram

Stalk (Mrinal / Murar) as powder: 30-50 gram

Seed Powder (Padmabija / Kamalgatta): 3-6 gram

Pollen: 1-2 gram

Medicinal Uses of Kamal / Lotus (Nelumbo nucifera)

Lotus has been used as a medicinal herb in India from ancient times. The leaves, seeds, flower, and rhizome, filaments, all are edible and used for medicinal purpose. The lotus seeds are known as Kamal- gatta and rhizome is called as kamal kakri in India. Flowers are known as Kamala. Rhizome paste is applied in ringworm and other cutaneous affections. Stem helps in the healthy growth of the fetus. Roots help in removal of toxic wastes from body, and also helpful in reducing body heat. Leaves and flowers are useful in many bleeding disorders. Flowers are prescribed to promote conception.

Leaves

1. Lotus leaves have lipolytic, anti-obesity, cardiovascular and hypocholesterolaemic activity.
2. They also possess diuretic and astringent properties and help to treat fever, sweating and strangury and as styptic.
3. The paste of leaf can be applied to the body during fever and inflammatory skin conditions.
4. Leaves are used as effective drug for hematemesis, epistaxis, hemoptysis, hematuria and metrorrhagia.

Flower

1. The flower is cooling, sedative, astringent, cholagogue, cardiac tonic, diuretic, bitter, expectorant and refrigerant.
2. The decoction of lotus flower is given in cholera, fever, disease of liver, strangury, and palpitation of heart.
3. Lotus flowers are considered a tonic for the heart, liver and skin, particularly when aggravated pitta is involved.
4. Flowers, with their parts or extracts have shown to possess antimicrobial, vasodilating, antihypertensive, antiarrhythmic, aphrodisiac and antioxidant properties.
5. Flowers are recommended to promote conception.
6. The decoction of the flowers is used in the treatment of premature ejaculation.

Seeds

1. The seeds (Kamal beej/Kamal Gatta) are given for vomiting, leprosy, chronic diarrhoea, in high blood pressure, fevers and as antidote to poisons.
2. They are used as spleen tonic.
3. Nutritionally, lotus seeds consist of 10.5% moisture, 10.6-15.9% protein, 1.93-2.8% crude fat, 70-72.17% carbohydrate, 2.7% crude fibre and energy 348.45 cal/100 g.
4. Minerals present in lotus seeds include chromium (0.0042%), sodium (1%), potassium (28.5%), calcium (22.1%), magnesium (9.2%), copper (0.0463%), zinc (0.084%), manganese (0.356%) and iron (0.199%).
5. The seeds are tonic and eaten raw or roasted.
6. They are demulcent and nutritive.
7. The seeds are high in protein and encourage hormonal function. They are used as an aphrodisiac.
8. The seeds or their extracts have been reported to possess anti-proliferative, anti-fibrosis, antidepressant, anti-inflammation, astringent, hepatoprotective and free radical scavenging, anti-obesity, hypolipidemic, anti-inflammatory, immunomodulatory and antiviral activities.
9. Seed powder is used against cough. For Kasa / cough, powder of seeds 3 gram, is given with honey two times a day.

Rhizome

1. The rhizomes, or underground stems (often called roots) grow in the mud at the bottom of shallow ponds, lakes, lagoons, marshes and flooded fields. They contain large spaces that allow for air storage for the submerged plant structures.
2. The starchy rhizomes are very nutritious and can be eaten either raw or cooked. They are edible and has mild flavor. They consist of 1.7% protein, 0.1% fat and 9.7% carbohydrate.
3. Lotus Rhizome has diuretic, anti-diabetic, anti-obesity, hypoglycemic, antipyretic and antioxidant activities.
4. They are used in piles, dysentery, chronic dyspepsia, and dysentery. It is applied externally in skin affections, eruptions, scabies and ringworm. The rhizome extract has anti-diabetic.
5. The rhizome is demulcent and increase sperm production. It arrests bleeding and assist respiratory conditions such as pharyngitis.
6. For infertility in women, lotus root powder (1 teaspoon) + Shatavari powder (1 teaspoon) + 1/4 cup of Aloe Vera juice + 1/2 cup of warm water is mixed. This mix is taken twice a day on an empty stomach.
7. Lotus rhizome are rich in highly digestible starch, vitamins, minerals, dietary fiber and used as food.
8. As a reproductive tonic, to boost sperm count and libido, the seed and root powder (each 3 grams) is mixed in one cup of warm almond milk and taken one hour before bed.

Filaments

1. The filaments / Padma Kesara is astringent and hemostatic and prescribed for bleeding piles and menorrhagia.
2. In piles Padma Kesara, five gram is given with five gram butter.
3. Contraindications, Interactions, and Side Effects
4. Seed should not be taken in constipation and stomach distention.
5. Hazards and/or side effects not known for proper therapeutic dosages.

References

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