California Poppy - Eschscholzia Californica
This California poppy (Eschscholzia californica California Poppy) monograph is an excerpt from the first edition of Dr. Sharol's book "Herbal Medicine From The Heart of The Earth." You can purchase the 2020, third edition of this book with an expanded materia medica/monograph section, herbal formulas and directions on making herbal products in Dr. Sharol's Book Store. You receive free shipping in the USA. The expanded 3rd edition materia medica, and additional herbal tidbits are also available as a kindle ebook at Amazon and details on this e-book are here.
California poppy - Eschscholzia californica in the Papaveraceae or Poppy family
Part used: Whole plant including roots
Taste/smell: Bitter
Dosage: Infusion: 1 heaping fresh tablespoon per cup of water; or 1:1 fresh liquid extract: 20-60 drops 1-4 times per day.
Use: (a) Sedative, 64 (b) Antispasmodic, (c) Analgesic (d) Anxiolytic.
California poppy has a reputation of being used as a nonaddictive, milder substitute for its relative, Opium poppy. It is often used for children with colic and agitation. It is useful for insomnia, migraines, stress, anxiety, nerve pain, and nervous agitation. It is used for spastic pains from internal organs, such as spastic coughing, intestinal spasms, and menstrual spasms, as well as pain from musculoskeletal spasms.
Contraindications: Due to the results of studies on animal uteri, the California poppy should not be used in pregnancy due to the uterine stimulating effects from the alkaloid, cryptopine.
If you are looking for directions on making teas or tinctures, please see our "Making Herbal Products" page.
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Copyright 1999 by Sharol Tilgner, N.D. (ISBN 1-881517-02-0) - all rights reserved.
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