Synopsis

Source of validity: Traditional
Rating (out of 5): 1

California poppy (Eschscholzia californica) has a long history of traditional use, particularly among Native American groups in California, as a mild sedative and for supporting relaxation and sleep. In herbal traditions, it has been used to soothe anxiety, promote calm, and assist with insomnia. The association of California poppy with the “serotonin body system” is indirect; its calming effects are sometimes assumed to involve serotonin pathways, but this is not well established by scientific research. Most available evidence comes from traditional herbal texts and anecdotal reports rather than clinical studies. There is a lack of direct scientific validation that California poppy specifically supports or modulates serotonin levels or activity in humans. Some laboratory and animal studies suggest mild sedative and anxiolytic effects, possibly via interaction with GABAergic rather than serotonergic systems. Overall, California poppy’s use for mood and relaxation is justified by traditional uses, but robust clinical or mechanistic evidence for serotonin system support is lacking. Thus, the evidence rating is low, and its use in this context should be considered primarily traditional rather than scientifically validated.

More about California poppy
More about Serotonin

Other ingredients that support Serotonin

Other body systems supported by California poppy

Products containing California poppy

Nature's Sunshine Be Response-Able