Introduction to entheogens and their cultural origins
If you thought that the so-called “master plants” were limited to a few that are now being talked about more frequently, such as Ayahuasca (Banisteriopsis Caapi), popularly known as the Ayahuasca vine, Magic Mushrooms (Psilocybe cubensis) with their active component psilocybin, and the Mexican cactus called Peyote or Jícuri (Lophophora williamsii) mentioned by Carlos Castaneda in his book “The Teachings of Don Juan,” which explores his relationship with the Mexican sorcerer (don Juan) who teaches him to take this cactus to experience expanded states of consciousness, disrupting his reality as he attempted to conduct an anthropological study of the natives of Sonora and ends up becoming Don Juan’s apprentice, discovering a magical and wonderful world that leads him to write several books in the 1960s, recounting his experiences and reflections on an alternate reality.
Entheogens as master plants with visionary effects
The master plants, also known as entheogens, are primarily known for their origins in South America, specifically in the Amazon region of Peru, Ecuador, and Colombia, as well as in Mexico. They have been used ancestrally by healers and masters, either to assist sick individuals or to impart teachings that require the initiate to enter an expanded, mystical, or visionary reality, moving away from the ordinary and profoundly touching the mind, heart, or spirit.
Effects and uses of entheogens outside their ancestral context
These “master plants” or “power plants” or “sacred plants,” when used correctly, awaken or induce personal insights through visions, dreams, and deep intuitions. They are also used in Europe, far from the jungle and their ancestral context, in small doses combined with assisted therapy to integrate dreams or emotions that arise upon ingestion.
Historical use and properties of Blue Lotus
Not only do these plants have origins in the Americas, but they were also used in ancient Egypt, the African continent, and some parts of Asia for rituals, ceremonies, and social initiations. This includes the Blue Lotus (Nymphaea caerulea), which recently came into my possession, and I want to share my experience with it. Before delving into my experience, I must mention that Blue Lotus, also known as the Sacred Blue Lily or Blue Egyptian Lotus, has several culturally appreciated medicinal properties. It contains apomorphine and nuciferine, two substances that alter the mind. Apomorphine is psychoactive and acts as a dopamine agonist, meaning it binds to dopamine receptors in the brain, mimicking its effects. Dopamine is responsible for producing feelings of happiness and euphoria. Therefore, taking Blue Lotus can induce similar effects in the mind, as well as muscle relaxation and an overall state of well-being that leads to a pleasant and relaxed sleep. Nuciferine, another ingredient in the plant, shares a similar receptor profile to antipsychotic and antidepressant drugs, thus promoting relaxation and reducing tension.
Additional properties and cultural uses of Blue Lotus
It is also said that Blue Lotus contains antioxidants, which explains why women used it to feel younger and more attractive, as well as to care for the urinary system. Apparently, pharaohs and their female companions understood the use of this plant, as it was attributed the ability to increase sexual desire. One only needs to observe an image of the Blue Lotus flower to detect the sensuality, beauty, and seduction it exudes. Therefore, it was valued and appreciated in female circles of the time and used as a recreational drug during their festivities.
Personal experience and accidental consumption of Blue Lotus
Returning to my experience, I knew nothing about these scientific characteristics or stories about the plant because I took it by mistake. I am conducting experimental research on medicinal plants, especially master plants or entheogens. I test them to deeply understand their effects before recommending or even mentioning them. That’s why I require the guidance of a qualified professional, a mentor who also helps me integrate the experiences that arise during the process and who has extensive experience with plants.
I had requested a different product from my trusted supplier, and since the packaging and presentation were identical, except for the label’s name, which I didn’t read, I took a significant dose (20 drops). Upon ingestion, I noticed that the taste was different from the plant I was investigating. I wrote to the supplier, informing them that the taste seemed altered. After a while, about three hours or more, I started feeling exceptionally relaxed, calm, and in control of myself. I entered a state of tranquility and solitude that is not typical for me, as I am usually energetic, euphoric, and although I may appear relaxed and smiling, inner calm does not always accompany me. But that afternoon, it did.
