Makhana/ Euryale ferox

• Makhana (Euryale ferox ) also called as fox nut or gorgon nut is an annual plant, grown throughout the ponds and low-lying lakes of China, Japan and India as well as parts of eastern Russia.
• It belongs to Family Nymphaeaceae (Water Lily Family).
• The seeds of the plant are starchy, white, small and round, with a brown outer covering. In India, particularly in the northern and western parts of the country, Makhana seeds are often roasted or fried, which causes them to pop like popcorn. They can be consumed either raw or after being stir-baked, often with a sprinkling of oil and spices.
• In India Makhana has been widely used in traditional oriental medicine to cure a variety of diseases including kidney problems, chronic diarrhea, excessive leucorrhea and hypo function of the spleen. Recent studies show its antioxidant activities.
• Euryale (Makhana) seed is considered sweet, astringent and neutral, according to the principles of traditional Chinese medicine, and is associated with the Spleen and Kidney meridians.