Although it does not contain opiates (though it is related to the opium poppy), this poppy is a skeletal relaxant that encourages restoration of the nervous system, and it is nonaddictive. It contains an alkaloid called protopine, which is similar in structure to morphine, but has different effects on the body, helping to relax. The Cahuilla Indians once used the plant as a sedative for babies. Today, it is used in the treatment of anxiety, bedwetting (due to stress), insomnia, headache, over-excitability, pain, restlessness, stress and toothache. Tincture of California Poppy can help with persistent coughing. Topically, California Poppy can be used as a compress to relieve pain and inflammation.
World-renowned herbalist Juliette de Bairacli Levy suggests grinding California Poppy seeds into a meal, mixing them with honey and then forming the paste into "cakes". These can then be dried in the sunlight and given to children who have trouble sleeping or relaxing.
by Kristy Baird
