California Poppy Herb

What is the California Poppy Herb?

The California poppy, also called Eschscholzia californica, is a flower in the family of poppy plants called Papaveraceae. It is the state flower of California, but it also grows in a lot of other states, like Arizona, and in northern Mexico. California poppies are natural plants that grow in large numbers along roadsides. They are also often grown in gardens. The flowers of the California poppy are orange to yellow, and insects like bumblebees eat them. They are also called "cups of gold" and "California sunlight" because their color is so bright and happy.

How do I use California Poppy Herb?

As an analgesic liniment, the tincture of the whole, fresh plant in bloom is applied topically and internally. In an infusion, dried whole plant material is utilized. For 15 minutes, steep 2 to 3 teaspoons per cup of water. Notably, California poppy has an acrid flavor.

California Poppy Herb Benefits:

California poppy is used to treat sleepiness, pain, nervousness, children who wet the bed, and diseases of the liver and bladder. It's also used to help people calm down.

◉ May promote sleep when combined with other herbs: There is some proof that mixing California poppy extract with valerian extract might help people sleep. Like the chemicals in California poppy, elements in valerian (Valeriana officinalis L.), such as valerenol and valerenic acid, make GABA work better in your body, which makes you feel sleepy. In a one-month study with 36 people who had trouble sleeping, taking up to four pills of a product with 80 mg of California poppy extract and 32 mg of valerian root extract each night made a big difference in how long and well they slept.

At the end of the study, the insomnia severity index (ISI) of the people who took part went down by about 30%.But there was no control group in this study. Also, the experts worked for the company that made the supplements, which could have changed the data. Aside from this one study, there isn't much information about how the California poppy makes people sleep. Also, there is no proof that taking California poppy on its own will help with sleep problems. So, we don't know how well it works.

◉ May have sedative and anti-anxiety properties: Research on both people and animals shows that the extract of the California poppy may help people relax and feel less anxious. But these studies are all from the 1990s or early 2000s, so their findings should be taken with a grain of salt. For instance, an older study found that California poppy powder made mice feel less anxious and helped them fall asleep. In an older study on rodents, the product was found to help ease pain. Also, a 3-month study of 264 people with low to moderate anxiety showed that taking 2 tablets with California poppy extract, hawthorn extract, and magnesium twice a day lessened anxious feelings more than a placebo. Even though these results look good, there is no evidence from human studies that the California poppy can treat any of these conditions on its own.

◉ Nervous system tonic that eases stress: The best and most well-known way to use California poppy is as a nervine, which is an herb that works like a healing medicine for your nervous system to ease stress, tension, and anxiety. Native Americans and early American herbalists both used California poppy to help people relax and deal with mood problems like worry, sadness, and fatigue. The California poppy stands out because it is thought to be safe enough for children. It was even used to help people who wet the bed at night because they were nervous. You can make a tea out of fresh or dried California poppy leaves or take a California poppy extract to relieve worry or tension. It also goes well with herbs like lemon balm or chamomile that help calm people down.

◉ Promote relaxation & sleep: Because it calms you down, California poppy is a good way to help you fall asleep, especially if you can't sleep because of stress, anxiety, or worried energy. Modern study on California poppy is limited, but enough has been done to show that the plant contains a group of chemicals called alkaloids. People think that these chemicals interact with GABA receptors in your brain to make you feel sleepy, like a tranquilizer would. You can take California poppy by itself to help you sleep, or you can combine it with other herbs to make it work better.

Where to buy California Poppy Herb?

Buy California Poppy Herb from the health food store in the USA, Alive Herbals.

California Poppy Herb information (at a glance):