People love to “spice things up” when they talk about supplements – especially when it comes to those with a long tradition in folklore or traditional medicine.
One of those is Butterfly Pea powder.
So, what we sought to find out is – are claims of Butterfly Pea flower magical properties true?
Here’s what we learned.
What is Butterfly Pea Flower?
The Butterfly Pea Flower, scientifically known as Clitoria Ternatea (due to its resemblance to lady parts), is a herbaceous plant (meaning it can survive winter) native to tropical Asia.
It’s known for its vivid blue flowers, which, when dried and ground into a powder, become a key ingredient in various health supplements and teas.
But its vibrant color and appearance isn’t the only thing that has made this plant famous.
Its traditionally known health benefits have played more than a vital part in its popularity.
What Are the Common Claims of Butterfly Pea Flower Magical Properties?
The common claims of Butterfly Pea flowers’ magical properties are various, and while calling them magical might be kind of an overkill, they sure appear to be amazing.
Here are a few:
- Improves brain function: The most notable benefit of this plant is supposed to be an effect on memory and overall cognition.
Many say consuming this brings about a ‘mind clarity’ effect that lasts for hours. - Soothes pain: Traditional medicine practitioners claim that Butterfly Pea Flower can alleviate pain due to its potential analgesic properties. For this purpose, the Butterfly Pea flower was used both topically and orally.
- Fights inflammation: Butterfly Pea Flower is also reputed to reduce inflammation in the body, which can be beneficial for various health conditions. This may hold true to some extent if we are to go by rodent trials.
- Protects eye health: There are also reports of Butterfly Pea flowers being used to treat eye conditions like conjunctivitis.
- Fights cancer: Now, this is a big one. Some suggest that Butterfly Pea flowers might have anti-cancer properties due to some anti-oxidants present in the plant.
As you can see, this list is quite extensive…
Is There Research Backing These Claims?
We have kind of given away the answer already, but the scientific community has yet to back up these magical claims with substantial research – particularly in humans.
While there have been some promising studies in rodents – these don’t necessarily translate to human benefits. [1] [2]
In other words, we’re still waiting for science to catch up with folklore.
What Would Be the Typical Use Cases of Butterfly Pea Flower?
Despite the lack of scientific evidence, people worldwide are using Butterfly Pea Flower for various purposes.
Some brew it as a tea for daily wellness and stress relief, while others use its powdered form as a supplement for cognitive enhancement.
Some people even incorporate it into their skincare regimen, hoping to benefit from its supposed antioxidant properties. [3]
Despite all the aforementioned magical benefits, this about sums up the list of typical use-case scenarios.
What Are the Different Types of Butterfly Pea Flower?
The versatility of the Butterfly Pea Flower allows it to be used in various forms – most commonly as tea, powder, and liquid extracts.
Each form has its relatively unique properties and uses, but they all carry the distinctive vibrant blue hue that has made this plant so popular.
That said, the powdered form seems to dominate the market for an obvious reason, which is – you can add it to just about anything, provided you don’t mind the color.
Proper Dosage of Butterfly Pea Supplements to See Benefits
When it comes to proper dosage – there isn’t one. Considering the lack of human trials, we don’t have a good idea of what the proper dose would be for an adult human.
On the other hand, that hasn’t stopped supplement manufacturers from coming up with their recommendations, which are:
- For tea, one to two cups (1 tbsp per cup) daily.
- For supplements, 125mg to 250mg.
Are There Any Potential Side Effects of Butterfly Pea Flower?
Just like with any supplement, Butterfly Pea Flower can cause a few side effects.
Overconsumption might lead to nausea, diarrhea, or stomach pain, but in general, this plant is considered safe and well-tolerated.
That said, we don’t know whether there are some side effects associated with the long-term use of Butterfly Pea Flower because, you guessed it, there’s no scientific data to draw this conclusion from.
Is Butterfly Pea Flower Worth It?
We wouldn’t say that Butterfly Pea Flow is worth it.
It is just a hard sell considering the lack of solid scientific evidence backing its magical properties.
At the same time, we wouldn’t say it doesn’t have any potential, but until more research is done, it’s wise to temper your expectations and just assume that the effects, if there are any, are negligible at best.
How We Rate Butterfly Pea Flower: 2/5
On a scale from 1 to 5, we’re giving Butterfly Pea Flower a 2.
It has some potential, it’s generally safe, and seeing how it’s been used for centuries – we can’t be fully dismissive.
It’s definitely a conversation starter, but we’re still waiting for that scientific breakthrough that verifies its magical properties.
Until then…
Conclusion
So, no, it would appear that the claims of the magical properties of the Butterfly Pea flower aren’t exactly true.
From what we see, while this could be a nice addition to your backyard garden – we hardly can say the same thing for your supplement stack.
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