Butterfly Pea flowers, scientifically known as Clitoria Ternatea, are not only visually captivating but also have numerous health benefits. Let’s learn more about this flower and explore valuable information from health experts in the following article.
Understanding Butterfly Pea Flowers
Butterfly Pea is a herbaceous, climbing plant that bears resemblance to Paper Flowers, but with certain differences in the plant structure. Butterfly Pea flowers originate from the tropical equatorial regions of Asia. A mature Butterfly Pea plant can reach a length of 15 to 17 meters. In Vietnam, this plant can be found in the northern, central, and southern regions. They are commonly cultivated in clusters or left to climb freely on walls and fences.
In addition to the name Butterfly Pea, this plant is also known as Blue Pea, Bluebell Vine, or Asian Pigeon Wings. Butterfly Pea flowers primarily exhibit a deep blue-purple color, but there are also varieties with light blue or white flowers. Along with their vibrant colors, Butterfly Pea flowers emit a gentle and pleasant fragrance that can induce a tranquil and soothing mood.
For a long time, Butterfly Pea flowers have been used as a beneficial herb. They can be processed into visually appealing dishes and also used for medicinal purposes. Scientific studies have shown that Butterfly Pea flowers contain glycosides, esters, flavonoids, and active compounds such as cliotides. These substances can improve health, enhance skin beauty, and effectively combat aging.
Benefits of Butterfly Pea Flowers
Health Benefits
Similar to other flowers like Morning Glory and Chrysanthemum, Butterfly Pea flowers contain numerous valuable compounds that are beneficial to human health. Specifically, Butterfly Pea flowers can:
Combat Cancer
Thanks to the presence of cyclotides, Butterfly Pea flowers can induce cell death in cancer cells by disrupting the cell membrane that causes the disease.
Prevent Diabetes
Butterfly Pea flowers have been shown to inhibit the increase of glucose levels during daily food intake. Therefore, they are useful in supporting diabetes prevention.
Reduce Fever
The blue flowers contain components that can dilate the blood vessels beneath the skin, similar to apricot blossoms. This helps lower body temperature, reduce fever, and facilitate blood circulation.
Improve Vision
Proanthocyanidins in the flowers enhance blood circulation to the eye capillaries. This helps alleviate eye fatigue and supports the treatment of conditions such as glaucoma or eye injuries.
Beneficial for Cardiovascular Health
The active compounds in Butterfly Pea flowers stimulate blood circulation within the body, protecting blood vessels and preventing arterial stiffness. This minimizes the risk of death from coronary artery disease and effectively prevents blood clots in the brain.
Antibacterial and Anti-inflammatory Properties
According to research conducted in India, Butterfly Pea flowers exhibit strong antibacterial properties, particularly against Staphylococcus Aureus bacteria. Additionally, the flavonoid components act as antioxidants, helping to reduce inflammation and strengthen the body’s natural immune system.
Reduce Anxiety, Stress, and Fatigue
Butterfly Pea flowers contain valuable compounds that promote a sense of comfort and relaxation, contributing to a calmer state of mind.
Pain Relief
Butterfly Pea contains components that have local anesthetic properties. Therefore, it can help alleviate pain and reduce inflammation during medical treatment.
Immune Booster
In China, Butterfly Pea is often used for relieving cold and flu symptoms, cough, and sore throat. The active compounds within it can help alleviate phlegm and reduce irritation in the respiratory organs.
Inhibits HIV Development
Butterfly Pea flowers are among the few herbs that contain cyclotides. This enables them to inhibit the formation and development of HIV-causing bacterial cells.
Beauty Benefits
Improves Skin and Anti-aging
The antioxidant compounds in Butterfly Pea flowers stimulate collagen and elastin synthesis within the body, rejuvenating the skin, reducing wrinkles, and preventing other signs of aging. Regular use of Butterfly Pea flowers helps you achieve smoother and healthier skin.
With its bioflavonoid content, Butterfly Pea can promote the natural growth of hair, making it smoother, reducing hair loss, and preventing graying.
Weight Loss and Obesity Prevention
Butterfly Pea contains a high amount of anthocyanins, which can prevent the accumulation of fat in internal organs by inhibiting natural lipid peroxidation reactions. This helps in effective weight loss and obesity prevention.
