Corn Poppy

Other Names : Papaver rhoeas, Field Poppy, Shirley Poppy, Grote Klaproos, gewone Klaproos, Coquelicot, Klatschmohn, Mohnblume, Klatschrose
See also : Poppy Seed

Special Precuations of Corn Poppy

• This plant is toxic to mammals, though the toxicity is low. The seed is not toxic.

Properties

The flowers and petals are anodyne, emollient, emmenagogue, expectorant, hypnotic, slightly narcotic and sedative.

Health Benefits and Uses of Corn Poppy

In traditional folk medicine, it was used for gout, aches, and pains. The flowers of corn poppy have a long history of medicinal usage, especially for ailments in the elderly and children.

• Chiefly employed as a mild pain reliever and as a treatment for irritable coughs, it also helps to reduce nervous over-activity.
• Unlike the related Opium Poppy (P. somniferum) it is non-addictive. However, the plant does contain alkaloids, which are still under investigation, and so should only be used under the supervision of a qualified herbalist.
• An infusion is taken internally in the treatment of bronchial complaints and coughs, insomnia, poor digestion, nervous digestive disorders and minor painful conditions.
• The flowers are also used in the treatment of jaundice.
• The petals are harvested as the flowers open and are dried for later use. They should be collected on a dry day and can be dried or made into a syrup. The latex in the seedpods is narcotic and slightly sedative. It can be used in very small quantities, and under expert supervision, as a sleep-inducing drug. The petals were used to create a syrup that was fed to children to help them sleep
• The leaves and seeds are tonic. They are useful in the treatment of low fevers.
• The plant has anticancer properties.

Main Combinations

• Nighttime cough: Eucalyptus globulus + Corn Poppy
• Nightmares : California Poppy + Corn Poppy + Eleutherococcus
• Intense emotions : Corn Poppy + Rhodiola
• Spasmophilia : Corn Poppy + Lithothamnium calcareum

References

• Phillips. R. & Foy. N. Herbs Pan Books Ltd. London. 1990 ISBN 0-330-30725-8
• Duke. J. A. and Ayensu. E. S. Medicinal Plants of China Reference Publications, Inc. 1985 ISBN 0-917256-20-4
• Chevallier. A. The Encyclopedia of Medicinal Plants Dorling Kindersley. London 1996 ISBN 9-780751-303148
• Reader's Digest Field Guide to the Wild Flowers of Britain. Reader's Digest. 1981. p. 30. ISBN 9780276002175.