Blue Lotus

Effects

Overview

Nymphaea nouchali var. caerulea (Commonly known as Blue Lotus) is a water lily found throughout most of the eastern half of Africa. PW

Nymphaea nouchali var. caerulea, or simply Nymphaea caerulea, also known as blue lotus or blue water lily among many other names, is a water lily in the genus Nymphaea, a botanical variety of Nymphaea nouchali.[1–9] WP⚠ The source has a footnote here that is not shown.

It is an aquatic plant of freshwater lakes, pools and rivers, naturally found throughout most of the eastern half of Africa, as well as parts of southern Arabia, but has also been spread to other regions as an ornamental plant. It can tolerate the roots being in anoxic mud in nutritionally poor conditions, and can become a dominant plant in deeper water in such habitats. The underwater rhizomes are edible. WP

It features prominently in Egyptian mythology and art, symbolizing the sun and rebirth and has been found in pharaohs' tombs. It may have been used for aphrodisiac and religious purposes, including in rituals like Hathor's Festival of Drunkenness. The plant contains the psychoactive alkaloids nuciferine and apomorphine, which interact with the serotonin, dopamine, and adrenergic systems. Modern recreational use, primarily through drinking infusions or vaping, has been associated with toxicity, causing symptoms like sedation and perceptual disturbances. Recent research by UC Berkeley confirmed that the authentic Nymphaea caerulea is chemically distinct from many products sold online, which contain significantly less of the alkaloid nuciferine and are misidentified water lilies.[10][11] WP

Nymphaea caerulea, first described by Marie Jules César Savigny in 1798, was later classified as a variety of Nymphaea nouchali by Bernard Verdcourt in 1989. Though it is still most commonly referred to as a variety of Nymphaea nouchali, recent phylogenetic studies have problematized the taxonomy. When defined taxonomically as Nymphaea nouchali var. caerulea, it is considered synonymous with Nymphaea capensis. When considered taxonomically as Nymphaea caerulea, it is now rare due to habitat loss from the Aswan Dam.[4] WP

History

Legal status

• Nymphaea caerulea has been illegal in Latvia since November 2009. It is a schedule 1 drug. Possession of large quantities can be punished by up to 15 years in prison. PW
• Nymphaea caerulea was also banned in Poland in March 2009. PW
• Nymphaea caerulea has been illegal in Russia since April 2009. PW
• Nymphaea caerulea is completely prohibited in the state of Louisiana, making it the only state to ban the flower. PW
• Nymphaea caerulea, if sold for human consumption, could fall under the UK's Psychoactive Substances Act 2016, however, this law is rarely imposed on plants and small scale possession. PW

United states

While Nymphaea caerulea is not a federally controlled substance in the United States according to the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and is therefore legal to sell in most states, it is explicitly prohibited for use by all members of the United States Armed Forces. The plant is included on the Department of Defense Prohibited Dietary Supplement Ingredients List, and its use is a violation of the Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ) and Army Regulations. U.S. military authorities have warned that blue lotus products are often laced with other substances like synthetic cannabinoids, which are illegal and can result in a positive urinalysis test.[12–15] WP

Other countries

Nymphaea caerulea has been illegal in Latvia since November 2009. It is a schedule 1 drug. Possession of up to 1 gram are fined up to 280 euros; for second offences within a year period, criminal charges are applied. Possession of larger quantities can be punished by up to 15 years in prison. The plant was banned in Poland in March 2009. Possession and distribution lead to a criminal charge. N. caerulea has been illegal in Russia since April 2009, along with related products such as Salvia divinorum, Argyreia nervosa, and others.[16][17][18] WP

Pharmacology

Chemistry

Pop culture

No references added yet.

References

1. Other Nymphaea nouchali var. caerulea (Savigny) Verdc. March 2017
2. Other GRIN
3. Other Nymphaea caerulea
4. Other Viljoen, Cherise; Notten, Alice. Nymphaea nouchali var. caerulea. January 2002
5. Other Cholo, F.; Foden, W. Blue Waterlily. 22 May 2006
6. Other Nymphaea caerulea
7. Other Wiersema, John H. Flora of North America: North of Mexico. 21 August 1997
8. Other Nymphaea capensis Thunb. 2011
9. Other Wunderlin, Richard P.; Hansen, Bruce F.; Franck, Alan R.; Essig, F. B. Nymphaea capensis var. zanzibariensis. 30 March 2021
10. Journal / agency Schimpf, Mackenzie; Ulmer, Thomas; Hiller, Hugh; Barbuto, Alexander F. Toxicity From Blue Lotus (Nymphaea caerulea) After Ingestion or Inhalation: A Case Series. Military Medicine. 22 July 2023. doi:10.1093/milmed/usab328 · PMID 34345890
11. Other Pohl, Jason. Investigating the psychedelic blue lotus of Egypt, where ancient magic meets modern science. 11 March 2025
12. Other Kesselring, Jason R. INFORMATION PAPER. 2021-12-09
13. Other Blue lotus: Prohibited for use. 2024-04-22
14. Other 86th Airlift Wing Public Affairs. BLUF: Blue Lotus Undermines your Future. 2024-11-12
15. Other Army CID Europe Field Office. Blue Lotus Products. 2025-05-09
16. Other Par Krimināllikuma spēkā stāšanās un piemērošanas kārtību
17. Other Dz.U. 2009 nr 63 poz. 520, Internetowy System Aktów Prawnych in lang pl
18. Other Постановление Правительства Российской Федерации от 31 декабря 2009 г. № 1186. 2009

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