Evidence supporting the use of: Poppy
For the health condition: Sleep (restless and disturbed)

Links: Go back one page, Tool main page, Ingredients list, Health conditions list, Body systems list

Synopsis

Source of validity: Traditional
Rating (out of 5): 3

Poppy, particularly the species Papaver somniferum (opium poppy), has a long history of use in traditional medicine for the treatment of sleep disturbances, including restlessness and insomnia. Ancient civilizations, including the Sumerians, Egyptians, Greeks, and Romans, employed poppy preparations as sedatives and sleep aids. The dried latex from the poppy seed pods contains several alkaloids, most notably morphine and codeine, which exert sedative and analgesic effects on the central nervous system. Traditional herbal practices in various cultures have utilized poppy seeds, extracts, and tinctures to calm restlessness and promote restful sleep. In European folk medicine, poppy syrup was commonly given to soothe children at night (though this practice is now discouraged due to safety concerns).

While the sedative properties of opiate alkaloids are well documented, the direct use of poppy extracts or seeds (as opposed to isolated pharmaceutical opiates) for sleep is primarily supported by traditional use rather than robust modern clinical trials. Safety concerns about addiction and respiratory depression have curtailed widespread clinical adoption. Nevertheless, the traditional evidence is strong, given poppy’s historical application across many cultures for sleep-related complaints. Modern herbal preparations often use related species, such as California poppy (Eschscholzia californica), which lacks opiate alkaloids but is also traditionally used for mild sleep disturbances. Overall, poppy’s use for restless and disturbed sleep is well established in tradition, though scientific validation is limited and safety concerns are significant.

More about poppy
More about Sleep (restless and disturbed)

Products containing poppy

We currently have no products on Vitabase that contain this ingredient.