With its bright orange flowers, the Californian poppy (Eschscholtzia californica) is not only beautiful, it has also established itself as an effective medicinal plant.
Neither toxic nor addictive, it has the same properties as its cousin, the sleeping poppy (Papaver somniferum), from which opium is extracted.
Plant history
Originally from the Pacific coast of the United States, hence the name California poppy, the eschscholtzia owes its complicated name to the German naturalist physician Eschscholtz, who took part in a Russian expedition to the Californian coasts, around 1815. By entering the bay of San Francisco, surrounded by hills covered with golden poppy flowers, the sailors named these yellow hills "the country of fire".
A traditional Native American remedy, poppy leaves were boiled and roasted on hot stones to help children sleep or to cope with dental pain, headaches or colic.
According to an Amerindian legend, its orange petals, when falling, turned into gold, filling the ground with the precious metal ...
It was in 1903 that the species became the floral emblem of the State of California.
Lower stress and anxiety
The Californian poppy is used to slow down excessive nervous feelings. Effective and safe, it is suitable for everyone and does not disturb behavior; instead it normalizes it. It helps balance difficult emotions: unstable or depressed moods, nervous tension and anxiety.
Quality of sleep
Higher dosages of California poppy become sleeping pills, hence its common use as a sleep aid. Its effect is pleasant and gives the sensation of natural sleep, accompanied by waking up refreshed the next day, without drowsiness. The plant's active ingredients are released into the body gradually throughout the night, ensuring deep and continuous sleep.
An effective analgesic effect
The Californian poppy will be ideal for those suffering from pain interfering with sleep or falling asleep. Both analgesic and antispasmodic, the plant will effectively exert its action on spasms and any type of pain, whether it is acute or chronic. Because of its safety, California poppy can be taken over long periods without fear of experiencing side effects.
Soft yet powerful, the California poppy differs from the sleeping poppy (Papaver somniferum) by its minute amounts of codeine and morphine, making it the ultimate non-narcotic analgesic.
Pavozen, Bazzzics Fall Asleep and Bazzzics Stay Sleep products from Holizen all contain Californian poppy.
References
Gagnon, C., Lanctôt-Bédard, V. & al. (2009). Materia Medica de Flora Medicina, Vol. 1. Bibliothèque et Archives nationales du Québec, 397 pages.
