California Poppy

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Note: The archived version of this monograph has been temporarily removed. For an electronic copy of this archived version, please contact the Natural Health Products Directorate (NHPD) at NHPD_DPSN@hc-sc.gc.ca.

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Date: March 17, 2008

Proper name(s): Eschscholzia californica Cham. (Papaveraceae) (USDA 2005)

Common name(s): California poppy (McGuffin et al. 2000)

Source material(s): Aerial parts (Mills and Bone 2005; Hoffmann 2003)

Route(s) of administration: Oral

Dosage form(s): Those suited to the allowable route(s) of administration.
This monograph is not intended to include food-like dosage forms such as bars, chewing gums or beverages.

Use(s) or Purpose(s): Statement(s) to the effect of:

• Traditionally used in Herbal Medicine as a mild sedative and/or sleep aid (hypnotic) (Mills and Bone 2005; Hoffmann 2003; Felter and Lloyd 1983 [1898]).
• Traditionally used in Herbal Medicine as an analgesic (Mills and Bone 2005; Hoffmann 2003; Felter and Lloyd 1983 [1898]).

Dose(s): Preparations equivalent to 0.2-3 g dried aerial parts, per day (Mills and Bone 2005; Hoffmann 2003)

See Appendix 1 for examples of appropriate dosage preparations, frequencies of use and directions for use, according to cited references. The purpose of Appendix 1 is to provide guidance to industry.

Duration of use: No statement required.

Risk information: Statement(s) to the effect of:

Caution(s) and warning(s):

Sleep aid: Consult a health care practitioner if sleeplessness persists continuously for more than 3 weeks (chronic insomnia) (Berardi et al. 2002; Dipiro et al. 2002).

All uses:

• Consult a health care practitioner if symptoms persist or worsen.
• Consult a health care practitioner prior to use if you are breastfeeding (Brinker 2008; Mills and Bone 2005).
• Consumption with alcohol, other medications or natural health products with sedative (Hoffmann 2003; Brinker 2001) and/or analgesic (Mills and Bone 2005; Brinker 2001) properties is not recommended.

Contraindication(s): Do not use if you are pregnant (Brinker 2001; Blumenthal et al. 2000).

Known adverse reaction(s): Some people may experience drowsiness (Mills and Bone 2005; Felter and Lloyd 1983 [1898]). Exercise caution if operating heavy machinery, driving a motor vehicle or involved in activities requiring mental alertness.

Non-medicinal ingredients: Must be chosen from the current NHPD List of Acceptable Non-medicinal Ingredients and must meet the limitations outlined in the list.

Specifications: Must comply with the minimum specifications outlined in the current NHPD Compendium of Monographs.

References cited:

Berardi RR, DeSimone EM, Newton GD, Oszko MA, Popovich NG, Rollins CJ, Shimp LA, Tietze KJ, editors. Handbook of Nonprescription Drugs: An Interactive Approach to Self-Care, 13^th edition. Washington (DC): American Pharmaceutical Association; 2002.

Blumenthal M, Goldberg A, Brinkmann J, editors. Herbal Medicine: Expanded Commission E Monographs. Boston (MA): Integrative Medicine Communications; 2000.

Brinker F. Herb Contraindications and Drug Interactions, 3^rd edition. Sandy (OR): Eclectic Medical Publications; 2001.

Brinker F. Online Updates and Additions to Herb Contraindications and Drug Interactions, 3^rd edition. Sandy (OR): Eclectic Medical Publications; 2008. [Accessed 2008-03-07]. Available from: http://www.eclecticherb.com/emp/updatesHCDI.html

Dipiro JT, Talbert RL, Yee GC, Matzke GR, Wells BG, Posey LM. Pharmacotherapy: a pathophysiologic approach, 5^th edition. New York (NY): The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.; 2002.

Felter HW, Lloyd JU. King's American Dispensatory, Volume 2, 18^th edition. Sandy (OR): Eclectic Medical Publications; 1983 [Reprint of 1898 original].

Hoffmann D. Medical Herbalism. Rochester (VT): Healing Arts Press; 2003.

McGuffin M, Kartesz JT, Leung AY, Tucker AO, editors. Herbs of Commerce, 2^nd edition. Silver Spring (MD): American Herbal Products Association; 2000.

Mills S, Bone K. The Essential Guide to Herbal Safety. St. Louis (MO): Elsevier Churchill Livingstone; 2005.

USDA 2005: United States Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, National Genetic Resources Program. Germplasm Resources Information Network (GRIN). Eschscholzia californica Cham. National Germplasm Resources Laboratory, Beltsville (MD). [Accessed 2008-03-17]. Available from: http://www.ars-grin.gov/cgi-bin/npgs/html/tax_search.pl

References reviewed:

McGuffin M, Hobbs C, Upton R, Goldberg A, editors. American Herbal Products Association's Botanical Safety Handbook. Boca Raton (FL): CRC Press; 1997.

Moore M. Medicinal Plants of the Pacific West. Santa Fe (NM): Red Crane Books, Inc.; 1993.

Sayre LE. A Manual of Organic Materia Medica and Pharmacognosy. Philadelphia (PA): P. Blakiston's Son & Co.; 1917.

Appendix 1: Examples of appropriate dosage preparations, frequencies of use and directions for use.

Tincture:

• 1.5-3.0 g dried equivalent, per day
  (1:2, 3-6 ml) (Mills and Bone 2005)
• 0.2-0.8 g dried equivalent, per day
  (1:5, 1-4 ml, 25% ethanol) (Hoffmann 2003)

Directions for use: Take once at night (Hoffmann 2003).