Effects and discoveries during the experience with Blue Lotus
As the day progressed, the relaxation was so profound that a pain in my knees, which had bothered me after a long weekend walk in the mountains, gradually disappeared. “How great!” I thought. I felt an imminent need to take a break, stretch, and have a mid-afternoon nap, which is also unusual for me, especially on a Monday. So, I let myself go and fell into a deep, restorative sleep. I felt so different from my usual self, so serene, that I shared my experience with my mentor in medicinal plants, who had been teaching me about the accompaniment of microdoses with entheogens. He alerted me, saying, “Are you sure they sent you the plant you ordered?” It was during the conversation with my mentor that I took the bottle and read the label carefully. It said: Blue Lotus. I held it in my hands while he spoke to me about its benefits and the properties attributed to it. I connected with its beauty and feminine nature. Subsequently, I wanted to delve into the research and started exploring scientific articles, history, and analyses of this marvelous plant that grows on the banks of the Nile River. I found that it is used as a sleep aid. Well, nobody needed to tell me that; I had already fallen under the enchantment of the Blue Lotus.
Since this master plant had revealed itself to me, and after starting the bottle, I continued taking it twice a day: 6 or 7 drops on an empty stomach in the morning and another 8 or 9 drops at night before going to sleep. I followed this protocol for 15 days, and as a result, I experienced a pleasant state of rest, where my muscles effortlessly relaxed. This was much-needed after a long convalescence due to a fractured humerus, which had caused tension in many of my muscles to protect the injured area. But what I have liked most about this experience, as books also mention, is that Blue Lotus activates lucid dreaming. This aspect is of special interest in my research because I could verify that it is a master plant that reveals itself in dreams. I have experienced the sensation of being inside dreams as vividly and intensely as in waking life. I have seen scenes that have helped me understand situations that would otherwise be very challenging due to my rational nature.
Symbolism and personal growth with Blue Lotus
I understood why sensations and scenes from the past surfaced so easily in dreams. My mentor had
explained to me how certain plants, based on their physical characteristics, such as the shape of their leaves or fruits, fulfill their function by interacting with the human body. The Blue Lotus is a water lily with striking star-shaped flowers, blue or sometimes mauve petals, which grows on the water’s surface during the summer and can be seen among large floating leaves that are also connected to its roots. The plant’s form, with its blue petals and the way it grows on the water’s surface while remaining connected to its roots, provided me with information about what I could do within my unconscious mind—to bring to the surface my petals, in other words, hidden issues that don’t always allow the beauty within us to be seen—and to stay connected to my roots, meaning the values and anchors that remind me of my origin.
Blue Lotus as a muscle relaxant and dream activator
Undoubtedly, Blue Lotus is a muscle relaxant and sleep aid. I cannot go beyond the research that states that it “has positive effects on muscle control in patients with Alzheimer’s disease.” However, I have no doubt because, from what I have experienced, it keeps memories alive through dreams.
Throughout these 15 days of experience, which is a short time, I have gained insight and developed a friendly connection with this medicine. I want to share that I have felt very thirsty, and it doesn’t surprise me because it is an aquatic plant. Drinking water is something I don’t enjoy; on the contrary, I have an unconscious aversion to it. I prefer an infusion or tea. But Blue Lotus has reconciled me with the vital fluid. I have peacefully consumed liters of water each day because it seems that within its mastery, it emphasizes what the body needs.
I have activated my attention and enjoyment when drinking water. I could feel its journey from the mouth, through the throat, stomach, and kidneys, until it is excreted through the urethra. This plant, born and living in water, speaks to me about its environment, its habitat, its territory, and also mine. That’s how I feel that my urinary system has been relaxing and purifying itself.
Regarding its aphrodisiac properties, I cannot confirm them. What is clear to me is that when entering a state of relaxation and tranquility, there is more openness and enjoyment when embodying a pharaonic goddess. Perhaps this requires more frequent or larger consumption, but I leave this to the experts and scientific studies.
Ana Patricia Restrepo G. 1968
Journalist from the University of La Sabana (Colombia) Illustrator.
Currently conducting research on medicinal plants, holistic therapies, and the expansion of human consciousness at the Holistic Health Institute in Barcelona.