Califo ia Poppy for Anxiety

In a world that seems set on winding up our springs and forcing us to scurry about completing our appointed tasks, it would be nice to find an alte
ative therapy that could ease our daily angst without sending us into oblivion or making us feel as we weren’t really there.

Enter the Califo
ia poppy (Eschscholzia califo
ica). This attractive, four-petaled emblem of Califo
ia has a long and respected history as a nervine and sedative. Califo
ia poppies grow up to two feet tall with thin stems, deeply divided, and their leaves tend to sprawl. The plant can be found in every western state except Montana and is widely cultivated throughout the region. Califo
ia poppies grow in populated sites, across open grasslands and on sunny hillsides. The delicate and colorful orange-red blossoms shed their petals soon after flowering, leaving long, tubular seed pods that explode delightfully when they mature or when they're harvested by a herbalists.

Although it’s in the same family as the potent Oriental poppy (Papaver somniferous), Califo
ia poppy’s active ingredients are isoquinolone alkaloids, rather than opioids. Principal among these compounds is califo
idine, which is pleasantly sedating but not disorienting; furthermore, long-term use of califo
idine doesn’t lead to physiologic dependence or addiction. In low doses, Califo
ia poppy is a mild relaxant; in higher doses, it induces sleep. The tradition of giving Califo
ia poppy to restless babies attests to the herb’s gentle nature. Like its narcotic cousin, Califo
ia poppy has pain-relieving properties, too.

Eschscholzia califo
ica, a dicot, is an annual or perennial herb that is native to Califo
ia and is also found outside of Califo
ia, but is confined to western North America. Root, leaves and seeds. Bitter to the taste with subtle euphoric properties, the entire plant of the Califo
ian poppy is harvested in maturity. It’s dried and used for medicinal purposes as diffusion, tincture and powder. Gentle in effect, the major health properties of the Califo
ia poppy are sedative, analgesic and antispasmodic in action.

As a member of the Papaver somniferum species, this chemically complex plant is considered a sub-opiate. It produces a milder effect than its cousin the red poppy which is the source of opium. Its distinction is found in its ability to normalize psychological functions by influencing the neurotransmitters without depressing the central nervous system.

Califo
ia poppy (Eschscholzia califo
ica) is a sedative and sleep-promoting herb used in a variety of herbal remedies sold in the United States for relaxation and easing mild anxiety. Because of its mild sedative and analgesic properties, it’s often given to children.

Clinical studies with Califo
ia poppy have clearly demonstrated the plant’s sedative and anti-anxiety properties, showing it can improve both sleep latency and quality.

In a large 264-participant 3-month, double-blind, placebo-controlled study, researchers noted the anti-anxiety benefits of a combination therapy containing the mineral magnesium, and the herbs hawthorn (Crataegus laevigata), and Califo
ia poppy (Eschscholzia Califo
ica).

The study, done at the Innothera Laboratories in France, followed 264 patients suffering from generalized anxiety disorder of mild-to-moderate intensity. The results indicated that the combination treatment was more effective than placebo with no significant side effects. This particular combination therapy is commonly used in France.

An infusion of Califo
ia poppy can be prepared by steeping about 1/4 ounce of herb in 6 to 8 ounces of boiling water. Decoctions are prepared by simmering 1/4 to 1/2 ounce of herb in one cup of water until one-half of the volume remains. When using water or alcohol extracts of Califo
ia poppy for anxiety, add 30 to 60 drops (1 to 2 ml) to a cup of water or juice. As a sleep aid, drink a cup of the infusion or use 60 to 90 drops of extract in two tablespoons of water about one hour before bedtime.

For more information about using alte
ative therapies in anxiety counseling visit the following websites:
http://sanjoseanxietycounseling.net
http://healingandwholeness.org