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Herbs and plants

Corn poppy — a red flower for coughs and restless sleep?

Sources: 3 · Article: 6 795 characters

Henryk Różański describes corn poppy petals as calming and cough-relieving.

  • He mentions cough, hoarseness, inflammation of the bronchi and larynx, as well as nervousness and insomnia.
  • He attributes the calming and cough-relieving effects to the alkaloid rhoeadine.
  • However, the effectiveness of these uses has not been documented, so Commission E did not recommend medicinal use.
  • The account distinguishes the petals from the poppy capsules, herb, and milky sap: extracts from the petals do not have narcotic effects.

What the authors write

Henryk Różański

Rhoeadine in the petals has calming, cough-relieving, and antispasmodic effects.

„Rhoeadine C21H21NO6 is 8-beta-Methoxy-16-methyl-2,3:10,11-bis(methylenebis(oxy))-rheadan, an alkaloid with calming, cough-relieving, and antispasmodic effects. Similar medicinal properties and composition are found in the doubtful poppy – Papaver dubium L., which has dirty-red flowers; the petals do not overlap at the edges.”Readyna C21H21NO6 to 8-beta-Methoxy-16-methyl-2,3:10,11-bis(methylenebis(oxy))-rheadan, alkaloid o działaniu uspokajającym, przeciwkaszlowym i rozkurczowym. Podobne właściwości lecznicze i skład wykazuje mak wątpliwy – Papaver dubium L. o kwiatach brudnoczerwonych; płatki nie zachodzą na siebie brzegami.
Flos Rhoeados – kwiat maku polnego jako sedativum, mucilaginosum, protectivum, antibechicum et expectorans
Henryk Różański

The petals have been attributed with calming and cough-relieving effects and use for coughs and nervousness.

„Medicinal properties: coating the skin and mucous membranes, softening, protective, markedly anti-inflammatory, cough-relieving, and calming.”Właściwości lecznicze: powlekające skórę i błony śluzowe, zmiękczające, osłaniające, wyraźnie przeciwzapalne; przeciwkaszlowe, uspokajające.
Flos Rhoeados – kwiat maku polnego jako sedativum, mucilaginosum, protectivum, antibechicum et expectorans
Henryk Różański

An old account describes using the flower for hoarseness and congestion in the lungs.

„Prof. J. Muszyński (1946, 1957) described the corn poppy flower as a mucilage-anthocyanin remedy used for hoarseness and congestion in the lungs, especially in pediatrics. In Prof. Muszyński’s view, corn poppy flowers contain no morphine and can even be given to infants.”Prof. J. Muszyński (1946 r., 1957 r.) opisał kwiat maku polnego jako lek śluzowo-antocyjanowy, stosowany przy chrypce, zaflegmieniu płuc, zwłaszcza w pediatrii. Zdaniem prof. Muszyńskiego kwiaty maku polnego nie zawierają morfiny i mogą być podawane nawet niemowlętom.
Flos Rhoeados – kwiat maku polnego jako sedativum, mucilaginosum, protectivum, antibechicum et expectorans
Henryk Różański

An old account recommended the petals as a sleep aid for children and described them as mildly expectorant.

„Dr. W. Roeske (1955) also included this medicinal material, recommending corn poppy petals as a sleep aid for children, citing Leclerc. It is a good coating remedy and a mild expectorant. For the dosage, he gave Infusum Flor.”Surowiec nie został pominięty również przez dra W. Roeske (1955 r.), który powołując się na Leclerca zaleca płatki kwiatowe maku polnego jako środek nasenny dla dzieci. Jest to dobry lek powlekający i łagodnie wykrztuśny. Przy dawkowaniu podał Infusum Flor.
Flos Rhoeados – kwiat maku polnego jako sedativum, mucilaginosum, protectivum, antibechicum et expectorans
Henryk Różański

The effectiveness of the uses listed was considered undocumented, so medicinal use was not recommended.

