Blue lotus is a plant that has been revered as a sacred flower and a medicinal herb for thousands of years. It is known for its soothing powers and psychoactive properties. Today, many people are seeking the ancient plant for its calming, euphoric effects and therapeutic potential.
This guide explains blue lotus, including its historical significance, medical uses, psychoactive qualities, and the best consumption methods.
What is Blue Lotus?
Blue lotus is a captivating aquatic plant with striking blue petals native to the muddy shallow waters of the Nile River in Egypt.
Despite its name, the blue lotus is not a lotus. It’s actually a lily. Some call it the blue water lily, the sacred blue lily of the Nile, and the Egyptian lotus.
Ancient cultures utilized blue lotus for medicinal purposes and spiritual alignment, given the plant’s ability to alter consciousness. Modern herbalists recognize its potential to relieve anxiety, improve sleep, and target inflammation.
Historical Significance of Blue Lotus
Many ancient cultures held the blue lotus in esteemed status, including the Ancient Egyptians, Chinese, Japanese, Indians, Buddhists, and Greeks.
Blue lotus had various meanings and uses as it spread across Africa and Asia, becoming an integral therapeutic and spiritual compound. Historical uses for blue lotus included detoxification, meditation, medicine, burial rites, and as an aphrodisiac.
Blue Lotus in Ancient Egyptian Mythology
Ancient Egyptians revered blue lotus for its unique blooming patterns. This aquatic flower’s petals open upon first light, following the sun's arc throughout the day, and finally closing at sundown.
Ancient Egyptians considered this process a symbol of rebirth, closely associating it with Ra (the sun god) and Osiris (the god of the underworld). They frequently created art, artifacts, and hieroglyphics to mirror this symbol.
The blue lotus also served as an essential component in religious ceremonies and shamanistic rituals thanks to its psychoactive properties. Egyptians believed the blue lotus could provide a spiritual connection to the afterlife and communication with the divine.
The famous "Book of the Dead" mentions the plant in several chapters concerning magical and religious rituals.
Blue Lotus in Buddhism and Hinduism
In Buddhism and Hinduism, the blue lotus flower is a powerful meditation aid and spiritual symbol.
According to legend in the Lotus Sutra, a lotus flower bloomed everywhere the baby Buddha stepped. The blue lotus symbolizes wisdom, knowledge, and the victory of the spirit over the senses. It is associated with purity and enlightenment, as it emerges untainted from muddy waters, mirroring the human soul's journey toward spiritual realization.
In Hinduism, the blue lotus flower is a symbol of divine beauty. Like the Buddhists, Hinduists believe that the mud, where creatures like fish and insects make their home, was the most unlikely place to create a flower of such beauty. It often appears in artwork as a symbol of the god Vishnu, whom they associate with preservation and protection.
Medicinal Uses of Blue Lotus
Ancient cultures revered blue lotus for its mystical properties. They also recognized the water lily’s profound therapeutic potential. Later research would show that blue lotus flowers contain alkaloids and flavonoids that display soothing effects and anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties.
Blue Lotus in Traditional Medicine
Medicinal blue lotus use spans thousands of years. In many cultures, it served as a treatment for anxiety, insomnia, gastrointestinal issues, and more.
Enhanced well-being:
Blue lotus was popular for its euphoric and tranquilizing effects. It often appeared in traditional medicine as an ingredient to ease stress, anxiety, and insomnia.
Ayurveda, one of the world's oldest medical systems, believes the scent of blue lotus encourages deep breathing and relaxation, making it a regular meditation and sleep aid.
Treating diseases:
The blue lotus flower is abundant in flavonoids (similar to cannabis) such as quercetin, kaempferol, myricetin, and flavonols, which show promising antioxidant activity. Because of this, Ayurvedic medicine commonly used blue lotus to treat diarrhea, fevers, urinary problems, and heart palpitations.
Dreams and visions:
Ancient cultures realized the blue lotus was psychoactive and could produce a high. Some reports say Egyptians utilized the plant to calm emotional tensions and induce lucid dreaming. However, research does not provide evidence for this connection.
