A study disassembles the myth of the blue lotus and reveals how it was used in ancient Egypt

For decades, the blue lotus has fed the collective imaginary as a sacred and hallucinogenic plant linked to sexual and mystical rituals of ancient Egypt. His image, associated with divine drunken scenes and visionary ecstasy, has appeared in papyri, tombs and fresh. But was it really a psychedelic plant? A young researcher of the California University, Berkeleyhe has questioned that narrative.

The man who questioned a millenary myth

Liam Mcevoy, last year of anthropology with specialization in Egyptology, dedicated the last years to thoroughly investigate the species Nymphaea caraleahe Authentic Egyptian blue lotus. With the help of chemicals and botanists, compared specimens legitimate from this plant With samples marketed on the Internet As if they were the same vegetable, revealing key differences in its composition and in its history.

The spark of his investigation was lit with a British documentary from the 1990s entitled Sacred Weedsin which two volunteers ingested wine infused with lotus flowers to check their hallucinogenic effects. “I couldn’t stop thinking about that plant,” Mcevoy confessed. What began as a teenage curiosity became a serious investigation in collaboration with the UC Berkeley psychedelic science center.

What does science say about its effects

His first mission was to get a Authentic Loto Blue Samplesomething more difficult than expected. He natural habitat of the plant was drastically altered After the construction of the Asuán dam, which has left it on the verge of extinction. Finally, and after contacting specialized users in Reddit, he managed to obtain a verified copy, which today grows in the Botanical Garden of the University.

Thanks to the technique of mass spectrometryMcevoy and his team analyzed nuciferine levels, the alkaloid attributed by euphoric effects. They compared the genuine blue lotus with versions sold online, many of them labeled with miraculous properties such as “promoting sleep” or “stimulating spiritual connection.” The result was overwhelming: the commercial plants They were not just Another species of needbut containing ninth levels of the psychoactive compound.

An alternative hypothesis about its consumption

But the most interesting finding was another: the preparation method. Mcevoy argues that it was not enough to submerge the flowers in wine, as is usually said. Since the nuciferin is slightly soluble in fat, The researcher believes that the Egyptians infused flowers in oils And then they mixed them with wine. A hypothesis that plans to reinforce with a new chemical analysis to a 3,000 -year -old ceremonial cup preserved in the Hearst Museum.

Disassemble the myth, beyond the laboratory

Mcevoy’s research disassemble Not only Modern myths On the psychedelic properties of the blue lotus, but also accumulated errors for decades in Egyptology. “I wanted to contribute to a conversation where pseudoscience that economically benefits some abounds,” he explains. In a market where essential oils are sold to more than 150 euros per bottle, the conclusions of the study are especially relevant.

Mcevoy, who plans to devote himself to intellectual property right with focus on traditional knowledge, considers that understanding how old cultures used plants can help us disassemble today’s myths. “Someone who has studied people, and not only the economy or politics, should also be at the table,” he says.