Blue Lotus Flower Tea
Some people believe blue lotus flower has health benefits, including reducing anxiety and improving sleep. But it has psychoactive properties, and research on its safety and efficacy is needed.
Blue lotus flower (Nymphaea caerulea) is a psychoactive plant, also known as blue Egyptian lotus, blue water lily, and sacred blue lily.
It’s been used in traditional medicine for thousands of years as a natural aphrodisiac, sleep aid, and anxiety reliever. However, due to its psychoactive properties, many people wonder if it’s legal and safe to use.
This article tells you all you need to know about blue lotus flower, including its benefits, downsides, legality, and safety.
Blue lotus flower is a water lily that predominantly grows in Egypt and certain parts of Asia.
It holds cultural importance, and images of the flower have been found on ancient papyri and on the walls of tombs. Historians believe it was once used in Egypt as a traditional medicine to treat an array of conditions and disorders like anxiety and insomnia.
It’s known as an entheogenic drug, which is a mind-altering substance believed to alter one’s consciousness in a spiritual or religious manner. This term is commonly used instead of “hallucinogenic” or “psychedelic”
The two main compounds responsible for the flower’s psychoactive and medicinal effects are apomorphine and nuciferine .
- Apomorphine. A psychoactive compound that acts as a dopamine agonist, meaning it can instill a happy and euphoric feeling. It may also help with muscle control in those with conditions such as Parkinson’s disease and erectile dysfunction.
- Nuciferine. A compound thought to act as an antipsychotic drug that induces feelings of calmness through mechanisms that aren’t yet fully understood. It has also been shown to improve symptoms of erectile dysfunction.
Consuming blue lotus flower may make you feel “high” and result in a gentle euphoria. Some people have drawn comparisons to the high you experience after consuming cannabis, though this can be largely individual.
Health benefits of Blue Lotus tea
Blue Lotus has been used in traditional healing practices for thousands of years but is mainly used for its relaxation properties which have shown to help with sleep, stress, and lower anxiety levels.
- Relaxation
- Can aid against stress
- Lower anxiety
Blue lotus flower can be used in many different forms, though there’s no data available on its safety, maximum dosage, and potency:
- Tea. To make blue flower lotus tea, add one premade tea bag or 3–5 grams of dried flowers to 1–2 cups (250–500 mL) of hot water. Let steep for 5–10 minutes.
- Smoking. If you choose to smoke it, roll dried flowers using rolling papers. Just keep in mind that this method may cause significant psychoactive effects and should be used with caution.
- Vaping. For vaping, finely ground flowers can be added to a vaporizer and inhaled.
- Alcoholic beverage. Some people infuse wine or alcoholic spirits with the flower. Due to the unknown safety of this, it’s best to avoid it.
Despite these uses, it’s unknown if blue lotus toxicity or drug interactions can occur.
Despite the many claims of blue lotus flower’s health benefits, there’s only limited research on the plant.
Historically, it’s been used recreationally and medicinally, with most advocates claiming it can improve sleep, reduce anxiety, assist with erectile dysfunction, and act as a natural aphrodisiac.
Though no direct research supports these claims, many suspect that these effects come from the two compounds in the flower — apomorphine and nuciferine — commonly known to promote calmness and assist with muscle control.
Furthermore, blue lotus flower contains antioxidants like flavonoids, quercetin, kaempferol, and myricetin.
Antioxidants promote good health by fighting free radicals, which can otherwise damage your body’s cells. A diet high in antioxidants is associated with a lower risk of chronic conditions like heart disease, diabetes, obesity, and certain types of cancer.
Yet, despite its antioxidant content, no research directly links this flower with a reduced risk of chronic disease, and no studies have confirmed whether there’s an ideal way to consume it to reap the most benefits.
The best way to get antioxidants is to include a variety of antioxidant-rich foods in your diet like vegetables, fruit, nuts, seeds, whole grains, green tea, and coffee
Do not drive or operate heavy machinery after consuming. May cause drowsiness in some individuals.
Comes in compostable clip lock bag/s.