California Poppy: Pain Relief Without the Narcotic

We live in a world where everything that should nourish us has been altered, rearranged, or nullified, by GMO's,  companies with no moral compass, depleted soils and rising costs; our bodies are breaking down without those building blocks, and we are hurting.

Fibromyalgia, Chronic Fatigue, IBS, Lupus, MS and an entire host of other painful and debilitating ailments are seeing more men and women on vast cornucopias of drugs.  So many caught between a rock and a hard place.

Sometimes it's easiest to begin tackling the largest problems with small steps, and here's a great beginning.

California Poppy grows in abundance all over the west coast, from California to Washington State and further.  These cheerful orange and yellow flowers are as uplifting to our bodies as they are to our eyes. 

General Information

California poppy contains chemicals that may create a sedative action (Sleepiness), act as an analgesic (to relieve pain), anti-diarrheal, antitussive (helps relieve coughing). diaphoretic (helps promote sweating),  and an antispasmodic. It also repairs nerves and alleviates nerve pain.

Unlike opioids or even the stronger acting Poppy species, Rudolf Weiss states that the effect of California Poppy is towards “…establishing equilibrium,” and is not at all narcotic (1988, 289).

As exemplified by California Poppy, all poppies contain a variety of alkaloids that are likely have different activities, as well as other constituents that we know from experience can modulate the effects of the ‘active’ constituents.

Many herbalists have observed that crude herb extracts of the various poppy species are less addictive albeit less potent in their activities than the purified alkaloids,  but with far fewer side-effects.

• Medicinal Parts

Use the parts that grow above the ground for medicine. A fresh flower as an extract is the most effective, but I still use my dried herb all year long, and love it!

The seeds are tiny and black, held in long pointed pods that split open when ripe.

• Harvesting Instructions

Harvest in the spring, and gather the whole above ground plant and dry it.  Or tincture the whole fresh plant

(There is some evidence that the tap root is mildly toxic, I don't use it, but others do.  Use common sense, and if you are a beginner, please err on the side of caution, and just use the above ground parts.) 

• General Dosage

½ Dropperful or 20-60 drops 1-4 times daily. (Take lowest amount, until you see how it may affect you, and work your way up if needed.)

Use a rounded teaspoon of chopped plant as tea, drink 1-3 times daily.

• Precautions

California poppy appears to be safe for most people when taken appropriately by mouth for three months or less. There isn't enough information to know if California poppy is safe for longer term use.

Pregnancy and breast-feeding: Not enough is known about the use of California poppy during pregnancy and breast-feeding. Stay on the safe side and avoid use.

There is some concern that California poppy might slow down the central nervous system too much when combined with anesthesia and other medications used during and after surgery. Stop using California poppy at least 2 weeks before a scheduled surgery.

For Greater Detail on this wonderful plant, Try Todd Caldecot's Website.

•  Any statements or claims about the possible health benefits conferred by any foods or supplements have not been evaluated by the Food & Drug Administration and are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.

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