Does Blue Lotus Tea Help You Sleep?

Blue lotus tea is made from the blue lotus flower¹, a type of water lily. In flower form, the blue lotus has long been used in Egyptian culture for health and spiritual purposes, and currently, it can be used as a tea or tincture as a way to relax.¹ While blue lotus tea is not as well known and researched as other sleep aids, there’s been growing interest in it. 

In this article, we’re going to delve deeper into the science behind blue lotus tea. We’ll discuss the blue lotus flower’s key ingredients, the safety of drinking blue lotus tea, and its potential benefits and side effects. We’ll also offer some tips on ways you can promote sleep other than drinking blue lotus tea. 

What Is Blue Lotus Tea?

Blue lotus tea originates from the blue lotus flower, which has a history of use in Egypt, and today, the tea form is often used to help people relax.¹ Because blue lotus tea reportedly helps with relaxation, it’s sought after as a means of reducing anxiety and aiding sleep². 

Within the flower are the ingredients nuciferine and apomorphine.²

• Nuciferine – Nuciferine³ is an alkaloid found in certain plants and has been shown to have benefits related to anti-hyperlipidemic, anti-obesity, anti-fatty liver, antidiabetic, anti-hyperuricemic, antitumor, anti-inflammatory, antiviral, and antioxidant properties. All of this means that nuciferine can be used as an important ingredient in various types of supplements. Additionally, nuciferine has certain properties⁴ that resemble an antipsychotic drug⁵, which is a type of drug typically used to treat disorders such as bipolar disorder and schizophrenia.

• Apomorphine – Apomorphine is a dopamine receptor agonist that’s been reported to help with multiple ailments, including insomnia, depression, schizophrenia, erectile dysfunction, and alcohol addiction.² Additionally, as a prescription drug Apokyn⁶, it’s been used to help increase mobility for people with Parkinson’s disease. When you consume apomorphine, it boosts the amount of dopamine⁷ in your brain.

Is it Safe to Drink Blue Lotus Tea?

Blue lotus has not been approved or regulated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA)⁹ as a substance for human consumption. However, blue lotus is not a controlled substance in most states, so people can legally purchase it.⁹ So, although you are legally allowed to drink blue lotus flower tea, you should still consult a medical professional before drinking any.

Does Blue Lotus Tea Help You Sleep?

People may be looking to blue lotus tea for sleep, but does it actually work? On one hand, blue lotus tea is thought to help people relax, which could, in turn, allow people to sleep easier.¹ Another point is that one of the ingredients in the blue lotus flower, apomorphine, is reportedly able to help with insomnia.²

That said, experts with the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences emphasize that “No reliable scientific evidence supports the safety or effectiveness of this plant in any form for any specific purpose in humans.”⁹

Blue Lotus Tea Benefits

• May help with insomnia – As mentioned, the blue lotus contains apomorphine, which has been used to help with insomnia.²
• May relieve anxiety – There are anecdotal claims that blue lotus tea can help relieve anxiety.²
• May help with Parkinson’s disease – The blue lotus ingredient apomorphine has been used to help those with Parkinson’s disease, but there’s no data that blue lotus tea specifically helps with this.⁶
• May promote weight loss – Nuciferine, an ingredient in the blue lotus flower, has anti-obesity properties.³ Studies have revealed that nuciferine can be an effective treatment against weight gain and obesity¹⁰. However, we want to emphasize that the research focuses on the nuciferine ingredient, rather than blue lotus tea specifically, so there’s no evidence specifically linking blue lotus tea to weight loss.

Blue Lotus Tea Side Effects

Apomorphine and nuciferine both potentially have psychoactive properties¹¹ that may lead to hallucinations and a somewhat euphoric state. Other potential blue lotus side effects may include⁹:

• Paranoia
• Anxiety
• Slurred speech
• Decreased responsiveness
• Chest pain
• Rapid heartbeat
• Seizure

Other Ways to Improve Your Sleep

While teas and supplements are an option, there are also some general habits that could help you sleep better.

• Create a calm bedroom environment – A cool, dark, and quiet bedroom is the ideal sleep environment. If your bedroom isn’t already like this, you can use items like blackout curtains, earplugs, and white noise machines for a more sleep-friendly space. 
• Form a consistent nighttime routine – If you do the same activities before you go to sleep each night, your body can begin to associate those activities with bedtime, which will hopefully help you sleep better. You may want to wind down before bed by reading, doing yoga or meditation, taking a warm bath, or listening to calming music. 
• Avoid electronic devices before bedtime – We also suggest that you avoid blue light screens at least 30 minutes to an hour before you go to sleep This includes looking at devices like your smartphone or laptop. Blue light¹² tricks the body’s circadian rhythm into thinking it’s daytime, which can make it harder for you to feel tired.  
• Avoid caffeine before bedtime – Did you know that drinking caffeine even up to six hours¹³ before you go to bed could disrupt your sleep? Therefore, try to limit your coffee to just the morning and avoid having it too late in the afternoon.

Learn more: 11 Tips to Improve Sleep Quality

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