Mexican Poppy

Argemone Mexicana

Other Names : Mexican poppy, Mexican prickly poppy, Flowering thistle, cardo, cardosanto, Siyal-Kanta, सत्यानाशी Satyanashi, Bharband, Datturigidda, Phirangi dhutro, Ponnummattu, খোমথোঙপী Khomthongpee, Firangi dhotra, Kshirini, Swarnakshiri, குடியோட்டி Kudiyotti, Brahmadandi

Special Precautions of Mexican poppy

The plants is toxic to animals and cattle.

Benefits and uses of Mexican poppy are

Mexican Poppy is a pandemic (global) plant with a potentially lethal smorgasborg of alkaloids and uses. It is used world-wide as a pain reliever and wart remover. According to Ayurveda the plant is diuretic. purgative and destroys worms. It cures lepsory, skin-diseases, inflammations and bilious fevers. Roots are anthelmintic. Juice is used to cure ophthalmia and opacity of cornea. Seeds are purgative and sedative.

• A popular medicinal herb in India where it is known as satyanashi, it is used for cough, asthma, phlegm in the throat, dysentery and rheumatism. It is considered to be a sister plant to Datura metel (Jimson Weed)
• The seeds are expectorant, sedative, and the seed oil is a purgative. They make a good salve for injuries and bruises. The plant is used topically in Peru for muscle aches.
• Native American tribes used it topically for burns, wounds, hemorrhoids, sore eyes, and for lice. Argemone is a Greek word denoting herbs that are healing to the eyes.
• Called Chiolote in its native Mexico, it is thought to be sacred to the ancient Aztec rain god Tlaloc who reigns over the legendary Tlalocan "the land of dreams". Thus Chiolote is also known as "food of the dead".
• Used in Europe since 1597, Argemone mexicana is known for its treatment of insomnia and as an aphrodisiac. It is sometimes used as a substitute for other illegal plants.
• Research shows that Mexican Poppy may be useful in treating cancer and certain alkaloids inhibit viruses, bacteria, and fungi.
• The Seri of Sonora, Mexico use the entire plant both fresh and dried. An infusion is made to relieve kidney pain, to help expel a torn placenta, and in general to help cleanse the body after parturition.
• When the Spanish arrived in Sonora they added this plant to their pharmacopia and called it cardosanto, which should not be mistranslated to Blessed Thistle (Cnicus benedictus). Use in Hispanic cultures includes as a sedative and analgesic tea, including for use to help alleviate migraine headaches.[citation needed] The seeds are taken as a laxative.
• In Homoeopathic system of medicine, the drug prepared from this herb is used to treat the problem caused by tape-worm.
• Argemone mexicana is used by traditional healers in Mali to treat malaria.