Hé Yè (荷叶), known in English as Lotus leaf (Nelumbo nucifera (leaf)), is a neutral, bitter Chinese herb from the Clear heat category. It enters the Liver, Spleen and Stomach channels. Its main action: clears summer-Heat, transforms Damp.
| Pinyin | Hé Yè (He Ye) |
|---|---|
| Chinese | 荷叶 |
| English | Lotus leaf |
| Botanical name | Nelumbo nucifera (leaf) |
| Category | Clear heat |
| Nature | Neutral |
| Flavour | Bitter |
| Channels | Liver, Spleen, Stomach |
| Dosage | 3–10g (charred 3–6g) |
| Cautions | No significant cautions at standard doses |
Actions
- Clears summer-Heat, transforms Damp
- Raises clear Yang
- Cools Blood, stops bleeding (charred)
Indications
- Summer-Heat with irritability and thirst
- Summer-Damp diarrhoea
- Diarrhoea from Spleen deficiency
- Vomiting blood, nosebleed, blood in the stool and uterine bleeding from Blood Heat
How to remember Hé Yè
Clear heat herbs are mostly cool or cold and bitter, and most enter the Stomach and Liver channels.
- You can work these out
- Bitter, Liver and Stomach channels: like most Clear heat herbs
- Spleen channel: from its use for “diarrhoea from Spleen deficiency”
- Learn by heart
- Neutral: unusual for Clear heat herbs (most are cool or cold)
Formulas containing Hé Yè
Other Clear heat herbs
- Shí Gāo
- Zhī Mǔ
- Huáng Qín
- Huáng Lián
- Huáng Bǎi
- Lóng Dǎn Cǎo
- Zhī Zǐ
- Jīn Yín Huā
- Lián Qiào
- Pú Gōng Yīng
- Tiān Huā Fěn
- Lú Gēn
- Zhú Yè
- Xià Kū Cǎo
- Jué Míng Zǐ
- Kǔ Shēn
- Qín Pí
- Bái Xiān Pí
- Zǐ Huā Dì Dīng
- Bái Huā Shé Shé Cǎo
- Bǎn Lán Gēn
- Tǔ Fú Líng
- Shè Gān
- Dì Gǔ Pí
- Qīng Hāo
- Yín Chái Hú
- Hú Huáng Lián
- Mǔ Dān Pí
- Chì Sháo
- Xuán Shēn
- Shuǐ Niú Jiǎo
- Bái Wēi
- Bái Tóu Wēng
- Bài Jiàng Cǎo
- Yú Xīng Cǎo
- Shān Dòu Gēn
- Mǎ Bó
- Yě Jú Huā
- Lǜ Dòu
Test yourself
What is the nature and flavour of Hé Yè?
Hé Yè is neutral and bitter.
Which channels does Hé Yè enter?
Hé Yè enters the Liver, Spleen and Stomach channels.
What are the actions of Hé Yè?
Clears summer-Heat, transforms Damp; Raises clear Yang; Cools Blood, stops bleeding (charred).
What is Hé Yè used for?
Summer-Heat with irritability and thirst; summer-Damp diarrhoea; diarrhoea from Spleen deficiency; vomiting blood, nosebleed, blood in the stool and uterine bleeding from Blood Heat.
Which formulas contain Hé Yè?
Shí Huī Sǎn.
Practise Hé Yè and the other 290 herbs
Recognise each herb from its picture, recall its nature, flavour, channels and actions, and review it again just before you would forget it.
Try the 5-question herb quizShen Study is a study tool. Doses and cautions are as taught in standard Chinese materia medica texts; they are not prescribing advice.