About Red Lotus (Nymphaea rubra)

Benefits Of Red Lotus

Red Lotus (Nymphaea rubra) belongs to the Nymphaceae family and is known to originate in India, Nile Delta, and Thailand. Its leaves are heterophyllus and they have different appearances under the water surface and above the water surface. This plant is common in the ponds and shallow lakes throughout tropical and temperate Asia; Indonesia, Malaysia, Vietnam, Myanmar, Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, Philippines, Taiwan, Yunnan, Sri Lanka, India, and Bangladesh. Its leaves have hairy or fuzzy undersides and stems are also covered by the hairs. It produces perennial and erect rootstocks and rhizomes that help anchorage in the muddy bottom.

Botanical Features And Traditional Uses

It produces flowers of 15 cm size that are opened at night and are closed in the morning. While its fruits have 4-6 cm diameter and are brown, green in color. Whereas seeds are elliptic and black and may reach about 1.8 mm in length. This herb has been symbolized and considered significantly important for spirituality for many centuries. Egyptians were infusing red lotus and wine to enhance the synergistic effects. Scientific studies have reported that the red lotus produces stronger effects than the blue lotus and thus it has huge potential to improve overall health and wellness.

Improving Wellness And Happiness

The red lotus is closely related to the blue and white lotus and is reported to offer mood-enhancing, dreamy and relaxing effects. Traditionally red lotus has been used to treat various health concerns and disorders as its flowers are cardiac tonic and astringent and therefore helps for heart palpitations. It is a well-known herb for peace-stimulating and relaxing properties and thereby brings a sense of euphoria and wellbeing. Many claim it produces good sedative effects and helps consumers to sleep better. It has been used as an aphrodisiac since ancient times.

Research has shown that the red lotus contains both nuciferine, and aporphine. Aporphine is a psychoactive alkaloid and is a specific dopamine agonist for the treatment of alcohol addiction, opiates, Alzheimer’s disease, erectile dysfunctioning, and Parkinson’s disease. This compound may cause stimulation of euphoric, uplifted, and happy feelings. While nuciferine is a specific alkaloid having an association with dopamine receptors, research findings have shown that red lotus is significantly helpful in promoting health and wellness due to its antioxidant, anthelmintic, anti-diabetic, and immunomodulatory properties. Red lily is reported to have excellent immunomodulating activities and the polysaccharides produced in the carpels of its flowers antitumor activities by activation of macrophages and naturally killing the cells by receptor binding.