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Opium Poppy / Papaver somniferum

(LINN) N.O. Papaveraceae

Names	History	Constituents	Uses
Opium poppy Mawseed White Poppy or, (var),Papaver Album	Poppies were first cultivated in Britain in the 17th c.by Mr. John Ball, of Williton. Cultivation experiments also in France and Germany. British Pharmacopoeia states that opium used officially must come from poppies grown in Asia Minor. 11th c. : An Arabic physician, Mesue, made a cough treatment known as Syrupus de Meconio Mesuae. The name somniferum means sleep - inducing red, purple or white flowers	At least 25 alkaloids comprising: morphine (0.1 to 0.3%), codeine papverine narcotine meconic acid (5% with morphine) thebaine narceine Irhoedine (latex) 25% alkaloid content 2% morphine (Oil) (to 60%) lecithin, mucilage sugar wax calcium and magnesium salts sulphuric acid from its ash starch tannin oxalic acid fat.	hypnotic, sedative, narcotic, pain relief relief of diarrhoea, pain killer infusion from powdered capsule once used for sprains or bruises, expectorant, diaphoretic, syrup of poppy, veterinary: for pain and spasm,NB: opium and morphine are not calmative or hypnotic for animals.

Contra-Indications

By prescription only. If swallowed, stomach must be pumped and washed with potassium permanganate + the administration of nitrites and small doses of atropine hypodermically to maintain cardiac action. Also strychnine used hypodermically and artificial respiration .To prevent coma apply caffeine and stimulant enemata.

Tincture of Opium, or Laudanum

3 oz opium

equal parts distilled water and alcohol

Decoction of Poppy

bruise fresh capsules of poppy and soak in distilled water.

For external use on painful areas.

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