Post Series: Medicinal Flowers
When we think of medicinal plants, it’s often the roots, leaves, or bark that come to mind—yet around the world, flowers have long been used for their healing properties. This series explores some of the most powerful and time-honored blooms used in traditional and modern herbal medicine… as diverse as they are beautiful.
Papaver somniferum, known as the opium poppy, is an annual herb with a glaucous, greyish-green stem and striking flowers ranging from white and mauve to red. The plant’s latex is the source of potent alkaloids such as morphine and codeine, making its flower and derived extracts widely utilized for analgesic, anti-inflammatory, and antitussive medicinal purposes. Beyond medicine, the poppy’s seeds are valued in culinary traditions, and its historical impact as the source of opium has shaped cultures and pharmacology worldwide.
· Origin: Native to the Mediterranean region
· Traditional use: Pain relief, cough remedies, and sedation
· Sample scientific reference: Papaver Plants: Current Insights on Phytochemical and Nutritional Properties, and Recipes. Butnariu et al., Oxidative Medicine and Cellular Longevity Volume 2022, Issue 1
*This content is for informational and educational purposes only. It is not intended to provide medical advice or to take the place of such advice or treatment from a personal physician.
Opium Poppy (Papaver somniferum)-
