The round tan seeds from this flowering herb are ground and used in Chinese moon cakes which are made and eaten in the middle of fall in relation to the Chinese culture. Other culinary properties include a drink that is made from the root of this plant. The leaves can be used for steaming food and the seeds can be ingested raw. The seeds can also be eaten dried and rolled in sugar. The flower petals have been used to make a sweet shrimp sauce.
Lotus root is used widely in Thailand and Japan.
The medicinal values of the Lotus flower include treating diarrhea, use as a diuretic, and also restorative properties. The parts used are the brown seeds, flower stem, and leaves. The seeds are used in a tonic, which has restorative qualities and the flower stem and leaves are used to treat diarrhea. The flower stamens are used as a diuretic. In Egyptian culture, there were only two species of Lotus Flower that grew the blue and the white.