Evidence supporting the use of: Poppy
For the health condition: Anxiety

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Synopsis

Source of validity: Traditional
Rating (out of 5): 2

Poppy, particularly species like Papaver somniferum (opium poppy), has a long history of use in traditional medicine for its sedative and calming properties, which have been employed to ease anxiety and nervousness. Historical records from ancient civilizations—including Sumerian, Egyptian, Greek, and Roman cultures—describe the use of poppy preparations to promote relaxation, alleviate distress, and induce sleep. The calming effects are attributed to the presence of alkaloids such as morphine and codeine, which act on the central nervous system. In traditional herbal medicine, especially in Europe and Asia, poppy extracts or infusions were commonly used to soothe nerves and reduce agitation. However, scientific evidence specifically supporting the use of unspecified poppy species for anxiety is limited. Modern research has focused primarily on the pharmacological effects of opium alkaloids for pain relief rather than for anxiolytic (anxiety-reducing) purposes. Additionally, due to the high potential for dependence and adverse effects, the use of opium-derived substances is now strictly regulated and not recommended for anxiety treatment in clinical practice. Some related species, such as California poppy (Eschscholzia californica), have been studied more recently for mild sedative and anxiolytic effects, but these findings do not necessarily apply to unspecified or traditional poppy formulations. Overall, the use of poppy for anxiety is rooted in historical practices rather than robust scientific validation.

More about Poppy
More about Anxiety

Other ingredients used for Anxiety

5-Hydroxytryptophan (5-HTP)
alpha-pinene
amino acids
ashwagandha
waterhyssop
basil
benegut perilla (proprietary)
bergamot
beta caryophyllene
bifidobacterium bifidum
bifidobacterium infantis
bifidobacterium lactis
bifidobacterium longum
black cumin
bupleurum falcatum
California poppy
cannabis sativa oil
chamomile
Chinese salvia root
citrus oil
clove
cordyceps
curcumin
damiana
DHA (docosahexaeonic acid)
epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG)
fennel
gardenia
ginkgo biloba
ginseng
gotu kola
greek mountain tea
green tea
guayusa
hemp oil
hops
Indian tinospora
inositol
jujube
kava root
kudzu
l-glycine
l-theanine
l-tryptophan
lactium casein decapeptide
lactobacillus brevis
lactobacillus fermentum
lactobacillus gasseri
lactobacillus helveticus
lactobacillus paracasei
lactiplantibacillus plantarum
lactobacillus reuteri
lactobacillus rhamnosus
lactobacillus salivarius
lavender
lion's mane
lithium orotate
maca
magnesium
magnolia
matcha
melatonin
mint
motherwort
muira puama
n-acetyl-cysteine (NAC)
omega-3 fatty acids
passionflower
phellodendron amurense
phosphatidylserine
phytocannabinoids
polygala root
prebiotic blend (proprietary)
pregnenolone
pyridoxal-5-phosphate (P-5-P)
reishi mushroom
relora® (proprietary)
rhizome
rhodiola
rose oil
rosemary
saffron
sage
SAMe (s-adenosyl-l-methionine disulfate p-toluensulfate)
sceletium
skullcap
spearmint leaf
sphaeranthus indicus
thyme
valerian root
velvet bean
vitamin B
vitamin B12
vitamin B6
vitamin C
zinc
squawvine
catnip
gastrodia
cardamom
shen-chu
mugwort
anise
tinospora cordifolia
blackboard tree
peony
lingzhi
lemongrass
kanna
silk tree
chrysanthemum
ganoderma
sweet flag
oriental arborvitae
menthol oil
St. John's Wort
wood betony
hypothalamus
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indigo leaves
cocoa
soursop
geranium
7,8-Dihydroxyflavone
Ash
Agastache
Alpha-terpineol
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Agrimony
Apigenin
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Albizia
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Camellia sinensis
Centella triterpenes
Caryophyllene
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Clary sage
Capillary Artemisia
Citron
Chinese Raisintree
Cymbopogon Martini
Calea zacatechichi
Centella asiatica
Capitate Valerian
Curcuma
Catuaba
Cowslip
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Calamus
Clostridium butyricum
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Canscora
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Dodeca-2E, 4E-Dienoic Acid Isobutylamide
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Essential Oil Blend
Eugenol
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Fatty acids
Gelsemium
Ginsenosides
Griffonia simplicifolia
Glycine
Gardenia jasminoides
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jasmine
Lotus
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Poppy
Rose
Spikenard
Sandalwood
Sweet Orange alcohol
Vervain
yohimbine

Products containing Poppy

We currently have no products on Caring Sunshine that contain this ingredient.