Lotus Root There\'s No Disputing

Lotus Root

There's no disputing the nutritional value of Lotus Root which is commonly used in vegetables as well as in sweet dishes. This food is a good source of dietary fiber, Thiamin, Vitamin B6, Phosphorus, Potassium, Copper and Manganese, and a very good source of Vitamin C at the same time, it is very low in saturated fat and cholesterol. ("Nutrition Facts"). Lotus is the name of a type of Waterlily and has long been considered a sacred symbol in much of Asia. Some practitioners of Traditional Chinese Medicine and Alternative Medicine believe that Lotus Root has certain healing qualities, stemming from the fact that it is the only plant in the world that actually grows in all three of nature's elements: earth, water and air ("Health Benefits of Lotus Root").

As a result, they make a variety of unsubstantiated claims for the cures this food will produce.

According to the Web site foodsnherbs.com, uncooked Lotus Root juice can clear heat and is often used as a cooling food source in hot tropical climates.

Foodsnhersb.com also asserts that Lotus Root will stop all internal bleeding and that cooked Lotus Root can promote blood, treat women with anemia caused by heavy menstruation, and clear and improve energy ("Lotus Root"). Another Web site claims that the root can stop diarrhea and improve appetite ("Lotus Roots and Its Medicinal Properties"). This same site states the rich fibre content of Lotus Roots stimulates peristalsis, muscle contractions that occur throughout the digestive tract to help moves food through the digestive system, and relieves constipation. and, the site claims that drinking two to three glasses of Lotus Root juice a day can actually stop bleeding of the esophagus and stomach (vomiting blood), bleeding of the rectum, intestines or stomach, nose bleeding and gum bleeding.

Still, others claim that the physical resemblance of Lotus Root to the lungs holds the clue to understanding its healing properties ("Health Benefits of Lotus Root"). Lotus Root is said to treat various respiratory problems. Small doses of the juice extracted from raw, finely grated Lotus Root is recommended for lung-related ailments such as tuberculosis, asthma, and coughing, for heart disease, and to neutralize toxins. Also, macrobiotic remedy combining Lotus Root and akuzu is often recommended to treat colds accompanied by fever and/or troubled stomach and intestines. Lotus Root is also said to be helpful for treating colds because it melts mucus accumulation in the respiratory system. When a Lotus Root plaster is applied to the face, it is believed to relieve sinus congestion and inflammation.