Papaver somniferum L.Family: Papaveraceae
Common name: Opium Poppy
Bengali: পস্তো Pasto, আফিম
Hindi: अफ़ीम Aphim, ख़शख़ाश Khash-khash
Kannada: ಗಸಗಸೆ, gasagase,
Malayalam: കശകശ afium, avin, karappu, kasakasa
Marathi: खसखस khaskhas, posta
Odia: ଅଫିମ
Sanskrit: aaphuka, ahifen, ahiphena
Tamil: கசகசா gashagasha, kasakasa, postaka
Telugu: గసగసాలు gasagasalu
Urdu: Aphim, Khashkhash
Nepali: अफिम Aphim
Swedish: Opiumvallmo
Thai: ต้นฝิ่น, ฝิ่น
Turkish: Haşhaş tohumu
Vietnamese: Cây thuốc phiện
Norwegian: Valmue
Korean: 아편
Poppy (Papaver somniferum). The traditional use of poppy to induce sleep and reduce pain led to the discovery and subsequent isolation of the alkaloid morphine. [American Herbal Pharmacopoeia: Botanical Pharmacognosy—Microscopic Characterization of Botanical Medicines]
Used in cough and diarrhea (therapeutic uses based on texts from the fourteenth to sixteenth centuries). Seeds are demulcent and used in the form of emulsions as an emollient (in cough and asthma) and as a specific aid against obstinate constipation and in catarrh of the bladder. Seed oil is used against diarrhea, dysentery and scalds. 2(a),15 Seeds are antirotozoal and spasmolytic.
The extract of seeds showed highly significant anti-secretory (anti-diarrheal) activity against E. coli enterotoxin-induced secretary responses in experimental animals. Seed extract showed marked hypoglycemic activity and increased the activity of the carcinogen detoxifying enzyme glutathione-S-transferase by more than 78%. [Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeial Plant Drugs: Expanded Therapeutics]
A poultice of opium resin is used topically as a local analgesic for management of pain and soothing of muscle spasms. It may be applied to the temples to alleviate headache. [A Thai Herbal: Traditional Recipes for Health and Harmony]
Ayurvedic literature described it as tonic, antiphlegmatic, aphrodisiac, cleanses bodily impurities, binds the bowels, causes biliousness, nervous excitement, mental confusion, and promotes dryness. Poppy seeds were described as heavy, tonic, aphrodisiac, promotes luster of the body, enhances capacity to perform muscular work, allays nervous excitement, and causes the production of phlegm. Poppy capsules are reported dry, cool in potency, light, bitter and astringent in taste; promotes taste. They cause nervous excitement, garrulousness, intoxication, bind the bowels, cause dryness of the body, mental confusion, impotency, and promote the utilization of nutrition by the tissue. Opium is used in convulsions and rheumatism. [CRC Handbook of Ayurvedic Medicinal Plants]
The opium obtained from the fruits is bitter, astringent, sweet, constipating, aphrodisiac, sedative, somniferous, narcotic, myotic, antispasmodic, sudorific and nervine tonic. It is useful in cough, fever, inflammatory affections of eye, otitis, proctalgia and low back pain due to diarrhoea and dysentery. It is good for internal haemorrhages, decrease secretions, restrain tissue changes and used as analgesic. It beneficial in migraine, malaria, dysmenorrhoea, cystitis, menorrhagia and other painful conditions. Opium (the inspissated milky juice from immature capsules) is a soporific drug, given either alone or as an adjunct, in the preparation of various medicines. It acts on the CNS, induces sleep, relieves pain, develops euphoria and highly toxic in large doses. Opium available in the market is purified by steeping in cold water for 5-6 hr. The insoluble brown latex finds application in the Ayurvedic medicine. It is prophylactic in post-operative period (50-60 mg/day). Vapours of boiling water mixed with small doses of opium, is useful in conjunctivitis. Camphorated opium (1:1) is an excellent pain killer in sprain. However, it is contraindicated for people suffering from asthma, cardiac and urinary bladder diseases. Seed oil, freed from narcotic principles is useful in diarrhoea and dysentery. [Database on Medicinal Plants Used in Ayurveda Volume 8]
Opium (the dried latex) is a potent narcotic, analgesic, and antispasmodic, and has been taken to relieve pain of various kinds. In all the main herbal traditions it is regarded as a powerfully “cold” remedy, reducing physical function and sedating or suppressing nervous activity, pain, and coughs. In view of its addictive nature, opium is mainly used after other less powerful analgesics have failed to bring relief. It is also an effective remedy for acute diarrhea and severe coughs. Pharmaceutical drugs produced from opium poppy include morphine and codeine. [Encyclopedia of Herbal Medicine]
anodyne, diarrhea, diaphoretic, expectorant, hypnotic, sedative, antispasmodic, antitussive, astringent, emmenagogue, narcotic. [Handbook of African Medicinal Plants, Second Edition]
Aphiphena was not in use during the period of Charaka and Sushruta. Its first reference is found in Shaarangadhara Samhitaa and later on in Bhaavaprakaasha (16th century). Aakaarkarbhaadi Churna of Shaarangadhara was prescribed as a sex-tonic; Yavaanyaadi Kwaatha (Bhaavaprakaasha) in obstinate cough and bronchitis. Bhaishajya Ratnaavali incorporated many Ahiphena-based compound preparations for diar rhoea and dysentery—Ahiphenaasava, Ahiphena Vatikaa, Brihad Gangaadhara Churna, Karpura Rasa, to mention but a few. Dugdha Vati was pre scribed in inflammatory conditions of liver, lungs, stomach, and intestines. During the 16th century Ahiphena and Khashkhash entered into a number of compounds for rheumatic affections, neuralgias, haemorrhagic conditions, chronic bronchitis, insomnia, and sexual debility associated with psychosomatic disturbances. In Unani medicine, Habb-e-Jadwaar is pre scribed in premature ejaculation. For chronic bronchitis, restlessness, nervousness and insom nia, a number of Unani compounds have been incorporated in National Formulary of Unani Medicine— Barshasha, Dayaquzaa, Khamira-e- Khashkhaash, Habb-e-Khashkhaash, Habb-e-Sha- keeqaa, Qurs Musallas, Habb-e-Sil. Sharbat-e- Khashkhaash is administered in diarrhoea and dysentery. For external application, Zimaad-e- Mubarrid is prescribed in cephalalgia as frigorific and sedative. [Indian Herbal Remedies].
950 Published articles of Papaver somniferum
Rhynchosia heynei Wight & Arn.
