Other Names: Amapola de California, Eschscholzia californica, Pavot de Californie, Poppy California, Yellow Poppy.<br>California poppy is a plant. It is the state flower of California. People use the parts that grow above the ground for medicine.
==Special Precautions of California Poppy==
* California poppy appears to be safe for most people when taken appropriately by mouth for three months or less. There isn't enough information to know if California poppy is safe for longer term use.*Pregnancy best avoided in pregnancy and breastfeeding and breast-feeding: Not enough is known about the use of California poppy during pregnancy and breastcontra-feeding. Stay on the safe side and avoid useindicated in glaucoma.
*Surgery: California poppy can slow down the central nervous system, causing sleepiness and other effects. There is some concern that California poppy might slow down the central nervous system too much when combined with anesthesia and other medications used during and after surgery. Stop using California poppy at least 2 weeks before a scheduled surgery.
* It should not be taken with MAOIs, tranquilizers, CNS depressants (e.g. alcohol, opiates, benzodiazepines, anaesthetics, tricyclic anti-depressants, anti-epileptics), and Pentobarbital. It has a bitter taste so is preferable to take it as a tincture. The recommended dosage is 1-2.5 mls of the tincture (1:2 25%), 1-10g of the dried herb and 5-30g per cup when taken in infusions 3 times daily.
* Sedative medications (Benzodiazepines and CNS depressants) interacts with California poppy
==The benefits of California Poppy are==
*Anxiety. Developing research suggests California poppy, in combination with magnesium and hawthorn, might be useful in treating mild-to-moderate anxiety disorders. This combination product, called Sympathyl, is not available in the US.