The Medicinal Uses of California Poppy

Eschscholzia californica

Like many an elementary school child growing up in California, I was carefully taught that picking California poppies was illegal.  Yes, it was enough to put the fear of being thrown into jail in a person.  I’ve never heard of anyone getting busted for it, but as this is California we’re talking about, I wouldn’t chance it then, and I wouldn’t chance it now.

In the same family as the opium poppies, which are also highly medicinal, but not covered much due to fears from the FDA since usage is illegal, the California poppy is not narcotic.[1]  The yellow to orange-red wildflowers thrive all over the West in the wild, but this poppy is also sold in nurseries in plant and seed form.  It is a perennial in warm climates and re-seeding annual in cool climates.  So you just have to plant it once.  Lovely.   It grows at elevations up to 6000-7000 feet.[2] 

Unlike its other poppy relatives, medicinal preparations of this one are perfectly safe for everyone, including children.[3] 

HARVEST

The flowers and leaves are harvested early in the season for the strongest medicine, later in the season for milder medicine.[4]

PREPARATIONS: 

Infusion.  Fresh chopped herb, steep 1 teaspoon of leaves in hot water for 10 minutes.[5]  Dry herb, rounded teaspoon, in 2-4 ounces hot water. [6] 

Tincture.  Fresh herb, 1:2 ratio, 95% alcohol[7], or dry herb, 1:5 ratio, 60% alcohol[8].  15-25 drops up to 3 times per day.[9] [10] May be taken in 2 ounces of water or chamomile tea.[11] 

PHARMACOLOGICAL PROPERTIES

• Analgesic[12] [13] [14] 
• Antispasmodic[15]
• Sedative[16] [17] [18] [19]
• Soporific[20] 

USAGE

• Dental
• Toothache[21]
• Piece of root or sap squeezed from plant placed in tooth cavities to relieve pain[22]
• Gastrointestinal
• Stomachache
• Root juice, taken internally[23]
• Neurological
• Anxiety[24] [25] [26]
• Bedwetting[27]
• Headache
• Crushed plant rubbed on head or forehead[28]
• Hyperactive children[29]
• Insomnia[30] [31] [32] [33]
• Infusion, 2-4 ounces at night[34] 
• Stress[35] [36] 
• Stun, temporarily, opponents when gambling[37] (OK, seriously, I didn't make that up.  That's exactly what the book said.  If anyone finds that this works, please post in the comments.  We'd all love to know.  Even if we're not playing for money.)
• Respiratory
• Tuberculosis
• Root juice, taken internally[38]
• Whooping cough[39]
• Skin
• Lice
• Decoction applied to hair[40]
• Ringworm
• Tincture[41]  
• Weeping sores
• Wash[42]
• Wounds
• Other
• Suppress milk production[43]
• Rub mashed seedpod or decoction on the breasts to dry up the milk supply[44]

Caution.  Not for use in pregnant or nursing women, as it will reduce milk production.[45]  Excess quantities may cause a slight hangover the next morning.[46]  Tastes horrible.[47] 

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[1] Thomas Easley, et al., Modern Herbal Dispensatory, 2016, 201.

[2] Michael Moore, Medicinal Plants of the Mountain West, 2003, 73.

[3] Michael Moore, Medicinal Plants of the Mountain West, 2003, 73.

[4] Michael Moore, Medicinal Plants of the Mountain West, 2003, 73.

[5] Kimball Chatfield, Medicine from the Mountains, 1997, 20-24.

[6] Michael Moore, Medicinal Plants of the Mountain West, 2003, 73.

[7] Thomas Easley, et al., Modern Herbal Dispensatory, 2016, 201.

[8] Thomas Easley, et al., Modern Herbal Dispensatory, 2016, 201.

[9] Michael Moore, Medicinal Plants of the Mountain West, 2003, 73.

[10] Stephen Harrod Buhner, Herbal Antibiotics, 2012, 370.

[11] Thomas Easley, et al., Modern Herbal Dispensatory, 2016, 201.

[12] Michael Moore, Medicinal Plants of the Mountain West, 2003, 73.

[13] Kimball Chatfield, Medicine from the Mountains, 1997, 20-24.

[14] Thomas Easley, et al., Modern Herbal Dispensatory, 2016, 201.

[15] Andrew Chevallier, Encyclopedia of Herbal Medicine, 2023, 212.

[16] Michael Moore, Medicinal Plants of the Mountain West, 2003, 73.

[17] Kimball Chatfield, Medicine from the Mountains, 1997, 20-24.

[18] Thomas Easley, et al., Modern Herbal Dispensatory, 2016, 201.

[19] Steven Foster, et al., Western Medicinal Plants and Herbs, 2002, 152.

[20] Thomas Easley, et al., Modern Herbal Dispensatory, 2016, 201.

[21] Andrew Chevallier, Encyclopedia of Herbal Medicine, 2023, 212.

[22] Kimball Chatfield, Medicine from the Mountains, 1997, 20-24.

[23] Steven Foster, et al., Western Medicinal Plants and Herbs, 2002, 152.

[24] Andrew Chevallier, Encyclopedia of Herbal Medicine, 2023, 212.

[25] Thomas Easley, et al., Modern Herbal Dispensatory, 2016, 201.

[26] Steven Foster, et al., Western Medicinal Plants and Herbs, 2002, 152.

[27] Andrew Chevallier, Encyclopedia of Herbal Medicine, 2023, 212.

[28] Kimball Chatfield, Medicine from the Mountains, 1997, 20-24.

[29] Steven Foster, et al., Western Medicinal Plants and Herbs, 2002, 152.

[30] Kimball Chatfield, Medicine from the Mountains, 1997, 20-24.

[31] Andrew Chevallier, Encyclopedia of Herbal Medicine, 2023, 212.

[32] Thomas Easley, et al., Modern Herbal Dispensatory, 2016, 201.

[33] Steven Foster, et al., Western Medicinal Plants and Herbs, 2002, 152.

[34] Thomas Easley, et al., Modern Herbal Dispensatory, 2016, 201.

[35] Kimball Chatfield, Medicine from the Mountains, 1997, 20-24.

[36] Thomas Easley, et al., Modern Herbal Dispensatory, 2016, 201.

[37] Steven Foster, et al., Western Medicinal Plants and Herbs, 2002, 152.

[38] Steven Foster, et al., Western Medicinal Plants and Herbs, 2002, 152.

[39] Andrew Chevallier, Encyclopedia of Herbal Medicine, 2023, 212.

[40] Steven Foster, et al., Western Medicinal Plants and Herbs, 2002, 152.

[41] Michael Moore, Medicinal Plants of the Mountain West, 2003, 73.

[42] Steven Foster, et al., Western Medicinal Plants and Herbs, 2002, 152.

[43] Kimball Chatfield, Medicine from the Mountains, 1997, 20-24.

[44] Steven Foster, et al., Western Medicinal Plants and Herbs, 2002, 152.

[45] Kimball Chatfield, Medicine from the Mountains, 1997, 20-24.

[46] Michael Moore, Medicinal Plants of the Mountain West, 2003, 73.

[47] Michael Moore, Medicinal Plants of the Mountain West, 2003, 73.