The California Poppy (Eschscholzia californica) is a favorite among wildflowers and the state flower of California, but you might be surprised of its traditional uses. Its leaves, seeds and flowers have been consumed as food—the flowers used as garnishes, and the leaves and seeds used in cooked or baked dishes. It also has strong traditional medicinal uses for promoting sleep and calming the agitated mind.
We know about this poppy’s uses because several Native American tribes used it for exactly these kinds of reasons—as a calming agent and for pain relief. So, how does it do this? Popularly, California is described as containing no opiates and being non-addictive. There have been a few preclinical studies, but because it is still lacking clinical studies, we will have to continue wondering just how much promise this poppy plant has for the potential of human health.
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