Eschscholzia californica
(California poppy)

Therapeutic Actions:

• Anodyne
• Antispasmodic
• Hypnotic
• Non-addictive alternative to the opium poppy, though less powerful
• Sedative

Clinical Indications:

• Attention deficit disorder
• Cholecystitis
• Cholelithiasis
• Insomnia, especially in children

Contraindications:

• Pregnancy due to the uterine stimulating effects of the alkaloid cryptopine

Drug/Nutrient Interaction:

• May enhance monoamine oxidase inhibitors due to inhibition of MAO-B by hydroalcoholic extracts
• Tincture enhances the hypnotic effect of pentabarbital due to the alkaloids

Chemical Constituents:

• Alkaloids similar to opium poppy:
  
  Allocryptopine
  Californidine
  Chelerytrine
  Eschscoltzin
  N-methyllaurotanin
  Protopine
  Sanguinarine
  
• Flavone glycosides

Toxicity:

• No known toxicity

Copyright 1998 - 2008 by L. Vicky Crouse, ND and James S. Reiley, ND. All rights reserved (ISSN 1527-0661).