The California Poppy - Side Effects and Health Benefits
Botanical Name of California poppy : Eschscholzia californica.
Other Common Names: Golden poppy, copa de oro, khishkhash Kalifornia.
Habitat: The California poppy is native to California but is found along the entire western coast of the United States as far north as Washington State and as far south as Mexico, in addition it has also be found in southern France, Australia and Chile.
Plant Description: The flower is usually golden orange in color, hence its common name “golden poppy.” The receptacle has an expanded rim that holds the young bud with two sepals until it blooms. The stem of the flower grows to approximately 5 to 20 inches tall, with teal colored leaves sprouting from its base. The plant is prolific, with numerous dark colored seeds held in the center of the flower within slender, ribbed single celled seed capsules.
Plant Parts Used: Root, leaves and seeds. Bitter to the taste with subtle euphoric properties, the entire plant of the Californian poppy is harvested in maturity. It's dried and used for medicinal purposes as diffusion, tincture and powder.
 California Poppy Flower (Click on image to enlarge)
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Therapeutic Uses, Benefits and Claims of Californian Poppy
- Gentle in effect, the major health properties of the California poppy are sedative, analgesic and antispasmodic in action.
 The California Poppy ( Eschscholzia californica
) -
California poppy is member of the poppy family and somewhat distantly related to the opium poppy (Papaver somniferum). While the California poppy does contain some sedative alkaloids, it contains no real "opium".
- The most common use of this herb is in diffusion for treating the various physical and psychological conditions including insomnia, bedwetting (incontinence), anxiety and nervous tension, particularly in children.
- Because of its sedative properties, the California poppy has been used in the treatment of behavioral disorders such as ADD, ADHD in children and young adults. In addition this herb has also been proven to improve intellectual capacity, memory and concentration in the elderly.
- California poppy has been used as an herbal treatment for tooth pain. The odontalgic properties are found in the root of the plant, which is cut and applied directly to the affected area.
- As a tincture, it is used for its antimicrobial properties applied externally to cuts and scrapes.
- As an analgesic and antispasmodic, these properties have been found useful in the relief of acute nerve and muscular centered pain. It has been used as a remedy in cases of high fever, rapid pulse and persistent spasmodic cough.
- A tincture made from the root of California poppy can be prepared as an external wash for suppressing lactation (the production of milk) in breast-feeding women.
- The leaves of the flower are used externally in powder form for antimicrobial properties as a treatment for the elimination of head lice with the same effectiveness of berberis (mahonia) repens (creeping barberry).
Dosage and Administration
Available in dry herb or tincture extract form. Tea diffusions can be made using 2 grams of dried herb for each 150 ml. of water, taken 2 to 3 times daily. In tincture or extract form for mild pain, anxiety 15-25 drops, to 3X a day; for severe cases, 30 to 40 drops, 2 to 5 times per day.
Side Effects and Possible Interactions of California Poppy
This plant is considered child safe and based on normal intake levels there are no known side effects for using this herb. The use of the California poppy is not recommended for women who are pregnant or breast-feeding.
Leave a Comment or Tips on California Poppy
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Name: Jill
E-mail: Private
Date posted: November 22, 2011 - 10:02 am
Message: Finally having a good night sleep after searching for help for months. Been using the liquid herbal extract for 1 day and it is simply phenomenal.
Eternally Thankful. Not being able to sleep is torture!
Name: Leisa
E-mail: Private
Date posted: April 14, 2011 - 01:01 pm
Message: I had this prescribed for insomnia in relation to panic attacks. For weeks I had been living off 3 to 4 hrs of sleep a night. Then with the first drops taken (I take 11 drops 10mins before bed) I was off to sleep. A solid, sound, refreshing sleep and from that time on I could start getting control of my panic attacks. Every night since I has gone happily off to sleep. I can't begin to tell you how much this remedy has changed my life.
It really is remarkable
Name: Debbie Campbell
E-mail: debbielucia8@hotmail.co.uk
Date posted: January 30, 2012 - 12:42 am
Message: This is an amazing product , I first used it when my daughter was 2yrs old she had never slept more than 20 mins ever until I tryed the californian poppy tincture , my daughter slept for 9hrs straight through the night it was just such a relief for me , I tell people about it all the time it really is a miracle herb
"Better to hunt in fields for health unbought
Than fee the doctor for a nauseous draught.
The wise for cure on exercise me depend;
God never made his work for man to mend."
John Dryden
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