White Lotus Flower Distillate
Bái Hé Huā Lù (White Lotus Flower Distillate) is a traditional Chinese medicinal preparation. It is the aromatic distilled water obtained from the flower buds of Nelumbo nucifera Gaertn., a plant belonging to the family Nymphaeaceae. This product is prepared by steam distillation of fresh white lotus flower buds, yielding a fragrant and cool aromatic liquid. It is a type of “medicinal distillate” (药露) in traditional Chinese medicine. This preparation was first recorded in Jin Shi Yao Tie.
Efficacy & Actions
Clears summer heat; cools the Ying level (cools blood); dispels stasis; stops bleeding; calms the fetus; resolves phlegm and relieves cough; clears the Heart and relieves restlessness.
Indications
Indicated for heatstroke, fever with thirst and restlessness, cough and wheezing, and blood-tinged sputum. It may also be used for fever, thirst, cough, wheezing, and blood-streaked phlegm caused by summer-heat pathogenic factors. Jin Shi Yao Tie records that it “treats persistent cough with blood in the sputum”; Guang He Tang Tie records that it “stops bleeding, dispels stasis, clears summer heat, and calms the fetus”; Chinese Medical Dictionary records that it “clears summer heat, cools the Spleen, dispels stasis, stops bleeding, and calms the fetus”.
Modern Pharmacology
Currently, specific modern pharmacological research on Bái Hé Huā Lù is relatively limited. Its medicinal value is primarily based on traditional Chinese medical theory and clinical experience. Bái Hé Huā Lù is an aqueous distillate of white lotus flower buds, containing volatile aromatic components and some water-soluble active substances from the lotus flower. Modern research indicates that white lotus flowers (Nelumbo nucifera) possess antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and other biological activities. However, its specific pharmacological mechanisms require further investigation.
Ingredients
The chemical constituents of Bái Hé Huā Lù mainly consist of volatile components and water-soluble substances from lotus flower buds. Known constituents of lotus flowers include alkaloids, dietary fiber, zinc, copper, lilin glycosides, vitamin C, vitamin B1, pectin, and other substances. Floral distillates typically contain volatile aromatic compounds such as rose geranium oil, patchouli oil, and bitter orange oil, as well as active components including flavonoids and phenolic acids. The exact composition varies depending on the distillation process and requires further analysis and confirmation.
Usage & Dosage
For oral administration: warm by steaming and take, 60–120 g (approximately 2–4 liang) each time; may also be warmed by steaming in a double boiler. Reduce the dosage for children.
Contraindications
Use with caution in patients with allergic rhinitis—as white lotus flower is a floral medicinal material, consumption may trigger allergic reactions in pollen-sensitive individuals. Pregnant women and those with a deficiency-cold constitution should use under the guidance of a physician. There are currently no clear adverse reactions or contraindications documented; it is recommended to consult a physician or pharmacist before use.
Selected Formulas
1. For summer-heat induced thirst, spleen-heat, blood stasis with bleeding tendencies, and threatened miscarriage-related discomfort (from Baihehua Lu recorded in Zhong Yao Cheng Fang Pei Ben) Take fresh white lotus petals and collect the distillate by steam distillation. For each use, take 120 g (approximately four liang in the old system) of the distilled liquid, warm it by double-boiling, and drink. The dosage for children should be appropriately reduced. 2. For restlessness and cough with profuse phlegm due to summer-heat (empirical folk formula) Take 50 g of white lotus flowers, place in a pot, add water, and decoct for 15 minutes. Strain the liquid, add an appropriate amount of rock sugar for flavor, and drink warm.
Daily Consumption
Warm by steaming: Take 60–120 g of Bái Hé Huā Lù, warm it by steaming in a double boiler, and take orally. This is the most common method. Simple boiled drink: Take 50 g of fresh white lotus flowers, boil in water for 15 minutes, strain the liquid, add rock sugar to taste, and drink. Tea substitute: Bái Hé Huā Lù is fragrant and cool in nature, making it suitable as a summer beverage to relieve heat.
Medicinal Parts
Flower buds (white lotus flower buds) of Nelumbo nucifera Gaertn., a plant belonging to the family Nymphaeaceae.
Selection & Storage
Store in a cool place in a sealed container, protected from light, to prevent loss of fragrance and spoilage. It is recommended to use within a short period; prolonged storage is not advised.
