The word Euryale has two meanings – the Gorgon in Greek mythology or the genus in the water lily family. Apparently what we are talking about is a flowering plant instead of a three winged monster. Since the medicinal part of Euryale is the seeds, medicinally it mainly refers to the dried mature seeds of Euryale ferox Salisb., which is the only one species in the family Nymphaeaceae or sometimes in a distinct family called Euryalaceae. Hence, other names of this plant include fox nut plant, Makhana, foxnut, ‘thangjing’, Onibas (Onibasu), gorgon plant, etc. And its seeds are also known as Euryale ferox seed, Semen Euryales, Seed of Gordon Euryale, gorgon nut, etc. In China, it is mainly produced in Hunan, Jiangxi, Anhui, and Shandong. The ripe fruits are regularly collected in the late autumn and early winter. Before used as a medicine, it still needs to remove the peel, pick the seeds, get rid of hard shell, and dry in the sun. And it is used smashed in the raw or fried form.

In March grown from stem and attached to the surface of the water, Euryale leaves are 1 meter in diameter (bigger than lotus leaves), wrinkled, and with green upper surface and purple lower surface. Both its stems and leaves are with sharp prickles. Petiole and peduncle are stout and up to 25cm long. Petiole is edible after peeled when young and in the middle of it there are holes and threads. Purple flowers bloom in July or August and fruits bear in August or September. Solitary flowers, about 5cm long, open in the day and close at night. Spherical berry is 3 to 5cm in diameter, spongy, and dark purple. Spherical seeds are black and 10mm in diameter. Main habitats are ponds, lakes and paddy fields.

Euryale ferox benefits
Euryale ferox is also a popular foliage and aquatic plant, which is usually grown for the purpose of landscaping. It used to grow in the wild but now it is extensively cultivated because in recent years people come to realize its potential value on medicine and nutrition. Actually in China it has long been used as a good tonic that can lead to an enhancement of vitality, anti-aging, life extension, weight loss, and youthful-looking skin. This claim are made and supported by tons of evidences, from both western medicine and traditional Chinese medicine.

From the point of view of western medicine, it is rich in carbohydrates, proteins, vitamins, starch, riboflavin, calcium, phosphorus, iron, vitamin B1, B2, niacin and other trace elements. In other words, these nutrients set up a specific physical infrastructure for its medicinal uses. In addition, in terms of taking a tonic, an important principle is to make sure it is not only nutrient-rich, but also easy to digest and absorb. And Euryale seed is that tonic you have been looking for since it is extremely rich in carbohydrates and almost free from fat, which make it very easy to be absorbed by the body. More importantly, the digestive system will become stronger and adapt to other supplements after the regulation made by Euryale.

From the perspective of TCM, Euryale possesses an amazing capability for the diseases featuring depleting or leaking. It works just like a pair of strong hands to lift up and prevent your qi and blood from losing in vain. This effect makes sense to diseases like diarrhea with undigested food in the stool,  Nocturnal Emission, frequent urination at night, and more. Chen Siduo, a famous physician in Qing Dynasty, said it best: "This herb is able to stop pain in lower back and knees, improve eyesight and hearing, and prolong life in long-term use. It looks plain and ordinary but in fact has many health benefits. It not only stops night emission but also increases the sperm count. What’s more, it removes damp-phlegm in spleen and stomach, which in turn helps the production of kidney-essence." So to speak, it is the perfect solution in terms of invigorating spleen and kidney. And the benefit will be even better if combined with Shan Yao (Chinese Yam).

Euryale seed resembles lotus seed since both of them are nourish herbs. In comparison, the former has stronger astringent, sedative properties. And it is also similar to Chinese Yam on medicinal properties. But the former has a better performance on relieving depletion while the latter is good at tonifying qi and yin. For that reason, they often appear in pair in herbal remedies.