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Opium poppy - traditional medicine
Opium is a narcotic drug obtained from the milky latex of the unripe seed capsules of opium poppies. It has numerous traditional medicinal uses in South Asia, particularly for pain relief and as a sedative. It is also widely used in western medicine.
Opium remedies
The unripe seed pods of the opium poppy contain a group of alkaloids known as opiates that are often used as sedatives. The alkaloids can reduce pain, alter mood and behaviour, and induce sleep or stupor. It is a narcotic and potentially highly addictive.
In traditional medicine opium was made from the air-dried milky latex or juice from the unripe seeds from poppies. The quality of opium would vary depending on whether black or white seeds were used.
Opium from India contained not only high levels of the alkaloid morphine but also the alkaloid codeine This could explain why it was traditionally used to relieve pain and to suppress coughs. The presence of another alkaloid called papaverine in the seeds could explain why the extracts relaxed muscles and reduced stomach and respiratory spasms.
Opium was not recommended for long-term use as it causes dryness of the throat, decreases the ability of the gut to absorb food, increases constipation and increases the pumping action of the heart and can lead to heart failure and ultimately death. The main problem with incorrect use of opium is of addiction. If an addiction is not treated early it will usually result in death.
The seeds were also used in Ayurveda and Siddha medicine. They were cooked and ground with sugar and cardamom seeds and used to treat diarrhoea, coughs and asthma. Extracts of poppies were used to treat fevers, tuberculosis, liver and kidney problems as well as diseases of the urinary tract.
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| Poppy seeds were used in Ayurveda and Siddha medicine. |
Opium from India contained not only high levels of the alkaloid morphine but also the alkaloid codeine This could explain why it was traditionally used to relieve pain and to suppress coughs. The presence of another alkaloid called papaverine in the seeds could explain why the extracts relaxed muscles and reduced stomach and respiratory spasms.
Opium was not recommended for long-term use as it causes dryness of the throat, decreases the ability of the gut to absorb food, increases constipation and increases the pumping action of the heart and can lead to heart failure and ultimately death. The main problem with incorrect use of opium is of addiction. If an addiction is not treated early it will usually result in death.
The seeds were also used in Ayurveda and Siddha medicine. They were cooked and ground with sugar and cardamom seeds and used to treat diarrhoea, coughs and asthma. Extracts of poppies were used to treat fevers, tuberculosis, liver and kidney problems as well as diseases of the urinary tract.
This information is provided for general interest only. It is not intended as guidance for medicinal use. Further information on using herbal medicines is available.
