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White Poppy (Papaver somniferum) Common Names: Opium poppy, mawseed Occurrence: Indigenous to Turkey and Asia, cultivated in Europe, Great Britain, Persia, India, and China for opium production. Parts used: The capsules and flowers. The white poppy contains twenty one different alkaloids of which morphine, narcotine, codeine, codamine and thebaine are the most important. Magick/Lore: Poppy is an herb of fertility, fortune, and love ruled by Saturn. Its invocatory can be Demeter or Persephone. Poppy seeds have long been considered a symbol of fertility and prosperity. Some use Poppy in their quest to attain invisibility. If you have access to the fresh pods, they can be dried and strung to use as a charm or necklace to bring good fortune. In days of old, Poppy Opium was burned as incense for rituals of divination. Poppy flowers can be offered upon one's altar. Some use the Poppy for fertility rites. Poppy seeds may also be added to money charms. Remedial/Medicinal: Poppy's most notorious medicinal by product is Opium. Opium is used in the production of morphine, codeine, other alkaloids. Morphine is the raw material from which heroin is obtained. Poppy is an important medicinal plant. Traditionally, the dry opium was considered an astringent, antispasmodic, aphrodisiac, diaphoretic, expectorant, hypnotic, narcotic, and sedative. Poppy has been used against toothaches and coughs. The ability of opium from Poppy to serve as an analgesic is well known. Opium and derivatives of opium are used in the pharmaceutical industry as narcotic analgesics, hypnotics, and sedatives. These compounds are also used as antidiarrheals, antispasmodics, and antitussives. Opium and the drugs derived from opium are addictive and can have toxicological effects. It is the best possible hypnotic and sedative drug, frequently used to relieve pain and calm excitement. It has also been used in diarrhoea, dysentry and some foms of cough. The tincture of opium is commonly called laudanum, and when applied externally with soap liniment it provides quick pain relief. Administer as: Syrup, tincture, decoction and poultice. White Poppy is a: Astringent, anodyne,antispasmodic, aphrodisiac, diaphoretic, expectorant, hypnotic, narcotic, and sedative |