Family: Nymphaeaceae

Scientific name: Nymphaea nouchali

Authority: Burm.f..

Synonyms: Nymphaea cyanea Roxb., Nymphaea malabarica Poir., Nymphaea minima F. M. Bailey, Nymphaea punctata Edgew, Nymphaea stellata Willd., Nymphaea versicolor Sims

Zulu names: amazibu, izeleba, izibu

Other names: blue lotus, blue lotus of the Nile, water lily, blue water lily (English) blouwaterlelie, kaaimanblom (Afrikaans)

Plant description: N. nouchali is a perennial aquatic herb. It has long and wide floating round leaves, solitary blue flowers, globose fruits containing flask-shaped seeds, reddish violet stem, and white pithy roots. In South Africa, the herb occurs in waterbodies in the highveld, lowveld and KwaZulu Natal.

Uses:

The flowers are used by South African diviners as a psychoactive agent for divinatory purposes.
The flowers are used to make a tincture that is taken in low doses as a euphoriant.
The flower tincture is taken for sexual stimulation, to treat male impotence.
The flower tincture is an aphrodisiac.
The plant is used to reduce stress, anxiety, and regenerate the nervous system.
The plant is used to make a bitter tonic that is used for the following:
- Treat menorrhagia and menstruation problems.
- The flowers and seeds are used to treat liver (hepatic) disorders, such as diabetes mellitus.
- The flowers and seeds are used to treat cough, fever and skin conditions, such as eczema.
- Treat blennorrhagia or gonorrhoea.
- Treat urinary tract disorders, such as dysuria.
- Treat inflammation, such as swelling.
- Treat eye problems.
The flowers are used to treat brain inflammation and dizziness.
The flowers are used as a cardiac stimulant to treat heart palpitations.
The roots are seeds are used to treat stomach ache and to promote appetite.
The roots are used to treat abdominal and back pain.
The roots are used as astringent, diuretic, and emollient.
The plant is cultivated as an ornamental plant.

Safety precaution:

Using traditional medicine responsibly can enhance your overall health and well-being. Misuse and abuse can lead to complications. You can inquire about the correct use of traditional medicine from a knowledgeable herbalist and practitioner. You can also visit imithiyesintu.co.za or email: info@imithiyesintu.co.za to learn more about traditional medicine

References and further reading:

Kiranmai, B., Sandhyarani, M. and Tiwari, A.K., 2023. Water Lily (Nymphaea nouchali Burm. f): An Ancient Treasure of Food and Medicine. Pharmacognosy Research, 15(2).
Raja, M.M.M., Sethiya, N.K. and Mishra, S.H., 2010. A comprehensive review on Nymphaea stellata: A traditionally used bitter. Journal of advanced pharmaceutical technology & research, 1(3), p.311.
Sobiecki, J.F., 2002. A preliminary inventory of plants used for psychoactive purposes in southern African healing traditions. Transactions of the Royal Society of South Africa.
Stafford, G.I., 2009. Southern African plants used to treat central nervous system related disorders (Doctoral dissertation).
Van Wyk, B.E. and Gericke, N., 2000. People’s plants. Briza Publications, Pretoria, A guide to useful plants of southern Africa.
Viljoen, C. and Notten, A., 2002. Nymphaea nouchali Burm. f. var. caerulea (Sav.) Verdc. Cape Town, Kirstenboch National Botanical Gardens. Available at : https://pza.sanbi.org/nymphaea-nouchali-var-caerulea (accessed 18 August 2023).
Wagner, H. and Bladt, S., 1996. Plant drug analysis: a thin layer chromatography atlas. Springer Science & Business Media.
Watt. J.M. and Breyer-Brandwijk. M.G. 1962. The medicinal and poisonous plants of Southern and Eastern Africa. E. & S. Living-stone Ltd., London.