Considered a weed in Europe, the red poppy, or corn poppy, is the familiar symbol of fallen soldiers, finding its way into buttonholes, or pinned to lapels, on Veterans Day. Although some poppy varieties are perennial, the red poppy is an annual plant that reseeds itself. The red poppy is not the same as the opium poppy, according to the "Physician's Desk Reference for Herbal Remedies" (PDR), but it may still have medicinal value. Consult your doctor before using red poppy as an herbal remedy.
Food Source
The foliage of the red poppy may be cooked and eaten as a vegetable and the red flower petals added to soups, website Botanical.com suggests. The seeds of this herb are desirable for their oil content and for use in baking.
Pain Relief
Although the red poppy does not pack the same narcotic punch as its cousin, the opium poppy, it may still relieve mild pain, the PDR reports. Botanical.com advises that the red poppy may have very slight opium content, contained in the colored petals. Red poppy preparation are sold in health-food stores, in tincture or extract form; use only under a doctor's supervision.
Respiratory Disorders
The U.S. Library of Medicine lists potential benefits of red poppy in the treatment of asthma and other respiratory disorders, including bronchitis and whooping cough. The PDR adds that taking a cough syrup made from the petals of the red poppy can soothe irritated throats. However, clinical studies confirming these benefits are lacking.
Anxiety
Extract of red poppy may be beneficial in easing anxiety or agitation, reports the PDR. The alkaloids present in red poppy may act as a mild mental relaxant and sedative, but the U.S. Food and Drug Administration does not oversee the production and sale of this herb, so its efficiency and safety are not guaranteed.
References
- Botanical.com: Poppy, Red
- "Physician's Desk Reference for Herbal Medicines, 2nd Edition"; Joerg Gruenwald, PhD, 2000
- U.S. Library of Medicine: List of Herbs
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