Opium (Papaver somniferum )

Scientific Classification

• Scientific Name: Papaver somniferum L.
• Family: Papaveraceae

Common Names

• English: Poppy, Opium
• Sanskrit: अहिफेन (Ahifen)
• Hindi: अफीम, खसखस (Afeem, Khaskhas)
• Gujarati: अफीम (Afeem)
• Marathi: अफू (Afu)
• Persian: افیمو (Afimu)
• Arabic: لبنل, خشخاس (Labnul, Khakhas)

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Introduction

Opium is obtained from poppy cocoons (Papaver somniferum). It is cultivated as an agricultural plant, mainly in Bihar, Eastern Uttar Pradesh, Central and Western India, and parts of Malaysia. The latex (milky secretion) from immature poppy capsules is collected, dried, and processed into commercial or medicinal opium.

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External Morphology

• Plant Type: Herbaceous, semi-annual, grows 1.5 to 4 feet tall.
• Leaves: Erect, oblong, 4 inches long, attached directly to the stem.
• Flowers: Single, bluish-white with a purple lower base.
• Fruit: Round-oval capsule, similar to a pomegranate, with a neck at the base and a ridged crest on top.
• Seed Dispersal: When ripe, valve-shaped tiny holes open below the crest.

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Chemical Composition

• Seeds: Contain light yellow sweet stable oil (Rogan Kharakhsh).
• Alkaloids (Present in Opium):
  • Morphine
  • Codeine
  • Narcotine
  • Other secondary alkaloids
• Other Components:
  • Organic acids: Lactic acid, Mevalonic acid
  • Resin, Glucose, Fat
  • Volatile oil

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Properties

General Properties

• Cooling
• Light and absorbent
• Bitter and astringent
• Wind-producing
• Phlegm and dry cough relieving
• Rough intoxicant
• Speech-enhancing and attractive

Effects of Continuous Use

• Causes impotence
• Stimulates bile and wind production
• Semen-enhancing and strength-giving (poppy seeds)

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Medicinal Uses

1. Head and Eye Disorders

• Headache: Grind 1 gram of opium, apply to the forehead for relief.
• Eye Pain: Its paste is beneficial for various eye diseases.

2. Nosebleeds

• Grind equal parts of opium and Sundar Laap, mix with water, and apply to the head to stop nosebleeds.

3. Skin & Hair Issues

• Grinding poppy seeds in milk and applying on the scalp cures boils, pimples, and dandruff.

4. Toothache

• Mix 10 mg opium with 125 mg sal ammoniac, apply to the affected area.
• Placing it in the tooth cavity relieves pain.

5. Ear Pain (Colic)

• 68 mg opium ash mixed in rose oil, used as ear drops, relieves ear pain.

6. Hoarseness of Voice

• Boil poppy pods with carom seeds, gargle with the decoction to treat hoarseness.

7. Cold and Cough

• Remedy 1:
  • Prepare a decoction of 60 grams poppy pods with seeds.
  • Mix with 50 grams of sugar, drink as a syrup.
• Remedy 2:
  • Boil 2 poppy pods with betel leaf and rock salt in 350 grams of water.
  • Reduce to 100 grams, drink before bedtime.

8. Stomach Disorders (Kasuj Udrasoot, Colic, Abdominal Pain)

• Inflammation & Pain Relief: Apply opium paste on the abdomen.
• Severe Cases:
  • 3 grams of opium, Bachnag, 250 grams iron fillings, and 10 grams of four ingredients mixed in milk.
  • Prepare 125 mg tablets, take daily with milk (avoid water).

9. Dysentery

• Remedy 1:
  • Grind opium and saffron in equal parts, prepare 125 mg tablets, and take with honey.
• Remedy 2:
  • Roast opium and consume.
• Remedy 3:
  • 34 to 9 grams of opium taken orally cures dysentery.

10. Hemorrhoids

• Pain Relief & Bleeding Control:
  • Apply Raswanti (Berberis extract) and opium as a paste.

11. Pain Relief

• Datura Leaves & Opium: Mixing opium with Datura leaf juice relieves pain.

12. Postpartum Uterus Recovery

• Poppy Pod Decoction: Drinking helps in uterus healing after childbirth.

13. Back Pain

• Remedy 1:
  • Mix equal parts of sugar candy & poppy seeds, consume one tola for relief.
• Remedy 2:
  • Soak poppy pods in water, consume in small amounts (non-intoxicating) for back pain relief.

14. Nerve and Head Pain

• Opium paste applied to painful areas provides relief.