蓮子,是睡(shui)蓮(lian)科水生草本(ben)植(zhi)物(wu)蓮(lian)的種子。又稱蓮(lian)實(shi)、蓮(lian)米(mi)、蓮(lian)肉(rou),具有補脾止瀉,止帶,益腎澀精,養心安神之功效,常用于脾虛泄瀉,帶下,遺精,心悸失眠。蓮(lian)(lian)(lian)(lian)子以湘(xiang)蓮(lian)(lian)(lian)(lian)為(wei)優,湘(xiang)蓮(lian)(lian)(lian)(lian)歷(li)來作(zuo)為(wei)進(jin)貢朝(chao)廷的珍(zhen)品,故(gu)又稱“貢蓮(lian)(lian)(lian)(lian)”。蓮(lian)(lian)(lian)(lian)子包括(kuo)紅蓮(lian)(lian)子(zi)(zi)(zi)(zi)、白蓮(lian)(lian)子(zi)(zi)(zi)(zi)、石蓮(lian)(lian)子(zi)(zi)(zi)(zi)三種。石蓮(lian)(lian)子(zi)(zi)(zi)(zi)是指(zhi)成熟甚至(zhi)陷于淤(yu)泥的(de)蓮(lian)(lian)蓬(peng)剝下來(lai)或(huo)自然掉下來(lai)的(de)帶黑色(se)外種皮(pi)的(de)蓮(lian)(lian)子(zi)(zi)(zi)(zi)。紅(hong)蓮(lian)(lian)子(zi)(zi)(zi)(zi)是指(zhi)除去(qu)外種皮(pi)的(de)蓮(lian)(lian)子(zi)(zi)(zi)(zi),一(yi)般(ban)分為去(qu)芯(xin)(xin)和(he)不去(qu)芯(xin)(xin)兩種,白蓮(lian)(lian)子(zi)(zi)(zi)(zi)是指(zhi)去(qu)掉內種皮(pi)的(de)蓮(lian)(lian)子(zi)(zi)(zi)(zi),也分去(qu)芯(xin)(xin)不去(qu)芯(xin)(xin)兩種。幾種蓮(lian)(lian)子(zi)(zi)(zi)(zi)功效基本相同但(dan)使用(yong)上略有(you)區別:紅(hong)蓮(lian)(lian)子(zi)(zi)(zi)(zi)帶紅(hong)色(se)外皮(pi),一(yi)般(ban)用(yong)于養心安神的(de)比較多(duo),白蓮(lian)(lian)子(zi)(zi)(zi)(zi)色(se)白,一(yi)般(ban)用(yong)于潤肺健(jian)脾(pi)的(de)多(duo)。
蓮(lian)子(zi)的(de)質量(liang)以(yi)湘蓮(lian)品質最好。其皮(pi)色淡紅(hong),皮(pi)紋細致,粒大(da)(da)飽滿,生吃微甜,一煮就酥(su),食之軟糯清香。紅(hong)蓮(lian)質量(liang)較差(cha),其粒形瘦長(chang),皮(pi)色暗花,臍部下陷,中心空間較大(da)(da),生吃味(wei)淡,久煮不酥(su)。有(you)的(de)蓮(lian)子(zi)看起來又(you)白又(you)干凈,實際這種(zhong)蓮(lian)子(zi)很(hen)有(you)可能使用了(le)對人(ren)體有(you)害的(de)化(hua)學漂白劑(ji),而(er)且這些物質會(hui)對肝臟造成傷害,引(yin)起重金屬中毒(du)。真正優質的(de)蓮(lian)子(zi),去皮(pi)后外表仍會(hui)有(you)一點(dian)皺皮(pi)或未(wei)處理(li)干(gan)凈的(de)(de)紅皮,劣質的(de)(de)則在刀(dao)口(kou)處有突起。蓮子經(jing)水(shui)蒸會發生(sheng)膨脹,散發出一種清(qing)香,而添加(jia)了化學制劑的(de)(de)蓮子幾乎不膨脹,還會有一種堿味。