Increased libido:
Ancient Egyptians and Mayans used blue lotus as a ritual plant to achieve ecstasy and excitement. The Egyptian Turin Papyrus depicts gatherings of elite society who shared sacred wines imbued with blue lotus extract, referencing its aphrodisiac qualities. Studies show the blue lotus flower’s active ingredient, nuciferine, can help with muscle-related issues, such as erectile dysfunction.
Primary Active Compounds
Experts attribute blue lotus’ therapeutic powers to its main aporphine alkaloids, nuciferine, and apomorphine. Apomorphine is a psychoactive compound that stimulates serotonin receptors and parts of the brain influenced by dopamine. Nuciferine blocks excessive dopamine receptor stimulation, serving as an anxiety reliever and sleep aid.
Physicians recognize apomorphine as the oldest antiparkinsonian drug on the market and increasingly prescribe it in Europe for patients with advanced Parkinson’s disease with motor fluctuations.
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Nuciferine can relax arteries and ease inflammation, which might contribute to therapeutic effects that help with anxiety, sleep, and muscle performance. Studies also link it to anti-obesity impacts that can help with weight loss.
Another study suggests nuciferine may have potential therapeutic applications as an antipsychotic drug. The nuciferine receptor profile is similar to clozapine, one of the most successful antipsychotic drugs.
Apomorphine’s serotonin and dopamine stimulation creates euphoric effects that enhance mood and increase alertness.
Nuciferine’s dopamine receptor-blocking activity results in sedation, relaxation, and potential anxiety relief. While not as potent as other psychoactive substances, nuciferine contributes to mild euphoric and tranquil states at around 10 grams.
Apomorphine and nuciferine interact with dopamine in contradictory ways. However, the compounds synergize to produce a balanced set of effects, creating a unique psychoactive experience that includes stimulatory and calming elements.
How Do You Take Blue Lotus?
People have enjoyed blue lotus in various ways throughout history. The most common forms are teas, tinctures, and smoking or vaping.
Blue Lotus Flower Tea
Blue lotus tea steeps dried blue lotus flowers in hot water for 10-15 minutes. The flavor is excellent, but adding honey or lemon can enhance the taste. Many blue lotus tea products are available online for easy prep.
As with other plant medicine, blue lotus effects vary depending on the dose, with lower doses producing milder, more therapeutic effects, while high doses can cause more psychoactive and intensely euphoric effects. A mild brew can relieve stress, while a potent mixture can induce euphoria and sedation. Many consider 5 grams (0.17 ounce) as a regular or mild dose, while 10 grams (0.35 ounce) is a strong dose.
Consumers can buy dried flower petals and stems and grind them in rolling papers or a smoking device. Combining blue lotus with other herbs, such as cannabis, catnip, lavender, and spearmint, can enhance and customize the flavor.
Tinctures are a popular way to take herbal remedies, including blue lotus flowers. They involve a ratio of dried herbs to alcohol, which steeps over several weeks, such as blue lotus tincture products from Exilart.
Consumers can add a few drops to a glass of water or place it under the tongue.
Side Effects & Safety Issues with Blue Lotus
Blue lotus is generally safe to consume in small amounts. However, the Food and Drug Administration has not approved the flower for consumption. Ingesting or inhaling blue lotus, especially in high doses, has the potential to cause adverse side effects, such as:
Confusion
Dizziness
Dry mouth
Nausea and vomiting
Slurred speech
Chest pain
Drowsiness
Most symptoms resolve without treatment within a few hours. Consumers should start with small doses and gradually increase over time to reduce the risk of side effects.
Bottom Line
Blue lotus is a plant from the Nile River heralded for thousands of years as a medicinal herb and spiritual flower. It contains antioxidants and psychoactive alkaloids that imbibe it with therapeutic effects noted for helping with anxiety, sleep, and mental disorders. This fascinating flower can also cause intoxicating effects and even mild hallucinations when smoked, making it an exciting new frontier in botanical medicine.
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