Lotus 9, 250 tablets

Lotus 9 is a derivative of Dioscorea Combination (Sishen Tang), made with lotus seed, dioscorea, euryale, hoelen, and coix. It is used to promote digestion, drain dampness, and calm agitation. The formula is modified by adding additional herbs to promote digestion: codonopsis, dolichos, crataegus, ginger, and licorice. This mild tonic is suitable for treating children and for persons who tend to be hypersensitive to foods or to their environment. Several of the ingredients are commonly used in China as foods, and all of them enter into certain Chinese food preparations. This formula has a supplementing effect that may be helpful for persons who have suffered the consequences of inadequate nutrition due to overly restrictive diets (including many modern vegetarian diets), anorexia nervosa, weight loss programs, or "cleansing" regimens (including excessive use of laxatives). A mixture of herbs to be cooked with chicken soup, including lotus seeds, dioscorea, codonopsis, and other other tonics, can also be used with the same purpose. Lotus 9 differs from Ginseng 18, which also promotes digestion and drains dampness, in that the latter has several spicy herbs for dispersing stagnated qi and moisture (e.g., saussurea, magnolia bark, cardamon). Lotus 9 is used for an individual who is drained or weakened, while Ginseng 18 is used by an individual who as bloating and dampness accumulation. For additional digestive system support, see Gallus-Malt Tablets and Galletaine (White Tiger). For astringing the kidney system, see Cuscuta 15.*