Blue lotus: Serenity in every petal, but is it safe?
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The bottom line
Blue lotus (Nymphaea caerulea) is an aquatic plant that contains psychoactive chemicals (apomorphine and nuciferine). As a tea, it is used for relaxation, sleep, and to provide a mood boost. Smoking or vaping it can cause euphoria. Small amounts of pure plant material are probably safe, but it may be contaminated with toxic substances. Drug interactions are possible. It is legal in the US but not approved for human consumption.
Prevention tips
Store blue lotus up, away, and out of reach of children.
Buy from trusted vendors to get the pure plant material.
Start with a low dose to see how it affects you.
Do not drive or operate machinery after using blue lotus.
Do not mix with alcohol and other sedating substances.
Do not use if you are pregnant or breastfeeding.
This really happened
A 29-year-old man on active military duty was acting strangely, was agitated, and may have been hallucinating. He was brought to the emergency department with decreased responsiveness. He knew where he was but was very drowsy. His vital signs and most lab tests were normal. As he became more alert, he said he had vaped blue lotus. His symptoms went away during 4 hours of observation, and he was sent home.
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What is blue lotus (Nymphaea caerulea)?
Blue lotus (Nymphaea caerulea), also known as blue water lily and blue Egyptian water lily, is an aquatic plant found in lakes, pools, and rivers in the Nile River area and eastern Africa. The petals are usually pale bluish white to sky-blue or mauve. It should not be confused with blue lily which is similar in appearance and also sold online. Blue lotus contains 2 psychoactive chemicals, apomorphine and nuciferine. Apomorphine mainly acts on dopamine, a brain chemical involved in mood and movement. Nuciferine acts on serotonin, which helps regulate mood, digestion, and sleep, in addition to dopamine.
What is blue lotus used for?
In ancient Egypt, blue lotus was used in perfumes, religious and ceremonial rituals, as an aphrodisiac, and soaked in wine to induce intoxication. Today it is used in aromatherapy. People drink it as a tea for relaxation, sleep, and a mood boost. When people smoke or vape it, they may feel euphoria and relaxation.
Concerned about a blue lotus exposure?
If someone swallows, smokes, or vapes blue lotus, or if you have questions about using it safely, use the webPOISONCONTROL® online tool to get help, or call your poison center at 1-800-222-1222. Whether online or by phone, expert guidance is always free, confidential, and available 24 hours a day.
Is blue lotus legal in the US?
Yes, it is legal in the US (except Louisiana) as a botanical product. It is not approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for human consumption. It is sold as an herbal tea, incense, or botanical product. It is prohibited for use by United States military personnel by the Department of Defense.
Is blue lotus safe?
Small amounts of pure plant material are probably safe. However, its safety has not been studied. No one oversees how it is made, so products are sometimes mixed or contaminated with other ingredients such as synthetic cannabinoids. Growing conditions are not regulated, so soil contaminants such as heavy metals and other pollutants could be absorbed by and concentrated in the plant. Many products marketed online as blue lotus actually contain other plant species, so it is sometimes impossible to know if what you are buying is real blue lotus.
Since blue lotus affects dopamine and serotonin, it may interact with drugs that affect these brain chemicals. The active ingredients are metabolized by enzymes in the liver, so there may be interactions with drugs that are metabolized by the same enzymes. People with liver disease should probably not use blue lotus. Do not give it to children or use it during pregnancy or breastfeeding. Its safety has not been studied in these groups.
Symptoms of blue lotus poisoning
High doses can cause dizziness, drowsiness, confusion, agitation, nausea, or a fast heartbeat. People may also feel euphoric or spacey, see or hear things that are not there (hallucinations), or have trouble concentrating or keeping their balance. If it is mixed with other sedating substances, such as alcohol, painkillers, or drugs for anxiety, excess sedation may occur.