In many ways modern society has lost its relationship with nature, plant medicine and the mysterious. I believe part of our human suffering comes from this loss. I suffered from depression and anxiety for many years and even now at times, they visit back to say hello and remind me. Whenever depression hits me and I feel lost and disconnected, I have to realize I feel that way because I got disconnected from myself and all life around me.
Plants have long been used in the expansion of human consciousness and as gateways to connecting to higher realms of being and it’s something I love to experience with. Also known as the Sacred Blue Lily of the Nile or the Flower of Enlightenment, Blue Lotus has been revered by many ancient cultures and civilizations from Ancient Egypt to the Ancient Greeks, Tibetans, the Alexandrian Empire, Mayans, and Aboriginals. It has even been found in the Roman outpost of Londinium (present day London).
Blue Lotus (Nymphaea caerulea) is an ethnobotanical treasure I became fascinated with at a young age. My love for ancient cultures, especially Ancient Egypt, has driven me to enroll in archaeology major at university when I was 19. For thousands of years, it was used in ancient Egypt as part of religious ceremonies to reach higher levels of consciousness and to connect to the Divine, the cosmos and lead to soul growth. Practitioners would steep the Blue Lotus flowers in wine for several weeks and use it as a sacrament. (Supposedly, it nullifies the negative effects of alcohol.) It has a long recorded history as a medicinal plant yet I only started to experiment with this magical flower a few years ago.
Traditionally used as a sleep aid, detoxifying agent, and aphrodisiac, it is rich in antioxidants and is widely used even in Ayurveda for relieving diarrhea, fevers, urinary problems, and heart palpitations. My first interaction with blue lotus flower was in small amounts as tea before bed to soothe anxiety and help me sleep better. I found its effects to be subtle, helping me drift into sleep more easily. My dreams, however, were very active and much more vivid. I also explored this plant with my boyfriend and I found our love-making to be very different from any other time. I felt completely immersed in the sacredness of intimacy and connection.
Blue lotus can be hallucinogenic to some extent if consumed in mass quantities or hyper-concentrated forms, which I have experienced firsthand. But don’t worry, a regular tea will not make you feel like this. Interestingly this plant seems to have a natural intelligence and works as an adaptogen, helping everyone with what they need—some find it mildly stimulating while others experience calming effects. It targets the area in need of healing, and it shifts energy into what the true constitution should be.
You might wonder how can you enjoy the benefits of Blue Lotus in modern life or include it as a part of your already existing rituals. If you are open to receiving the positive effects of this sacred flower, there are plenty of ways you can deepen its impact on your daily life. I love to use blue lotus to help with lucid dreaming, as a dream journal practice can help transfer and understand messages from your subconscious and to connect with spirit guides.
How To Use Blue Lotus Flower
Types of blue lotus available
Blue lotus flower extracts, dried leaves, oils, powders and e-liquids are widely available online.
The alkaloids are not water-soluble, you may use the flower extracts by consuming them as teas, dissolving in ethanol-containing beverages, smoking or vaping in e-cigarettes. My favorite ways to consume blue lotus is in my hot drinks. I even add it to my hot cocoa, use it as a face and body oil mixed with moringa oil, or smoke it using a pipe.
Below are the benefits you can get from tea made from this water lily and tips to examine your dreams.
Potential Health Benefits Of Blue Lotus Flower
A Potent Psychoactive
The blue lotus flower contains alkaloids, tannins, phenolic acids, and flavonoids. The alkaloids apomorphine and nuciferine in the plant help release dopamine and serotonin to influence your mood and produce mild psychoactive effects that induce euphoria. Anecdotal evidence suggests that the flower may also cause visual and auditory hallucinations.
It is a mild sedative
The sacred blue lily may provide a mild sense of euphoria, promote calmness, and induce sleep. A cup of blue lotus flower tea lowers their stress levels and helps them to be less anxious and have restful sleep.
May Relieve Anxiety
Lotus blossoms are used to ‘calm emotional disturbances’ in Eastern medicine. Apomorphine has also been linked to reducing anxiety levels.
May Reduce Signs Of Aging
The blue lotus flower contains antioxidants, which may help fight free radicals and slow down the early signs of aging. A study found that blue lotus flower extract could significantly reduce acne. I can personally justify this, since I use blue lotus + moringa oil on my face I get lots of compliments on my radiant skin and my acne that I get from time to time from foods that irritate my body heal much faster.
May Reduce Menstrual Irregularities
In Ayurveda and Siddha (ancient Indian medical systems), Indian blue lily (Nymphaea stellata), a closely related plant, is often used to treat menstrual irregularities.
Blue lotus flower tea can ease the cramps and also stabilize the menstrual cycle but there’s not much research on this. Though personally, my cycle stabilized after I introduced regular consumption of blue lotus flower and CBD into my spiritual and daily routine and my cramps are also much lighter.
Its anti-diabetic properties
Drinking a cup of blue lotus flower tea may help prevent or delay diabetes since it reduces cholesterol levels in the body and it contains components that can help regulate insulin secretion such as nuciferine and Nymphayol. However, this plant should not be consumed by patients who take anti-diabetes medications since the blood sugar levels may go down to a dangerous level. In this case, it is advisable that a physician should be consulted first.
Lucid Dreaming
Blue Lotus Flower Tea is frequently consumed by spiritual practitioners to elicit or intensify lucid dreaming.
4 steps to begin your dream journal practice with blue lotus flower:
- Set an intention for your dreams before you go to bed. Manifest dream recall through simple affirmations in the present tense, such as “Tonight, I will remember my dreams.” If you believe it and feel it, your brain will, too.
- Drink a small cup of blue lotus flower tea before you go to bed. I found a smaller cup works better, as if you might drink more you might need to visit the toilet overnight and that interrupts the dream practice and sleep.
- Journal your dreams every day for at least 2–4 weeks. It can take between 18 and 254 days to form a new habit, and on average, a new behavior only becomes automatic after 66 days.
- Write in your dream journal as soon as you wake up. As you rise, it can be helpful to sit in stillness, reacquainting yourself with your breath and physical body for a few moments. Then reach for your dream journal and record whatever you remember without judgment. I have found it more useful to simply stick to key words instead of long descriptions. Don’t wait until after your morning coffee or stretches, I find the more time I waste between waking and journaling the easier is to forget your dreams.
Blue Lotus Flower Tea
What You Need
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- 2 tbs dried blue lotus flower
- 250 mL of water
- 1 ts dried chamomile flower
- 1 ts dried lavender buds
- 1 tablespoon of honey or other sweetener of your choice
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How To Prepare
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- Boil water in a pan. Add the dried flowers to it.
- Steep for 5-7 minutes. Add sweetener for enhanced flavor.
- Strain the tea in a cup.
- Enjoy!
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Sourcing and Sustainability
Despite its presence in Ancient Egypt it is very difficult to find this flower in this region today. Due to this and the unique way in which Blue Lotus grows it can be fairly difficult to find ethical and reliable sources of the plant. Always research your source before purchasing to ensure you use the best quality plants.
The safety and dosage of the blue lotus flower are not well-researched. Hence, there is no generally accepted dosage, and that is why you should be more careful while using it. Children and pregnant or breastfeeding women should avoid the flower as there is not much research on its safety. Always consult a doctor before trying the blue lotus flower. If you experience any adverse effects, limit its use and seek medical advice.
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This article was first published on July 5, 2022 and updated on March 27, 2023.
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Photo: Say Cheeze Studios via Unsplash
