Blue Lotus Tea...is it really a trippy brew????
I've been an on off drinker of coffee for as long as I can remember. Right now I am off the coffee. It gives
me the jitters and I slip into habits of drinking a couple of cups and when I don't have the fix, my head bangs. So I decided it can't be that good for me!
Whilst travelling for many years I got to experience many flavours of wonderful coffees. Then something changed when I first became pregnant. I couldn't go near the stuff! Gutted that my body was telling me something, I began to explore other hot drinks.
Being a Brit, we are well known for our brews! And yes when I was overseas I did occasionally miss a good old British cuppa rosy lee (tea!) There had to be alternatives....
I have a cupboard full of teas. I used to have a wide selection of packet teas, you know the ones where you dangle the bit of string over the side of your cup and sometimes there is a little saying on the bit of paper at the end of the string?!
However now when I open the cupboard I have jars of proper tea leaves or herbs that I use in teas! It's wonderful, I can make my own concoctions all depending on what my mood or my body needs. From nettle to pine needles to the well known peppermint and sage. The smells are amazing and fills my soul.
I was having a conversation with someone close to me and we got chatting about the Blue Lotus Flower that the ancient Egyptians used. Anything to do with herbs my interest is sparked and I began some research more on what the blue lotus was all about.
Well......I found there to be quite a lot of conflicting information from many different sources. Some saying that the effects are similar to that of taking cannabis, to others promoting a state of relaxation to then encouraging lucid dreaming. I didn't know what to make of it all!
I did know that I was curious about this beautiful flower and that it had its place in history and yet it is still around today and slightly been given a bit of a reputation of inducing psychoactive effects.
What I did manage to gather together was this; (this is information collected from various sources)
The Blue Lotus was a sacred flower to the ancient Egyptians. For centuries the blue lotus has been respected as an ancestral flower known to provoke deep meditation, enhance third eye function, motivate lucid dreaming, and for the heightened awareness they induce.
Psychoactive effects
Drinking the Blue Lotus as a tea bestows a feeling of joy. Although this should be consumed consciously, this tea is certainly not harmful as are alcohol and unprescribed drugs. The blue lotus high provides a mild sense of tranquility and euphoria, along with an altered sense of awareness. It has been reported that it combines very well with wine, which illuminate the social and euphoric aspect. Or, you can take the blue lotus alone (as a tea or some have smoked it) and concentrate on its ability to enhance meditative and introspective practices.
Some users also report a pleasant feeling of warmth around the head and upper body and a dream like feeling – as if the life itself were a waking dream.
Aids Sleep
Due to the presence of compounds like nuciferine and aporphine, Blue Lotus Flower as a Tea stabilizes and strengthens your sleeping process. These compounds have an antispasmodic effect and a soothing sensation that may help to persuade a tranquil sleep.
Eases periods
I read that by having blue lotus tea can ease menstruation cramps.
Lucid Dreaming
It is said that by drinking Blue Lotus Flower Tea frequently it would intensify lucid dreaming.
Aphrodisiac
Blue Lotus Tea is said to act as a sexual enhancer. Its composition affects the hormones of both males and females. Additionally, it was also used in ancient Egypt, where its consumption was considered before sexual ceremonies.
So from finding out these pointers I came to the conclusion that unless it was drunk as a tea in enormous large quantities there weren't really any contraindications (don't take my word for it though as I am not a herbalist or offer any medical advice as this is just my opinion and you must do your own research if you are thinking about consuming blue lotus tea).
Put the kettle on it's time for a blue lotus brew!!!
It was the end of the day, the seasons had changed to the nights turning darker earlier. The day had been good, I had good company with me and it was time to make friends and say hello to the blue lotus tea! It was brewed up and some honey was added. The colour was dark and the aroma, well let's just say it was different! The taste.......is acquired! A bit of experimenting is needed to make to more enjoyable. But bitterness is good for the body. That is what I told myself!!
I got myself comfy, closed my eyes and lost an hour!!!
I wasn't 'gone', I was still fully aware of my surroundings, even my dog came up for a cuddle during that hour. The best way I can explain it was floating off into a beautiful meditation. I felt clear like I had been through a cleansing and I slept really well that night too.
There wasn't any sort of come down like you get from having coffee either.
My thoughts are that it is a beautiful plant, nothing to be afraid of and I am looking forward to exploring it some more and to it being stored into one of my jars alongside my other herbs for drinking!
https://www.mamascottagemushrooms.org/product-page/blue-lotus