„Effectiveness for the listed uses has not been documented. Assessment: since the effectiveness of the action for the listed uses has not been documented, this medicinal material cannot be recommended for medicinal use. There are no objections to using it as an auxiliary ingredient in herbal mixtures*.”Skuteczność w wymienionych zakresach stosowania nie jest udokumentowana. Ocena: wobec braku udokumentowania skuteczności działania w wymienionych zakresach nie można surowca zalecać do stosowania leczniczego. Nie ma żadnych zastrzeżeń do stosowania surowca jako środka pomocniczego w mieszankach ziołowych*.
Flos Rhoeados – kwiat maku polnego jako sedativum, mucilaginosum, protectivum, antibechicum et expectorans
Henryk Różański

Petal extracts do not have narcotic effects, although narcotic properties have been attributed to the poppy capsules, herb, and milky sap.

„Extracts from corn poppy petals do not have narcotic effects. However, the poppy capsules, herb, and milky sap of the corn poppy (as well as of other poppy species, especially the opium poppy – Papaver somniferum L.) have narcotic properties. Mecocyanin contains cyanidin in its structure.”Wyciągi z płatków maku polnego nie działają narkotycznie. Narkotyczne właściwości posiadają natomiast makówki, ziele i sok mleczny z maku polnego (a także innych gatunków maku, szczególnie mak lekarski – Papaver somniferum L.). Mekocyjanina zawiera w budowie cyjanidynę.
Flos Rhoeados – kwiat maku polnego jako sedativum, mucilaginosum, protectivum, antibechicum et expectorans

Research from PubMed · Europe PMC

We selected 2 studies with the best, positive results. This is a selection, not a full review of all research.

Total number of studies on this topic in PubMed: 2.

A review of ethnobotanical sources found that corn poppy was traditionally valued for its calming effects.

Aim of the study: There are an increasing number of initiatives that recognize arable weed species as an important component of agricultural biodiversity. Such initiatives often focus on declining species that were once abundant and are still well known, but the ethnographic relevance of such species receives little recognition.

Results: consolida regularly emerged as a nostalgic remembrance of the disappearing rural lifestyle. These plants were also used as patriotic symbols in illustrations for faithfulness, loyalty, or homesickness. Our results highlight the deep and prevalent embeddedness of the three iconic weed species studied in the folk culture of the Carpathian Basin. The ethnobotanical and cultural embeddedness of arable weed species should also be considered when efforts and instruments for the conservation of arable weed communities are designed.

Iconic Arable Weeds: The Significance of Corn Poppy (Papaver rhoeas), Cornflower (Centaurea cyanus), and Field Larkspur (Delphinium consolida) in Hungarian Ethnobotanical and Cultural Heritage. · Plants (Basel) 2022
Money for the studynot stated
Do the authors have ties to companies?no — the authors say so
Did a manufacturer help with the study?NO
Type of studydiscussion of other studies

“Not stated” does not mean nobody paid — the database does not always record it.

The study describes the traditional use of corn poppy as a calming remedy and an ingredient in cough syrup, but does not itself test these effects.

Aim of the study: Papaver rhoeas L. (Papaveraceae) corn poppy, widely distributed in Turkey, is used to make a cough syrup for children, as a tea for disturbed sleep, for pain relief and as a sedative in folk medicine. Samples of P. rhoeas collected from eight different locations in Turkey and three from northern Cyprus were investigated for their alkaloid content and screened for their antimicrobial activities.

Results: Twelve different alkaloids belonging to proaporphine (mecambrine), aporphine (roemerine), promorphinan (salutaridine), protopine (coulteropine and protopine) and rhoeadine (epiglaucamine, glaucamine, glaudine, isorhoeadine, isorhoeagenine, rhoeadine and rhoeagenine) groups were isolated. The most significant activity was observed with the alkaloid extract of P8 against Staphylococcus aureus with a MIC value of 1.22 μg/mL and against Candida albicans with a MIC value of 2.4 μg/mL.

Variation of alkaloid contents and antimicrobial activities of Papaver rhoeas L. growing in Turkey and northern Cyprus. · Pharm Biol 2017
Money for the studyuniversity or foundation · Bilimsel Araştirma Projeleri Birimi, Istanbul Üniversitesi
Do the authors have ties to companies?no — the authors say so
Did a manufacturer help with the study?NO
Type of studylaboratory study (on cells)

“Not stated” does not mean nobody paid — the database does not always record it.

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