Blue Butterfly pea is noted for its bright blue edible flowers that have a shape similar to female genitalia from which it derives its scientific name. Aside from its many culinary uses, it is also called ‘Asian Pigeonwings and has been used in Ayurveda as well as traditional Asian and Middle Eastern medicine. Its health benefits are increasingly supported by modern science. Blue Butterfly pea itself has a rich historical background with a multitude of health convenient properties.
Health Benefits
- Nootropic enhances cognitive functions including heightening intelligence and
enhancing memory via acetylcholine localized to the hippocampus - Reduces stress and anxiety giving you a calming effect
- Relaxes smooth vascular muscle aiding blood flow
- Decreases blood volume thereby lowering high blood pressure
- Anti-microbial
- High doses may be adaptogenic
- Anti-convulsant
- Lower diabetic activity by inhibiting glucose intake from the diet
- Reduces fever by dilating the blood vessels just beneath the skin which increases blood flow near the surface of the skin where it can be more easily cooled by the air
Interesting Facts
Blue Butterfly Pea is traditionally a part of Ayurvedic medicine. It has been used for centuries as a memory enhancer, nootropic, antistress, anxiolytic, antidepressant, anticonvulsant, tranquilizing and sedative agent.
It contains a wide range of secondary metabolites including triterpenoids, flavanol glycosides, anthocyanins and steroids that have been isolated from the flower.
Its extracts possess a wide range of pharmacological activities including antimicrobial, antipyretic, anti-inflammatory, analgesic, diuretic, local anesthetic, antidiabetic, insecticidal, blood platelet aggregation-inhibiting and for use as an agent for vascular smooth muscle relaxing.
In Depth Look
The presence of the anti-oxidant, Proanthocyanidin found in Blue Butterfly Pea helps to improve eyesight by increasing blood flow in the capillaries of the eyes which also allows the eyes to adjust to changes in light and improves vision. Its flowers have been shown to effectively prevent cataracts and glaucoma, correct blurred vision, and soothing inflamed and tearing eyes. They are rich in bioflavonoids also and has been used traditionally to promote hair growth, thicken the hair and reduce greying of the hair.
Thai Freeze Dry’s Blue Butterfly pea tea is unique. Normally, if you can find this tea at all, it will be in the form of dried tea leaves with flowers. You will brew the tea and then throw away the leaves and flowers, drinking only the mildly infused water. People want the source of the benefit, yet only intake a bi-product using tea leaves and flowers and not powder.
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