THINGS YOU MIGHT NOT KNOW ABOUT OUR VERY OWN “PAGOSI”

This unique plant has already been part to the lives of the Jabonganons. Aside from being affordable snacks to the local folks, this rare specie becomes the local identity that gives much pride to Jabonga.

During my high school days at Jabonga National, PAGOSI had been our object of interest in our researches and studies. With the guidance of our advisers, Mrs. Nermajelita Morta- Mordeno and Mrs. Nenita Morante- Montero, we were able to explore different interesting ideas about this plant which give our school recognitions and awards in different investigatory project competitions outside school. We learned that its fibrous stalks could be turned into a special kind of paper which could be improved into a high quality one. Out from the Pagosi nuts, flour and oil could be extracted. Its shells and wastes could be formed into briquettes as substitute to charcoal. Although our resources and references were limited that time, we value the significance of this plant.

Still enchanted about the beauty of PAGOSI, questions did not subdue in my consciousness throughout these years. With the aid of the latest technology, I continued my quests for answers through the internet and what I found were much of interest. Join me in discovering the mystery of this plant.

Source: Internet (forgot the website)

Lotus – “ PAGOSI in Jabonga”
Botanical name: Nelumbo nucifera

Family: Nelumbonaceae. Nelumbo is the only genus in this family.

Names
Lotus, sacred lotus, Indian lotus, Chinese water lily, Egyptian bean (English)Kanwal, kamal (Hindi)Ambuja, padma, pankaja, kamala (Sanskrit)Padma (Bengal)Suriyakamal (Gujarat)Ambal, thamarai (Tamil)

The plant
Lotus is a water plant growing in the mud of shallow ponds, lagoons, marshes and flooded fields. It is native to parts of the Middle East, Asia, Australia and New Guinea. It can grow to a height of up to 6 m depending on the depth of water. It is found throughout India.

• Rhizomes - firmly anchored in the mud beneath the water surface, the lotus plant has long stems to which the leaves and flowers are attached. The crisp rhizomes are eaten in a variety of savoury dishes in India. The rhizomes are pocketed with air tunnels so that, when sliced, each disc looks like a piece of Swiss cheese or a snowflake.
  
• Leaves - disc-shaped and up to 90 cm wide. They either float on or protrude above the surface of the water. They have long leaf stalks that are scattered with small bumps. Both leaves and leaf stalks are eaten as vegetables in India.

• Seed- hard and dark brown. They can vary in shape from round or oval to oblong. They are sometimes eaten in India. Lotus seeds are also the oldest viable seeds ever recorded.

• Flowers - large and attractive with lots of petals. They tend to be rosy-pink or white coloured. They are sacred in Buddhist and Hindu religions and are frequently represented in South Asian art and literature. They are sometimes eaten as a vegetable in India.

Lotus - traditional medicine

The use of lotus in traditional Asian medicine dates back many centuries and continues largely unchanged even today. One of the most remarkable aspects of the lotus plant is that no fewer than seven different parts of the plant can be used medicinally, often for different purposes. Many of these uses are supported by scientific research.

Lotus remedies

Due to its astringent qualities, lotus has been widely used in the treatment of diarrhoea, dysentery and piles. Many traditional ancient medical texts also report its use for skin conditions, notably ringworm, and leprosy, sexually transmitted diseases such as gonorrhoea and syphilis as well as for lowering fevers, fighting fungal infections and supporting a weak heart. The milky latex found in the stems, leaves and flowers is used to fight bacterial infections.Roots and rhizomes have been used for treating smallpox, throat conditions, loss of skin pigmentation, coughs, diarrhoea and dysentery. One preparation involves mixing boiled rhizomes with sesame oil and rubbing it on the head to cool all parts of the head including the eyes. Leaves and stems have been prepared in a variety of ways to treat piles, leprosy, parasites and vomiting. Various parts of the flower including the petals have treated diarrhoea, cholera, fever, liver conditions, bronchitis, skin eruptions, snake bites and scorpion stings. To treat coughs, syrup is made using the dried flowers. Fruits and seeds have been used to soothe inflamed mucous membranes, lower fever and get rid of bad breath. Some sources state that the seeds, taken orally with a rice wash for 7 days, can increase female fertility.

