California poppy (Eschscholzia californica)

 

 

the state flower of California, is a beautiful wildflower that has been an ally to western-dwelling Indigenous peoples for long before there was a United States, let alone a United States Pharmacopeia. In this post, I will share with you a materia medica on the beneficial California poppy benefits, which should help familiarize you with this lovely ally, its actions, and potential applications. This information should not be used to diagnose or treat disease, but to form an appreciation and familiarity with this much-loved plant ally and its uses.

Classification
Kingdom – Plantae (plants)
Subkingdom – Tracheobionta (vascular plants)

Native to Southern Washington down through Southern California, and west to Nevada, New Mexico, and northwestern Mexico, this wildflower can be found blooming on sunny slopes, fields, and roadsides from June to July.
As annuals or short-lived perennials, it is best to start California poppy from seed.
The Ohlone Costanoan Esselen Nation, whose territory surrounds the Monterey Bay area, has a variety of traditional uses for California poppy.  You can chew the leaves to ease toothache, or place flowers under a pillow to help put children to bed. Also, a decoction of the flowers can help kill lice.
The Luisñeo Native American people, of the Temecula Valley, traditionally use California poppy as food. The leaves can be used as greens, and the flowers can be chewed with chewing gum
Constituents
Alkaloids
Flavone glycosides
(Hoffmann, 2003)
Actions
Nervine
Hypnotic
Antispasmodic
Anodyne
These effects are known to be present in the whole plant, and the whole plant, (rather than any one specific part) is typically used in modern herbal practices.

Indications
California poppy is very useful for soothing nervous tension, anxiety, difficulty sleeping, and even bedwetting due to the plant’s ability to help normalize psychological function
Safety
Not to be used during pregnancy
This herb is considered safe to use with children
The flower essence of California poppy is said to help find one’s own sense of spirituality, and develop an inner center of knowing

California Poppy Vinegar Recipe

While alcohol extraction is quite common in herbal preparation, the alkaloids of this plant lends itself well to a vinegar extraction.
Ingredients
1 cup of fresh or ⅔ cup of dried California poppy (Eschscholzia californica)
2 cups apple cider vinegar
Directions
Place California poppy and vinegar into a blender. Pulse 4-5 times.
Using a spatula, scrape the poppy-vinegar slurry into a mason jar.
Place a lid on the jar. Label and date the jar.
Place the jar somewhere away from heat and light (like a cabinet), shaking the jar at least once a day. This agitation keeps the plant material (marc) and the vinegar solution (menstruum) in the dance of extraction, and allows for optimal transference of constituents from marc to menstruum.
After 14 days, the vinegar can be filtered and expressed. To do this, line a fine-mesh strainer with cheesecloth. Place the mesh strainer over a large liquid measuring cup, or bowl, and pour the vinegar from the jar into the strainer. Use a spatula to retrieve plant material from the jar if necessary.
Once the flow of menstruum away from the marc has stopped or slowed to an infrequent drip, apply pressure to the plant material using a spatula or other solid kitchen tool. This will express any remaining liquid the plant material may still be holding onto.
As a final measure to get every last drop of your precious herbal preparation, bring the corners of your cheesecloth together and twist the herbs into a ball. The continued twisting of the cloth applies gradual pressure, which will help you squeeze any extractable amount of liquid from the marc.
Store in a clean airtight container.
Notes:
You may decide to filter the vinegar again before storing, depending on whether or not any plant material managed to get through your filter, or accidentally plop into your receiving vessel as you prodded the marc in the final expression. If you decide to filter again, cut clean fresh cheesecloth. I know the strong desire to reuse the same piece of cheesecloth will rise within the depths of your eco-conscious heart, but a properly filtered preparation, free from floaties in the end, starts with a clean filter. Cut a new square.
If you use dry plant material you may keep the vinegar in the pantry away from heat and light, and it should keep well for 6 months to a year. If you began the process with fresh plant material, there will be added water from the fresh plant in your finished product. This added water from the fresh plant dilutes the preservative acetic acid concentration of the final solution. In this case store your vinegar in the fridge to ensure it keeps, without spoiling up to 6 months.
California poppy is a small but mighty plant, with a cheery disposition. One of the California poppy benefits is that it supports the deep need for settling and calming without the consequence of numbed dullness. This herbalist hopes that after reading this introduction to the stunning California poppy and its many benefits, the reader can confidently build a relationship with this plant ally, and invite its nourishing and settling effects into your home apothecary.

REFERENCES
United States Department of Agriculture Division of Botany. (1902). Plants used by the Indians of Mendocino County. Contributions from the National Herbarium. 7, 295-408. Retrieved from https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/item/13767#page/1/mode/1up
Chevallier, A. (2000). Encyclopedia of herbal medicine: The definitive reference to 550 herbs and remedies for common ailments. New York, NY: Dorling Kindersley.
Green, J. (2002). The herbal medicine-maker’s handbook: A home manual. New York, NY: Crossing Press.
Hartung, T. (2011). Homegrown herbs: A complete guide to growing, using, and enjoying more than 100 herbs. North Adams, MA: Storey Publishing.
Hoffmann, D. (2003). Medical herbalism: The science and practice of herbal medicine. Rochester, VT: Healing Arts Press.


 
Whole plant, root-flowering tops

Medicinal Properties
In combination with other herbs, California poppy is used for depression, long-term mental and physical tiredness (neurasthenia), nerve pain, various psychiatric conditions, blood vessel problems, sensitivity to weather changes, and sedation. An herb combination including California poppy is also used for sleep and mood disturbance

The first Spaniards to arrive in California noticed local Native American Nations using the herb as a sedative for children. They also crushed the entire plant into a compress as a topical vulnerary and used the root for various pains. The medicinal applications of California poppy today are largely true to its original uses by Native Americans.

Unlike other members of the family, California poppy is non-addictive, very safe, and gentle enough for children. Think of California poppy first and foremost as an excellent nervine that is cooling to an otherwise hot and wired system. The cooling effect relaxes heat and can help to counter hyper and often agitated nervous system states.

Herbalists have traditionally used California poppy to help calm anxiety and to relieve both mental and physical tension. I have found that it has the remarkable ability to make you forget or lose interest in what you're stressed about. California poppy functions as a relaxing sedative too, it is conventionally used for insomnia related to nervous system imbalances like repetitive thoughts or a lack of calm.

Like its family members, California poppy can be used for pain both topically and internally. Specifically it can be used for pain that gets in the way of sleep or nerve associated pain like sciatica and shingles. It has also been used in formulas for toothaches, teething in children, menstrual cramping with sharp pains, and intestinal spasm.

California poppy is also connected to the heart — the nervous heart in particular — due to its complex array of alkaloids that are hypotensive in nature. It has been used to gently relax blood vessels and breathes a sense of serenity into the heart. This effect harmonizes restlessness that settles in around the heart such as nervous palpitations or hypertension resulting from anxiety and stress.

Preparations & Applications
The tincture of the whole fresh plant in flower is used internally and topically as a pain-relieving liniment. Dried whole plant material is used in an infusion. Steep 2-3 teaspoons per cup of water for 15 minutes. Take note that California poppy tastes bitter.

 Soothing Poppy Blend
1 part California poppy
1 part Chamomile
1 part Milky Oat tops
1/2 part Marshmallow