California Poppy – Eschscholzia californica

Parts Used: Whole fresh plant

Constituents 

Morphine alkaloids, eschscholtzione, glycosides

Indications For Use

For managing pain, anxiety, and insomnia. Provides relaxation, mild sedation, or both while treating a variety of disease states. Nonaddictive, safe, gentle, nonnarcotic pain relief.

Safety in Pregnancy and Breastfeeding

There are no published studies on E. californica in pregnancy or lactation; however, plants containing opiates, no matter how small the quantity, are probably best avoided by pregnant and nursing women. Use with caution in patients on psychiatric drugs.

Dosage

Dried powder of the seed pods, aerial parts, or whole plant is used and is generally considered safe at doses of 500 mg–2 g/day. 

Traditional Uses

California poppy is the state flower of California and can be found growing on sunny slopes in meadows of the west coast of North America. The plant is a relative of the better-known opium poppy, and the roots and aerial parts were used by Native Americans for pain and to improve sleep. The roots were chewed for oral and dental pain; the pulverized root pulp used topically on wounds and traumatic injuries; and the leaves, buds, and seeds were prepared as teas to consume orally for pain and insomnia. 

In early American Folk medicine, E. californica was also used for mood disorders including anxiety, depression, and exhaustive states, or in formulas to provide relaxation while treating other disease states. Unlike morphine and opium poppy derivatives, the use of the whole California poppy plant was nonaddictive, safe, and gentle and offered nonnarcotic pain relief.

In the modern era, E. californica has become established as a nerve tonic 

This herbal monograph is used with the permission of The Plant Medicine School.