Folk medicine

The main use for lotus in folk medicine is associated with the astringent properties of its flowers. It is frequently used in the treatment of diarrhoea and cholera. In India, honey made by bees visiting lotus flowers is said to be a tonic called 'padmamadjhu' or 'makaranda' and is used for eye disorders. The large leaves are sometimes used as 'cold bed-sheets' to treat high fever and burning of the skin.

This information is provided for general interest only. It is not intended as guidance for medicinal use. Further information on using herbal medicines is available.

Lotus - western medicine
Lotus is not commonly used in western medicine. Recent scientific research has been conducted on the chemical and medicinal properties of various parts of the lotus plant. Results support its use in traditional medicine.

Science supporting traditional uses

Scientific research on lotus provides evidence in support of many of its traditional medicinal uses to treat diarrhoea, fungal infections, fevers and conditions skin. Alcohol extracts of the rhizomes have also been shown to display as many as seven different kinds of therapeutic activity. The most notable is its anti-bacterial activity and hence use for the treatment of sexually transmitted diseases such as gonorrhoea and syphilis. Rheumatoid arthritis is also reported to respond well to treatment with lotus, as do certain kinds of diabetes. Preliminary studies on the ancient lotus seeds report the presence of an enzyme called L-isoaspartyl methyltransferase which may play a role in anti-ageing through their repair of proteins. If substantiated by further studies this would support the long-held traditional belief among Asian cultures that lotus is the symbol for fertility and re-birth.

Safety
Little is known about the toxicity of the different parts of lotus and it is generally considered a safe plant which is widely used as a food. Although an alkaloid known to affect the heart called nelumbine occurs in the leaves, fruit stalks and seeds, no cases of adverse reaction have been found in the literature.
This information is provided for general interest only. It is not intended as guidance for medicinal use. Further information on using herbal medicines is available.

Lotus - food
Lotus is a wholly edible species and is cultivated as a food plant in China, Japan, Hawaii, India and Korea. It is prized mainly for its crisp rhizomes and seeds, though the flowers and leaves are also eaten in some areas.

How it is eaten
In India, the rhizomes, seeds, leaves and flowers are eaten to some extent. The rhizomes are roasted or dried and sliced. They are used in curry, soups or fried as chips. They are also pickled or can be frozen and used as an ingredient in pre-cooked foods, and a kind of thickening powder may be prepared from the fleshy rhizomes.The fruits are sold in Indian markets for the edible seeds embedded in it. The seeds are removed of their outer covering and embryo, which is intensely bitter. They are sweet and tasty and may be eaten raw, roasted, boiled, candied or ground into flour. Young leaves, leaf stalks and flowers of lotus are eaten as vegetables in India. Its seeds are roasted to make puffs called 'makhanas'.

Lotus - Crafts
Because of its symbolic importance, the lotus plant has featured extensively in literature and art in South Asia. It has been used to make objects such as beads, clothing and lamps, and features in architecture.

Lotus and religious craftwork
As a sacred plant to Buddhists, Hindus and Jains, the lotus is important in South Asian craftwork which tends to use natural objects as symbols. Lotus seeds are strung together to make rosaries for these faiths, while lotus leaf stalks are used to make wicks for temple lamps. In Myanmar, fibre is harvested from the stems of the lotus plant and spun into thread. This is then woven to produce valuable lotus fabric, which might be used as an altar cloth or for religious robes. A simplified shape of a lotus is used to decorate many craft objects such as carvings on houses, folk paintings and fabrics.

Lotus - other uses
Lotus flowers were once a source of highly prized perfume in South Asia.

Fragrant flowers
Lotus flowers have been used as a source of valuable perfume called 'lotus perfume' which used to be available in South Asia. Lotus perfume is still made today, but now it contains a blend of patchouli, benzoin and storax and no longer contains lotus.