Botanical Name: Nymphaea Lotus, Nymphaea Nouchali
Family Name: Nymphaeaceae
Kingdom: Plantae
Division: Magnoliophyta
Class: Magnoliopsida
Order: Nymphaeales
Family: Nymphaeaceae
Genus: Nymphaea
Species: N. lotus
Popular Names: Tiger Lotus, Wild Pond Lily, Egyptian White Water Lily, Sweet-Scented Pond Lily, Sweet Scented Water Lily, Toad Lily, Pond Lily, Water Lily, Cow Cabbage, Sweet Water Lily, Water Cabbage, Blue Lotus, Blue Water Lily, Sacred Blue Lotus, Blue Lily of the Nile
Parts Used: Flowers, Roots, Leaves, Stem
Habitat: Throughout the warmer parts of India, in tanks, ponds and ditches
Description
A species of water lily, white lotus is a perennial plant growing to a height of 45 cm. Also known as tiger lotus, it grows in clear, warm, still and slightly acidic waters. The lily pads can be seen floating on water, while the blossoms rise above the water. The flowers are white in colour sometimes, with a pink tinge. The leaves vary from green to red-brown, with a number of purple spots. Tiger lotus is native to the Nile and is grown in various parts of East Africa and Southeast Asia. It is often used as an aquarium plant.
Plant Chemicals
(+)- apomorphine, nuciferine, phytosterols, bioflavonoids, phosphoiesterase, glucose, fructose, sucrose, mannitol, galacturonic acid, raffinose, amoni acids.
Uses and Benefits of White Lotus
- White lotus was used in ancient Egypt, as a key to good health, sex and re-birth.
- The plant is an aphrodisiac for both men and women and a general remedy for all kinds of illnesses.
- Continued use of tiger lotus enhances sexual vigour and general good health.
- It is a tonic richer than ginseng, pain-reliever richer than arnica, circulation-stimulant richer than ginkgo biloba and sexual-stimulant richer than Viagra.
- The flowers of white lotus are used for preparing tea that creates a warm, euphoric glow.
- The dried flowers are smoked by themselves or mixed with other herbs to add flavour to smoking mixtures.
- The effects of tiger lotus are enhanced when soaked in wine or other alcohol.
- The plant is effectively used to increase memory and create a feeling of euphoria and ecstasy, without the use of narcotics.
- Its rhizomes are cooling, sweet, bitter and tonic and used in diarrhoea, dysentery, dyspepsia and general debility.
- White lotus is used internally in the treatment of gastro-intestinal disorders and jaundice.
- The leaves are used in cutaneous, sub-cutaneous parasitic infection, eye treatments and pregnancy.
- The seeds are used in sauces, condiments, spices and flavourings.
