Other Names : Papaver rhoeas, Field Poppy, Shirley Poppy, Grote Klaproos, gewone Klaproos, Coquelicot, Klatschmohn, Mohnblume, Klatschrose <br>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.
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.
* ''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.''
[[Category:Treatment]]
[[Category:Herbal medicine]]