What is Blue Lotus? Uses, Benefits, & History

They say that history has a lot of salacious stories, and we wouldn’t be surprised if some of these involved the blue lotus flower. Known as the Egyptian water lily, Egyptian lotus, and the blue water lily, the plant referred to as Nymphaea caerulea is a water plant with potent euphoric and aphrodisiac properties that was used in ancient Egyptian ceremonies and depicted in erotic rock art.There is a lot more to this cheeky plant than pleasure, however. In this post, we’re going to take a look at the history and traditional uses of the blue lotus herb—covering everything from “What is blue lotus?” to its active components and methods of preparation.

What is Blue Lotus Flower?

Native to Egypt, the blue lotus flower is an aquatic perennial with large, rounded leaves that sit on the surface of the water (lily pads), and stems that reach down into the water. When they are ready, the flowers rise to the water’s surface, opening up at around 9:30 in the morning and closing at approximately 3:00 in the afternoon. The flowers are a bluish-mauve color with a pale yellow hue at the center. When the flowers are pollinated, they move underwater where they grow into a fruit and release seeds to germinate in the soil below.

The blue lotus flower thrives in a warm environment, seen in its historical distribution across Egypt, where it grew along the Nile, to the Indian subcontinent and Central America where it was used frequently in ancient Mayan culture. Carvings and paintings from these three cultures attest to the symbolism and importance that the flower held in the ancient world. Today, however, the blue lotus herb is found mostly in the Nile area and across Asia.

Why Was the Blue Lotus Flower so Highly Prized?

Seen as a symbol of the sun across multiple global cultures, the blue lotus herb has long been revered as a flower of fertility and euphoria. Paintings from ancient Egypt, for example, indicate that the blue lotus flower was taken during sacred ceremonies where it is thought to have lifted the participants to a plane closer to the gods.

Blue lotus was also prized as a sedative and was said to have been given to the sun-god Ra to soothe him as he aged. Other ancient benefits in blue lotus include pain relief, memory enhancement, increased circulation, and a boost in libido.

Blue Lotus Expands its Reach

When the Greek Empire rose to power in the 8th century BCE, the conquerors were introduced to the blue lotus flower in Egypt and took it with them on their travels around the known world. Today, this renowned water lily is grown and harvested commercially in places as far-flung as the United States and even Australia.

A Closer Look at the Blue Lotus Herb

What is the potential of the blue lotus? While little scientific study has been done on the properties and potential of the blue lotus flower, this ancient plant contains two main alkaloids that have potential benefits for health — apomorphine and nuciferine.

Apomorphine is a psychoactive alkaloid that appears to stimulate dopamine receptors (bringing on a calm feeling of happiness and well-being) and may improve motor function in people with Parkinson’s disease. Nuciferine, on the other hand, is linked with dopamine receptor blockage and is also known as a natural anti-spasmodic.

What is the Legal Status of Blue Lotus in My State?

In contrast to substances like kratom powder and CBD oil, the blue lotus flower is legal (or not banned) in every state of the U.S. and can be grown freely. The flower cannot, however, be sold for human consumption as it is not approved by the FDA. It is most commonly sold for the purposes of aromatherapy and incense.

Some other countries are much stricter on this plant and ban its sale completely. These countries include the United Kingdom, Russia, Poland, and Latvia.

Discover Kratora’s Premium Blue Lotus Collection

You too can feel like Egyptian royalty for a day by treating yourself to the products in our blue lotus flower collection. At Kratora, you can buy blue lotus in three all-natural forms: whole blue lotus flowers, finely-ground blue lotus powder, and our blue lotus 50X extract.

What is our 50X blue lotus extract? For our exclusive, 50x blue lotus flower extract, take 50 units of raw plant material and condense them down into 1 unit of extract. The result is a stronger product with more alkaloids per serving than our original blue lotus powder.

At Kratora, we strive to give our customers the best in organic kratom, and kratom alternatives.

Not sure if the blue lotus herb is right for you? Request a free sample of our blue lotus flower with your next order! Shop with us today to receive same-day shipping on orders submitted before 3 PM EST Monday through Friday and 1 PM EST on Saturdays (excluding holidays).

Please note that none of the products sold on our website are intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease or medical condition.

Please note that the US FDA has not approved this product to be sold for human consumption, sold for external use only. None of the products sold on our website are intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease or medical condition.