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Blue Lotus Facts

Depressant; Oneirogen; Isoxazole; Dopamine receptor agonist

Description

Blue Lotus (Nymphaea nouchali var. caerulea, Nymphaeaceae) — also known as Blue Water Lily and Sacred Blue Lily — is an aquatic plant classified as a depressant and oneirogen. Its dominant alkaloid, nuciferine, has a receptor profile resembling atypical antipsychotics.[1] Nuciferine acts on the brain's serotonin and dopamine systems, producing sedation with dream-enhancing qualities.

Subjective effects include mild sedation, gentle euphoria, reduced anxiety, and enhanced dream vividness — the last being the plant's most distinctive quality. Oral tea produces gentle, slow-building relaxation; vaporized resin or concentrated extract brings faster onset and more intense perceptual changes.

No tolerance, dependence, or withdrawal data have been published for blue lotus.safety citation needed The primary danger is commercial product integrity — synthetic cannabinoids have been documented as adulterants in vape products,[2] and many commercial products may not contain authentic N. caerulea.[3]

Dose and durationby route · individual sensitivity varies

Oral

No dose recorded for this route. The timings are not a dose guide.

Starts in 10 – 60 secLasts 6 – 8 hoursAfter-effects 6 – 8 hours

Body and dependence

Acute toxicity
Low
Chronic toxicity
Low
Physical dependence
Negligible
Psychological dependence
Negligible
Withdrawal
None recorded
Compulsive redosing
Negligible

Tolerance

Builds
None
Fully resets after
Not recorded

Effectslikely at a common dose

Body
none likely · 5 possible
Thinking
none likely · 7 possible, including Cognitive impairment, Decision impairment, Information processing suppression
Feeling
none likely · 3 possible
Self
none likely · 2 possible
Awareness
none likely · 1 possible

Who shouldn't take it

Absolute
Pregnancy and lactation
Relative
Cardiovascular disease; Seizure disorders; Psychotic disorders or bipolar disorder; Concurrent antipsychotic use; Hepatic impairment; Concurrent MAOI use; Concurrent serotonergic drugs; Concurrent CNS depressant use

Combinations60 recorded

Lethal (4)
Benzodiazepines, Barbiturates; GHB, Baclofen; GHB, GBL; Local anesthetics
Dangerous (34)
Alpha-2 adrenergic receptor antagonist; Anticholinergics; Benzodiazepines; Buprenorphine, Kratom; Cannabis, THC; Clonidine, Guanfacine; Gabapentin, Pregabalin; Lithium; MDMA, MDA; NRIs; Opioids; Psychedelics; Stimulants; Synthetic cannabinoids; THC; Amphetamines; Antihistamines; Buspirone; Caffeine; CBD; DXM; Glutamate modulator; Huperzine A; Ibogaine; and 10 more, see full page
Caution (18)
See full page: psychedex.org/substances/blue-lotus
Not graded (4)
Not listed never means safe.

Seek help immediately if

No emergency profile is recorded for this substance. Not recorded never means no risk.

988 Suicide & Crisis LifelineFireside Project: 62-FIRESIDE

Version r2.a4 · Not medical advice

References

  1. [1]
    ^Farrell MS, McCorvy JD, Huang XP, Urban DJ, White KL, Giguere PM, et al. (2016) In Vitro and In Vivo Characterization of the Alkaloid Nuciferine — PLoS ONE doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0150602
  2. [2]
    ^Operation Supplement Safety (OPSS) (2024) DoD Prohibited Dietary Supplement Ingredients Blue Lotus
  3. [3]
    ^Dosoky NS, Shah SA, Dawson JT, Banjara SS, Poudel A, Bascoul C, Satyal P (2023) Chemical Composition, Market Survey, and Safety Assessment of Blue Lotus (Nymphaea caerulea Savigny) Extracts — Molecules doi:10.3390/molecules28207014
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