Blue Lotus Flower

Dried Blue Lotus petal and stamen. 

Blue Lotus Flower, from the Nymphaea caerulea genus, known also as blue Egyptian lotus, blue water lily, blue Egyptian water lily, sacred blue lily, or sacred narcotic lily of the Nile, is a water lily in the genus Nymphaea. Like other species in the genus, the plant contains the psychoactive alkaloid apomorphine. Mayan and Ancient Egyptian civilizations knew much of this lily.

The mildly sedating effects of N. caerulea makes it a likely candidate (among several) for the lotus plant eaten by the mythical Lotophagi in Homer’s Odyssey. Ancient civilizations used this lotus in aromatherapy and to produce perfumes.

Add a pinch of Blue Lotus petals to your tea to enchance the mind opening and sedative effects.