The efficacy and function of poppy

Traditional Chinese medicine is a Chinese tradition. For many Chinese people, seeing a Chinese doctor and taking Chinese medicine when they are sick is their tradition and habit. Therefore, Chinese medicine is liked by many people. Opium is a common Chinese medicinal material. Let's learn about it together below.

[Alias] Poppy millet (Bencao Shiyi), imperial rice, elephant millet, rice bag, bag (Kaibao Materia Medica), oriole millet (Southern Yunnan Materia Medica).

[Source] The seeds of the poppy plant of the Papaveraceae family.

[Original morphology] Annual or biennial herb with erect stem, 60 to 150 cm high. The leaves are alternate, with short petiolate leaves at the bottom of the stem and sessile leaves at the top; the leaf blades are long ovate and narrowly elliptical, 6-30 cm long and 3.5-20 cm wide, with acute apex, rounded or nearly cordate base and clasping the stem, with irregular coarse teeth on the margin, or pinnately lobed, and both sides are covered with white powder to become gray-green. The flowers are terminal, with long stalks, and the pedicels are 12 to 14 cm long; there are 2 sepals, which are oblong and fall off early; there are 4 petals, sometimes double, round or broadly ovate, 5 to 7 cm long and wide, white, pink or purple-red; there are many stamens, and the anthers are oblong and yellow; there is 1 pistil, the ovary is oblong and without style, and there are 7 to 15 stigmas arranged radially. The capsule is ovoid-spherical or elliptical, yellow-brown when ripe, and has cracks. There are many seeds, which are slightly kidney-shaped, with obvious reticulated patterns on the surface and are brown in color. Flowering period is from April to June. Fruiting period is from June to August.

[Habitat distribution] Native to southern Europe and Asia.

[Chemical composition] The seeds contain a small amount of papaverine, morphine and traces of noscapine, while the germinated seeds contain a considerable amount of noscapine. According to another report, it also contains morphine, codeine and thebaine. The seeds also contain 11-oxothiolane.

[Properties and flavors] ① "Kaibao Materia Medica": "sweet, mild, non-toxic."

【Functions and indications】 Treats nausea, abdominal pain, diarrhea, and rectal prolapse.

[Usage and Dosage] For oral use: decoct in water, 1 to 2 qian; or make into pills.

【Note】 "Depei Materia Medica": "Eating more can help with bowel movements and stimulate bladder qi."

[Additional prescription] ① Treating nausea and indigestion: 2 he of white poppy seeds, 3 qian of ginseng powder, 5 inches long of raw sweet potato (cut into small pieces and grind). Use 1.2 liters of water to boil the three ingredients and reduce to 6 liters. Add ginger juice and a little salt, stir well, and divide into two doses. You can take it in the morning or evening. You may also take it as a soup or pill separately. (Poppy porridge recipe from Southern Tang Food and Medicine Prescriptions)

【Excerpt】 《*Dictionary》

[Source] From "Compendium of Materia Medica"; 1. "Compendium of Materia Medica": The origin of poppy was unknown in the past. The flowers come in two varieties, red and white; they have a slightly fishy smell and are actually shaped like a bottle, with very fine rice inside. Wait until the bottle turns brown and then pick it up.

From the above introduction to poppy, we can see that poppy is of great help to the human body. It can improve some bad symptoms of the human body and is a very useful medicinal material for the human body.