蓮子，是(shi)睡蓮(lian)科水(shui)生草本(ben)植物蓮(lian)的種子(zi)。又稱蓮(lian)實、蓮(lian)米、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)子以湘蓮(lian)為優(you)，湘蓮(lian)歷來作(zuo)為進貢(gong)朝廷的珍品，故又稱“貢(gong)蓮(lian)”。蓮(lian)子包括(kuo)紅蓮(lian)(lian)(lian)(lian)(lian)子(zi)(zi)(zi)、白(bai)(bai)蓮(lian)(lian)(lian)(lian)(lian)子(zi)(zi)(zi)、石(shi)蓮(lian)(lian)(lian)(lian)(lian)子(zi)(zi)(zi)三種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)。石(shi)蓮(lian)(lian)(lian)(lian)(lian)子(zi)(zi)(zi)是(shi)指(zhi)成熟甚(shen)至陷于淤泥(ni)的(de)(de)蓮(lian)(lian)(lian)(lian)(lian)蓬剝下來(lai)或自然(ran)掉下來(lai)的(de)(de)帶(dai)黑色(se)外(wai)種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)皮(pi)的(de)(de)蓮(lian)(lian)(lian)(lian)(lian)子(zi)(zi)(zi)。紅(hong)蓮(lian)(lian)(lian)(lian)(lian)子(zi)(zi)(zi)是(shi)指(zhi)除去(qu)(qu)外(wai)種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)皮(pi)的(de)(de)蓮(lian)(lian)(lian)(lian)(lian)子(zi)(zi)(zi)，一(yi)般(ban)分(fen)為去(qu)(qu)芯(xin)和不(bu)去(qu)(qu)芯(xin)兩種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)，白(bai)(bai)蓮(lian)(lian)(lian)(lian)(lian)子(zi)(zi)(zi)是(shi)指(zhi)去(qu)(qu)掉內(nei)種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)皮(pi)的(de)(de)蓮(lian)(lian)(lian)(lian)(lian)子(zi)(zi)(zi)，也(ye)分(fen)去(qu)(qu)芯(xin)不(bu)去(qu)(qu)芯(xin)兩種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)。幾(ji)種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)蓮(lian)(lian)(lian)(lian)(lian)子(zi)(zi)(zi)功效基本相同(tong)但(dan)使用上略(lve)有區別(bie)：紅(hong)蓮(lian)(lian)(lian)(lian)(lian)子(zi)(zi)(zi)帶(dai)紅(hong)色(se)外(wai)皮(pi)，一(yi)般(ban)用于養心安神的(de)(de)比較多(duo)(duo)，白(bai)(bai)蓮(lian)(lian)(lian)(lian)(lian)子(zi)(zi)(zi)色(se)白(bai)(bai)，一(yi)般(ban)用于潤肺(fei)健脾的(de)(de)多(duo)(duo)。

蓮(lian)子的(de)質(zhi)量以湘蓮(lian)品(pin)質(zhi)最好。其皮色(se)淡紅，皮紋細致(zhi)，粒大飽滿(man)，生吃(chi)微甜，一煮就酥，食之軟(ruan)糯清香。紅蓮(lian)質(zhi)量較差(cha)，其粒形瘦(shou)長，皮色(se)暗花，臍(qi)部(bu)下陷，中心空間(jian)較大，生吃(chi)味(wei)淡，久煮不酥。有的(de)蓮(lian)子看(kan)起來又白又干凈，實際這種蓮(lian)子很有可能使用了(le)對(dui)人體有害(hai)的(de)化學漂白劑，而且這些物質(zhi)會(hui)(hui)對(dui)肝臟(zang)造(zao)成傷害(hai)，引起重(zhong)金(jin)屬中毒。真(zhen)正優(you)質(zhi)的(de)蓮(lian)子，去皮后外(wai)表仍會(hui)(hui)有一點皺皮或未處理干凈的紅皮，劣質的則在(zai)刀口處有突起。蓮(lian)子(zi)經(jing)水蒸會(hui)發生(sheng)膨(peng)脹(zhang)，散發出(chu)一(yi)(yi)種清香(xiang)，而添加了化(hua)學制(zhi)劑的蓮(lian)子(zi)幾乎不膨(peng)脹(zhang)，還(huan)會(hui)有一(yi)(yi)種堿味。