The blue lotus flower is one of the plants the traditional medicine has acknowledged and used for many purposes, including aiding in sleep, cooking, and relieving anxiety.
Blue lotus, also called the sacred blue lily, Egyptian lotus, or blue water lily is a psychoactive plant whose scientific name is Nymphaea caerulea. Traditional medicine believes that the plant has great potential, which is why it has been used for many years for different purposes. It has been used to relieve people of anxiety and aid them with sleep. Although there is no scientific evidence that proves that the plant can help with coughs, liver problems, and fever, it has actually been used to improve these conditions. What’s more, the plant has been used in India for flavoring beverages, baking, and cooking. Despite all the promising uses, you may wonder whether the psychoactive plant is worth all these. Learn more about the Egyptian lotus, including its safety and side effects.
Understanding blue lotus flower
The Blue lotus flower is a psychoactive plant predominantly found in Asia and Egypt. For a long time, the plant has formed a great aspect of the ancient cultural images, which is why its images could be seen in tombs and papyri. The plant is believed to have great potential, which is why it has been used to manage a wide arrange of conditions, including insomnia, coughs, anxiety, and other problems. The Asians and Egyptians believed that the blue lotus flower could influence the partaker’s consciousness spiritually or religiously, so it is described as ‘entheogenic’ and not ‘psychedelic’ or ‘hallucinogenic.’
The plant’s psychoactive nature is attributed to two compounds it has; nuciferine and apomorphine. Nuciferine is a compound that exerts psychotic feelings and helps a person relax. However, the mechanisms through which it does this have not been understood. Apomorphine is a compound that acts as a dopamine agonist and is related to happy and euphoric feelings. The two compounds may help with erectile dysfunction, while apomorphine may also help other conditions such as Parkinson’s disease.
Blue lotus flower; its legality
The United States has not approved the blue lotus flower for human consumption. However, its cultivation, selling, and purchasing are legal in all states, except Louisiana, which has not legalized the plant’s cultivation or consumption. Those who have used blue lotus flower say it behaves more like cannabis, making a person feel slightly ‘high’ after taking it. However, this is largely based on individuals’ experiences. The plant is used in the form of wines and spirits that have the substance infused in them, products that can be vaped or smoked, or teas. You get these online, in vapes shops, or in holistic specialty stores.As with other psychoactive substances, be sure to familiarize yourself with your local and federal laws regarding blue lotus flower, and talk to your medical advisor before trying it.
Health claims linked to the blue lotus flower
Blue lotus is popular today, especially because of the acclaim it has garnered from its health claims. However, there is limited research to prove that the plan could have any health benefit on its users. Rather, historians acknowledge that the sacred lily has been widely used for medicinal and recreational purposes and could probably help with insomnia, anxiety, and erectile dysfunction. Even for these uses, the evidence is limited. Researchers tend to link these claims to nuciferine and apomorphine compounds in the flower, two compounds that release muscle tension and help a person stay calm.
The plant is rich in antioxidants, which could also be responsible for some of the health claims. Kaempferol, quercetin, flavonoids, and myricetin are powerful plant compounds that can help with a range of conditions. Despite blue lotus flower having all these antioxidants, no modern studies have linked them to helping with diabetes, heart disease, and other conditions. Taking whole grains, nuts, seeds, fresh vegetables, and fruits has been suggested as the best way to obtain antioxidants and powerful plant compounds that can benefit the body.
Does the blue lotus flower have any downsides?
The fact that the blue lotus flower is psychoactive and has been labeled by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as poisonous could be a red flag, which is why countries like Latvia, Poland, and Russia have deemed it illegal. However, in most countries, the plant is sold as tea, oils, incense, and wines/spirits. Still, no scientific study has backed the idea of taking the plant, although its enthusiasts say a whole lot about its health benefits.
If you choose to try the blue lotus flower, talk to your medical advisor. Still, keep in mind that the FDA does not label blue lotus flower as a controlled substance; hence its safety and the ideal dosages have not been determined. Lactating mothers and children are among those who should not try the flower for whatever reason. Since the flower has psychoactive properties, its interaction with cannabis and alcohol may not be something you will want to try. Thus the three should not be used together. In fact, drinking while under the influence of blue lotus flower is dangerous.
How blue lotus flower is used
Sacred lily can be consumed or used in several ways. However, since it’s not a controlled substance, you will not find information on how safe it is, the appropriate dosages, and the maximum amount you should take. You may have to rely on a reputable supplier, especially for knowing whether it’s good for you as well as the dosages. Be sure to stick to the stated dosages. In addition, remember that the flower can trigger drug interactions. Here are some ways to use the flower;
- Tea; the blue lotus tea is available in 3-5g tea bags which are often used with 1-2cups of water and left to steep for 5-10minutes.
- Vaping; you can find ground forms of the flower to be used with vaporizers.
- Massage and essential oils; although many doubt the potency of the blue lotus flower massage and essential oils, it’s another way of using the flower.
- Smoking; the dried lotus flower be rolled and smoked.
- Alcoholic beverages; although some people enjoy the flower by infusing it with wines and spirits, it may be best to avoid these due to the potential psychoactive reactions.
Conclusion
The blue lotus flower is a psychoactive plant in Asia and Egypt. Historians describe the flower as entheogenic as it exerts psychoactive effects in a spiritual or religious sense. Although its proponents claim that the flower may help with a range of conditions, most of these lack scientific backing.
Credits
We would like to thank the below contributors who have helped us to write this article:
I believe that nutrition science is a wonderful helper both for the preventive improvement of health and adjunctive therapy in treatment. My goal is to help people improve their health and well-being without torturing themselves with unnecessary dietary restrictions. I am a supporter of a healthy lifestyle – I play sports, cycle, and swim in the lake all year round. With my work, I have been featured in Vice, Country Living, Harrods magazine, Daily Telegraph, Grazia, Women's Health, and other media outlets.
- Bell Peppers 101: Nutrition Facts and Health Benefits - April 19, 2024
- Products That Assist with Stress Relief - September 21, 2023
- TRÈFLE – THE ROAD TO THE 15TH - July 29, 2023
