Nymphyae, Water Lilly

Nenufar (Latin)
Nilofar, Nasreen (Unani)
Utpala (White-flolwered, Ayurveda)
Nitopal (Blue-flowered, Ayurveda)
Neelothpalam (Blue-flowered, Siddha)
Picture Picture
Ortus Sanitatis, Meydenbach, 1491

 Krauterbuch, Lonitzer, 1578
Picture New Kreuterbuch, Matthiolus, 1563

Picture The Family Flora and Materia Medica Botanica, Good, 1847

Botanical name:


Nymphea alba.
Related species have been used. N. stellata (Indian Blue Water Lily) is used in Ayurveda, and both N. alba and N. stellata are used for Nilofar in Unani medicine.

Parts used:


Mainly Root and Seed; also Flower and Leaf

Temperature & Taste:


Root and Seed: Cool, dry. Flower: Cool, moist

Classifications:


2Q. ANODYNE.   
3B. FEBRIFUGE & ANTIPYRETIC.    3C. ALEXIPHARMIC.    3D. CORDIALS & CARDIACS.    3L. ANTI-TUSSIVE.    3M. ARTHRITIC
4a. CEPHALIC.    4c. CARDIAC.    4g. HEPATIC.    4h. NEPHRITIC.    4i. UTERINE.    4j. NERVINE
TCM:
B. Clears Deficient Heat

Uses:


1. Clears Heat and Toxin (leaf, flower):
-Heat, Fever, all types of Inflammation; ‘heat and thinness of Blood’
-Hectic Fever, Deficient Heat
-quenches Thirst
-Syrup is used for all types of Eruptive Fevers including Small Pox in Unani.
-Scrofula, Boils, Pimples, and Sore Throat

2. Clears Heat, Calms the Mind and Spirit (mostly flower):
-Cools the Heart, calms the Mind and Nerves (flower)
–calms the mind annoyed by heat; Frenzy; Mental agitation, Madness (flower)
-Insomnia, Restlessness and Headaches
-in Unani, the flowers are used specifically for Migraines

3. Clears Heat, Astringes the Kidneys: (Root)
-hot, sharp Urine
-Diarrhea, Dysentery,
-‘Noctural Pollutions’, ‘sharpness of Seed’, Gonorrhea, Spermatorrhea, Leukorrhea
-Restrains Lust (root)
-Prevents Miscarriage (root)

4. Externally:
-Externally for Heat and Fever
-calms the mind, causes Sleep (washes, foot baths and other topical application of the Leaves and Flowers)
-douches for Leukorrhea and Vaginitis (root)
-root is used in douches (and taken internally) for Uterine cancer, it is said to have been very useful (Grieves)


Dose:


Root, Seed or Flower in Decoction: 6–12 grams
Leaf in Decoction: 3–9 grams
Root or Seed in Powder: 2–4 grams

Substitutes:


Lotus and Water Lily are very similar in use. In general the corresponding part of each plant can be used as a substitute. 

Main Combinations:


1. Calm the Mind and Spirit and clear Heat:
i. Water Lily flower, Violet, seeds of Lettuce, Purslane and Gourd (as a Syrup)
ii. Water Lily flowers, Willow leaf, Lettuce, Rose
iii. Syrup of Water Lily flower, Syrup of Poppy, Syrup of Violet
2. Promote Sleep:
i. Oil of Water Lily applied to the temples and forehead (Herbarium Horstianum, 1630)
ii. Water Lily flower, Violet flower, Rose, Sandalwood, Pearl
3. Fever:
i. Syrup of Water Lily flower, Plantain Water
ii. Syrup of Water Lily flower, Syrup of Poppy, Syrup of Violet
4. Obstruction with Heat and Inflammation, Syrup of Water Lily Compound with Dialacca
5. Madness:
i. Water Lily flower with Coriander seed, Violet flower, Rose, Lettuce seed, Poppy seed, Red Coral (as in Powder for Madness)
ii. Water Lily flower with Violet, Rose, Camomile, White Poppy seed, Mandrake (as in Powder for Madness (2))
6. To Cool the Blood, Water Lily flower with Sorrel, Mallow, Plantain, Purslane, Endive, Aniseed, Lettuce, Borage, Violet (as in Decoction to Cool the Blood)
7. Prevent Miscarriage from Heat and Kidney weakness, Water Lily root, mature Deer horn, Distort, Dates
8. Gonorrhea or Spermatorrhea from Heat:
i. Water Lily flower, Violet, Plantain seed, Poppy seed
ii. Water Lily root with Tormentil, Lettuce seed, Rue, Agnus Castus, Frankincense
iii. Water Lily root with Purslane seed, Lettuce seed, Prepared Coriander seed, Dandelion, Nightshade, Rue, Camphor, Jujubes (Wirtzung)
9. Spermatorrhea, with Comfrey root, Pumpkin seed, Water Lily, Licorice juice, Gum Arabic, Red Coral (Wirtzung)

Major Formulas:


Decoction of Water Lily Compound
Syrup Against Consumption
Syrup of Water Lily Flowers
Syrup of Agnus Castus Compound
Powder for Madness (2) (Rondeletius)
Powder of Montagnana for Kidney Ulcers (Nicholas)
Cooling Pearl Powder (Diamargariton Frigidum) (Nicholas)
Restorative Electuary (Antidotus Analeptica) (Nicholas)
Electuary to Restore Humidity (Arnold de Villa Nova)

Cautions:


‘Frequent use extinguishes Venereous actions’. (Culpeper)
1. Not used in Cold and weakness of the Kidneys

Main Preparations used:


Distilled Water of the Flowers, Syrup of the Flowers made by Infusion, Compound Syrup, Conserve of the White Flowers, Infused Oil of the Flowers, Ointment of Water Lilies