What is a Blue Lotus Flower & What are its Benefits And Side Effects?

The blue lotus plant, also known as Nymphaea caerulea is actually a gift to the world. This psychoactive plant is also known as blue water lily, sacred blue lily, and Egyptian lotus.

Traditionally it has been used for thousands of years as a natural aphrodisiac, sleep aid, and anxiety reliever.⁽¹⁾

Apomorphine and nuciferine are the two compounds present in this flower that are responsible for its psychoactive and medicinal effects.^(1,2,3,4)

Apomorphine: It is a psychoactive compound that acts as a dopamine agonist. It instils a happy and euphoric feeling. It also provides muscle control in conditions such as Parkinson’s disease and erectile dysfunction.

Nuciferine: This compound is an antipsychotic drug that induces calmness.

It also contains a mind-altering compound that can alter consciousness spiritually and religiously.

After consuming the blue lotus flower, you get a feeling of high which leads to a gentle euphoria. It can be made into various health concoctions including blue lotus tea, wine, and martinis.

There are different ways in which the blue lotus flower can be used:

Tea: To make blue lotus flower tea, 3-5 grams of dried flowers are added to 1-2 cups of hot water, and let it steep for 5-10 minutes.

Smoking: For smoking, roll the dried flower leaves in a rolling paper. Smoking these flowers may cause psychoactive effects, therefore, be cautious.

Vaping: For vaping, the dried flowers can be grounded and added to the vaporizer and inhaled.

Massage and essential oil: Blue lotus flower in massage oils and essential oil can be used by applying on the skin or nasal passages.

People also infuse these flowers in alcoholic beverages and wine, but the safety of it is unknown and hence should be avoided.

Most of the people look for the cosmetic products that have natural components in it.

The Blue lotus flower is known for a variety of health benefits.

In many countries, seeds of the blue lotus flower are used in the preparation of skincare products. It helps in providing instant hydration.⁽⁵⁾

If someone has dry and flaky skin, a product containing blue lotus flower seeds can help in achieving glowing skin.

For those with oily skin, it can help in controlling the oil balance of the skin.

It is also helpful in relieving the stress on the skin.

With the increased usage of chemicals in hair care and hair styling products, people look out for those with natural content. Blue lotus provides natural hair care without any side effects.

The extract of blue lotus flowers can be used in the hair conditioning products to give a natural shine to the damaged hair.

It also helps in increasing the elasticity of brittle hair.

The Blue lotus flower is used as a seductive drug by both men and women. It has the potential to work as a sex stimulant. It can be used in the treatment of impotence.⁽⁶⁾

Blue lotus flower contains antioxidants such as flavonoids, quercetin, myricetin, and kaempferol.⁽⁷⁾

Antioxidants play a role in promoting good health by fighting free radicals that can damage the body cells. They are also known to lower the risk of chronic conditions like heart disease, diabetes, obesity, and certain types of cancer.^(8,9,10)

The blue lotus flower has been used widely for the cure in Ayurveda and Siddha system of medicine.⁽¹¹⁾

The rhizome of this beautiful flower can be used to treat stomach disorders such as diarrhea and dysentery. It can also be used to treat dyspepsia, jaundice, and other gastrointestinal disorders.

There is a lot of debate on the blue lotus flower being a legal substance due to its psychoactive properties.

The Food and Drug Administration has labeled it as a poisonous substance. It can be legally purchased as blue lotus tea, incense sticks, and oils.⁽¹²⁾

It is important to speak to a healthcare provider before considering trying blue lotus flower. Also, children, pregnant females, and breastfeeding mothers should avoid this flower due to the lack of research on its safety.

Because of its psychoactive properties, it is not suitable for everyone. It should not be mixed with substances like cannabis and alcohol.

A person can experience side effects such as nausea and disorientation on combining this flower with other drugs.

The blue lotus flower has been used traditionally for its various benefits. It is commonly consumed in the form of tea, smoked, vaped, or inhaled. It helps in relieving anxiety, increase sexual arousal, and manage erectile dysfunction.

Due to its psychoactive properties, if considering using it, consult a healthcare provider.