Gordon Euryale Seed
The water lotus seed of Chinese tonic food — Gordon Euryale Seed tonifies the Spleen and Kidney, astringes Jing, stops excessive discharge and diarrhoea, and resolves dampness with its sweet, astringent, and stabilising nature.
What Is Gordon Euryale Seed?
Gordon Euryale Seed (Qian Shi, 芡实) is the starchy, white seed of Euryale ferox — a dramatic aquatic plant in the water lily family, its leaves up to 1.5 metres across and protected by fierce thorns on both leaf and stem. Despite the plant's formidable exterior, its seeds — sometimes called the "water lotus seed" or "chicken's head seed" — are among the gentlest and most nourishing tonic foods in Traditional Chinese Medicine, valued for their combined ability to tonify and astringent simultaneously.
Sweet, astringent, and neutral in nature, Gordon Euryale Seed enters the Spleen and Kidney channels. Its dual action is what distinguishes it: while tonifying both organs, it also astringes — restraining the leakage of vital substances from Kidney and Spleen deficiency. This means it addresses both the root (deficiency of Spleen and Kidney) and the branch (the pathological discharge that results): spermatorrhoea, frequent urination, excessive vaginal discharge, and diarrhoea from Spleen deficiency with dampness. It pairs beautifully with Lotus Seed and Chinese Yam (Shan Yao) in Spleen-Kidney tonifying soups and porridges — a combination beloved in Cantonese food therapy.
History & Origin
Gordon Euryale Seed has been cultivated and used as food and medicine in China for over 3,000 years, with records stretching back to the Zhou Dynasty and extensive documentation in classical materia medica.
Traditional Uses
Tonifies the Spleen & Resolves Dampness
Strengthens Spleen Qi to improve digestive function and resolve pathological dampness — used for loose stools, chronic diarrhoea, poor appetite, and the heavy, fatigue of Spleen dampness.
Tonifies the Kidney & Astringes Jing
Consolidates and tonifies Kidney Qi and Essence — used for spermatorrhoea (involuntary seminal emission), premature ejaculation, and other forms of Kidney-Jing leakage from deficiency.
Stops Excessive Urination
Astringes the Kidney to reduce urinary frequency, nocturia, and incontinence from Kidney Qi deficiency failing to consolidate the urinary function.
Reduces Excessive Vaginal Discharge
Astringes and dries dampness from below — used for excessive clear or white vaginal discharge (leucorrhoea) from Spleen-Kidney deficiency with dampness.
Stops Diarrhoea
Particularly effective for chronic diarrhoea from Spleen deficiency with dampness — combines tonification of the Spleen with astringency to both treat the root and stop the symptom.
Health Benefits
-
Jing ConsolidationTonifies and astringes Kidney Jing to address spermatorrhoea, excessive discharge, and urinary leakage from deficiency.
-
Spleen & Dampness BalanceStrengthens the Spleen and resolves dampness — relieving diarrhoea, poor appetite, and the heaviness of Spleen deficiency.
-
Dual Tonic-Astringent ActionUniquely combines tonification with astriction — treating both root deficiency and the pathological leakage that results.
-
Cantonese Soup StapleA beloved ingredient in Spleen-Kidney tonic soups and congee alongside Lotus Seed and Chinese Yam.
-
Metabolic SupportStarch, protein, and phytochemicals support sustained energy and healthy glucose metabolism.
The information on this page is for educational and informational purposes only and is not intended as medical advice. Please consult a qualified healthcare practitioner before using any herbal products.