Synopsis

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

Poppy, particularly Papaver somniferum (opium poppy), has a long history of traditional use for pain relief, including toothache. In various traditional medicine systems, such as Ayurveda and traditional European herbalism, poppy preparations (such as poppy seed oil or even crude extracts) were sometimes applied topically or chewed to alleviate dental pain. The basis for this use is primarily the presence of alkaloids like morphine and codeine in the opium poppy, both of which are potent analgesics. However, the unspecified “poppy” could refer to several species, and most poppy seeds used in culinary contexts have negligible alkaloid content.

There is little to no high-quality scientific evidence supporting the direct use of poppy (especially in unspecified or non-opium forms) for toothache. Modern medicine does not recommend poppy or its derivatives for dental pain outside of controlled pharmaceutical use due to risks of addiction, toxicity, and legal restrictions. Most traditional remedies have been replaced by safer and more effective treatments. Thus, while the traditional use is documented, the level of evidence is low and primarily anecdotal.

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