🌿 Folk Prescriptions

TCM holds that autumn is favorable for regulating vitality and renewing the body, making it the most suitable season for tonification. However, autumn tonification should use "moderate tonics without excess" and "anti-dryness without greasiness"—with euryale seed (also known as lotus embryo) being the top choice.
Euryale seed, also called "chicken-head rice," "water chicken head," or "chicken-head bud," is a perennial herbaceous plant of the Nymphaeaceae family, growing naturally in marshes and lakes across China. Recent pharmacological studies reveal it contains abundant beneficial components for the human body, such as proteins, calcium, phosphorus, iron, fats, carbohydrates, vitamins B1, B2, C, crude fiber, and carotene. TCM considers euryale seed sweet and neutral, entering the spleen, kidney, and stomach meridians. It possesses functions of strengthening the body, tonifying qi, consolidating the kidneys, arresting seminal emission, nourishing the spleen, stopping diarrhea, benefiting the kidneys, quenching thirst, stimulating appetite, and enhancing vital energy.
Euryale seed comes in raw and stir-fried forms. Raw euryale seed primarily nourishes the kidneys and arrests seminal emission; stir-fried euryale seed mainly strengthens the spleen and stimulates appetite. Stir-fried euryale seed is available at pharmacies, as it requires adding wheat bran and precise heat control during stir-frying—difficult for home preparation. Some also use charred euryale seed, primarily for stopping diarrhea and strengthening the spleen.
Simplest autumn tonification with euryale seed is making euryale porridge: Add 50 grams of stir-fried euryale seed to a pot, boil briefly, then add 100 grams of rinsed rice, and cook until porridge forms. Regular consumption strengthens the body, strengthens bones and tendons, and improves hearing and vision. Another option is euryale paste: Grind 1,000 grams of stir-fried euryale seed into powder. Before consumption, mix 50–100 grams of powder with hot water to form a paste. Add sesame, peanuts, or walnut meat as desired. Locally, people often use 60 grams of stir-fried euryale seed and 100 grams of lean beef, cook until tender with seasoning, yielding good results.
For elderly people with weak spleen and stomach, loose stools, or diarrhea, regularly consume euryale and adzuki bean porridge. Preparation: Use 30 grams of stir-fried euryale seed, 20 grams of stir-fried adzuki beans, 10 jujubes, and 100 grams of glutinous rice, boil together into porridge, once daily. For elderly people with weak kidney qi and frequent nocturnal urination, regularly consume euryale and golden cinquefoil porridge. Preparation: Use 50 grams of raw euryale seed, 20 grams of golden cinquefoil, and 100 grams of rice, simmer slowly into porridge. For elderly patients with chronic bronchitis or asthma (without cold symptoms), use euryale stewed with old duck. Preparation: Kill the duck, remove feathers, internal organs, and blood, clean thoroughly. Place 200 grams of cleaned raw euryale seed into the duck’s cavity, put in a clay pot with sufficient water, bring to a boil over high heat, add scallions, ginger, and cooking wine, then simmer gently for 2 hours until the duck meat is tender. Season with a little salt and monosodium glutamate before eating. Enjoy meat and broth.
Additionally, euryale seed is used for weight loss and beauty enhancement. As recorded in "Zunsheng Bajian," take 500 grams each of raw euryale seed, tender stems of honeysuckle, and dried lotus root. Steam them until cooked, then dry in the sun, grind into powder. Take 10 grams before meals, mixed with warm water to form a paste.