Dried Butterfly Pea Flowers
Since Butterfly Pea flowers only bloom seasonally and their petals are relatively delicate and prone to crushing, many people choose to process and dry them. After being dried, Butterfly Pea flowers can be used as a type of tea for daily consumption.
Methods for Drying Butterfly Pea Flowers
Currently, there are three methods to dry Butterfly Pea flowers: natural drying, oven drying, and using food dehydrators.
For natural drying, ensure a clean drying area for the best quality end product. Packaging and storage should also utilize vacuum-sealed bags to limit harmful bacteria and mold. When using an oven, choose a tightly sealed oven to minimize the intrusion of external bacteria. Using specialized food dehydrators for drying flowers and fruits offers easier processing and guarantees high-quality end products. Therefore, if possible, investing in a dedicated dehydrator for drying Butterfly Pea flowers is recommended.
Butterfly Pea Tea – How to Prepare
Butterfly Pea tea is the end product obtained after drying Butterfly Pea flowers. There are many suppliers of this tea available on the market, alongside rose tea. If you don’t have the means to dry them yourself, purchasing tea bags is also convenient. The process of using dried Butterfly Pea flowers for tea is simple. Firstly, prepare 150 to 200ml of boiling water. Then, add the dried Butterfly Pea flowers and wait for 1 to 2 minutes until the flowers release their color. Remove the flowers and retain the infused water. Finally, wait for the tea to cool and add lemon, sugar, or ice according to your taste preferences. That’s it! A delicious cup of Butterfly Pea tea is ready. It’s simple and easy, isn’t it?
Expert Information
1. What does Butterfly Pea tea taste like?
Butterfly Pea tea has a sweet and slightly bitter taste. If you prefer a sweeter taste, you can add sugar to the tea. When enjoying the tea, you can smell the natural aroma of dried flowers and grass. It also has an attractive and vibrant blue color.
2. Can you drink Butterfly Pea tea daily?
According to health experts, you can drink Butterfly Pea tea daily. However, it is recommended not to consume more than 2 cups of tea and not to use more than 2 grams of dried Butterfly Pea flowers. Exceeding the recommended dosage may have adverse effects on the body, such as increased heart rate, anxiety, insomnia, and indigestion.
3. Does Butterfly Pea tea cause nausea?
In reality, if you only drink tea made from Butterfly Pea flowers, you won’t experience nausea. However, if the tea contains both the leaves and seeds of the plant, it is likely to cause nausea and even uncontrollable diarrhea. This is because the seeds contain a small amount of toxic substances that can affect human health.
4. When is the best time to drink Butterfly Pea tea?
The best time to drink Butterfly Pea tea is 30 minutes to 1 hour after breakfast. At this time, the stomach is already filled, and the caffeine content in the tea will not have negative effects on the body. If you drink tea before breakfast or on an empty stomach, the acid level in the body can increase, leading to increased free radicals and accelerated aging process.
5. Who should avoid drinking Butterfly Pea tea?
Although Butterfly Pea tea is considered beneficial for human health, there are some cases where it should not be used. Specifically:
- Individuals who are currently undergoing or have been treated for diabetes with Western medicine: In the above section, we mentioned that Butterfly Pea tea can support the treatment of diabetes. However, it only has a positive effect when used independently. If you are currently undergoing or have been treated for diabetes with Western medicine and have stable results, consuming Butterfly Pea tea can cause a sudden drop in blood sugar levels. This can lead to symptoms such as dizziness, nausea, sweating, weakness, etc.
- Individuals who are menstruating, preparing for surgery, have large open wounds, or are taking anticoagulant medications: The dried Butterfly Pea flowers contain the active compound Anthocyanin, which has the ability to inhibit platelets and prevent blood clot formation. Therefore, in the above-mentioned cases, consuming Butterfly Pea tea can cause uncontrolled bleeding.
- Pregnant women: In addition to its anticoagulant effects, Anthocyanin can also affect the uterus of pregnant women, causing stronger contractions and potentially harming the fetus and the health of the mother. Therefore, pregnant women should limit the use of this tea. If a pregnant woman wishes to use Butterfly Pea tea, it is important to consult with a doctor or healthcare professionals to minimize potential risks.
Butterfly Pea flowers are a plant species with many useful properties. However, these benefits only come when they are used correctly. Therefore, before deciding to use this flower, it is important to thoroughly research the relevant information. If you have any further questions or want to learn more about other types of flowers like milk flowers or mai flowers, please read our articles on Quatest for the quickest answers.
