Shelled lotus seeds are known to nourish the heart and calm the mind (by nourishing the heart to stabilize the mind), nourish the spleen and stop diarrhea, and need to be used under the guidance of a medical professional. Lotus seed is the dried mature seed of lotus in the water lily family. It is sweet and astringent in flavor and flat in nature. It belongs to the spleen, kidney and heart meridians. It has the effect of tonifying the spleen to stop diarrhea, stopping the belt, benefiting the kidney and astringent essence, nourishing the heart and tranquilizing the mind. It is used for treating diarrhea caused by weak spleen, diarrhea, spermatorrhea, palpitation (rapid heartbeat, often accompanied by panic) and insomnia. Lotus seed is contraindicated for those with fullness and distension in the middle and those with dry stools. Note that Chinese herbs need to be clearly identified before use of the disease, improper application can lead to adverse consequences, so when consuming lotus seed should consult a medical professional.