California poppy, cut herb. Suitable for the preparation of tea, tincture, herbal blends and herbal supplements.
TASTE: Mild, slightly bitter tea with slightly sour fragrance.
California poppy herb is also known as “California sunlight” and “Cup of Gold” because of the bright cheery colour of the poppy flowers.
California popy is in the same family as the opium poppy (Papaver somniferum), California poppy demonstrates similar analgesic and anxiolytic applications, but without the narcotic or addictive properties (Mars, 2001). While older literature stated that California poppy contained trace amounts of opium alkaloids such as morphine (Remington & Wood, 1918), modern studies do not substantiate this (Zampieron, 2018). In fact, there is thought that California poppy can play an important role in fighting the opioid epidemic. This is because the herb contains other isoquinoline alkaloids that are thought to interact with opioid receptors in the brain, and in turn ease opiate withdrawal, while simultaneously soothing pain through interactions with gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) and serotonin receptors (Zampieron, 2018).
Health Canada certified as SLEEP AID and ANALGENIC.