蓮子,是睡蓮(lian)科(ke)水生(sheng)草本植(zhi)物蓮(lian)的種子(zi)。又(you)稱蓮(lian)實、蓮(lian)米(mi)、蓮(lian)肉,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)子以(yi)湘(xiang)蓮(lian)為優,湘(xiang)蓮(lian)歷來(lai)作為進貢朝廷的珍品,故又稱(cheng)“貢蓮(lian)”。蓮(lian)子包括紅蓮(lian)(lian)子(zi)(zi)(zi)、白(bai)蓮(lian)(lian)子(zi)(zi)(zi)、石(shi)蓮(lian)(lian)子(zi)(zi)(zi)三(san)種(zhong)(zhong)。石(shi)蓮(lian)(lian)子(zi)(zi)(zi)是(shi)指(zhi)成(cheng)熟甚至陷(xian)于淤泥的(de)蓮(lian)(lian)蓬剝下來或自(zi)然掉下來的(de)帶黑色(se)外(wai)種(zhong)(zhong)皮(pi)的(de)蓮(lian)(lian)子(zi)(zi)(zi)。紅蓮(lian)(lian)子(zi)(zi)(zi)是(shi)指(zhi)除去外(wai)種(zhong)(zhong)皮(pi)的(de)蓮(lian)(lian)子(zi)(zi)(zi),一(yi)般分為去芯和不去芯兩(liang)種(zhong)(zhong),白(bai)蓮(lian)(lian)子(zi)(zi)(zi)是(shi)指(zhi)去掉內種(zhong)(zhong)皮(pi)的(de)蓮(lian)(lian)子(zi)(zi)(zi),也分去芯不去芯兩(liang)種(zhong)(zhong)。幾種(zhong)(zhong)蓮(lian)(lian)子(zi)(zi)(zi)功效(xiao)基本相同但使用(yong)上略有(you)區別:紅蓮(lian)(lian)子(zi)(zi)(zi)帶紅色(se)外(wai)皮(pi),一(yi)般用(yong)于養心安神的(de)比較多(duo),白(bai)蓮(lian)(lian)子(zi)(zi)(zi)色(se)白(bai),一(yi)般用(yong)于潤肺健脾的(de)多(duo)。
蓮子的質量(liang)以湘蓮品質最好。其皮(pi)(pi)色(se)淡紅,皮(pi)(pi)紋(wen)細(xi)致,粒大飽滿(man),生(sheng)吃微甜,一煮(zhu)就酥(su),食之軟糯清(qing)香。紅蓮質量(liang)較(jiao)差,其粒形瘦長,皮(pi)(pi)色(se)暗花,臍(qi)部下陷,中心空間(jian)較(jiao)大,生(sheng)吃味(wei)淡,久煮(zhu)不酥(su)。有的蓮子看(kan)起來(lai)又白(bai)又干凈,實際(ji)這種蓮子很有可能使用了對人(ren)體有害的化學漂(piao)白(bai)劑(ji),而且這些物(wu)質會(hui)對肝(gan)臟造成傷害,引起重金(jin)屬中毒。真(zhen)正優質的蓮子,去皮(pi)(pi)后外(wai)表仍會(hui)有一點皺(zhou)皮(pi)(pi)或未(wei)處理干(gan)凈(jing)的紅皮(pi),劣質的則在(zai)刀口處有突起。蓮子(zi)經水蒸(zheng)會發生膨脹,散(san)發出一種(zhong)清(qing)香,而添加了化學制劑的蓮子(zi)幾乎不(bu)膨脹,還會有一種(zhong)堿味。