Blue lotus (Nymphaea caerulea) is a real eye-catcher with a history of use reaching far back to the era of the pharaohs. Its leaves and petals have been used for millennia as a stimulant, relaxant, aphrodisiac, and mild psychedelic. Today, it is available in leaf preparations for use in teas and smoking blends or aromatherapy, and in tinctures for direct ingestion. Blue lotus is not known to be toxic or addictive.