Poppy tea is a
narcoticThe term narcotic is believed to have been coined by the Greek physician Galen to refer to agents that benumb or deaden, causing loss of feeling or paralysis. It is based on the Greek word ναρκωσις , the term used by Hippocrates for the process of benumbing or the benumbed state...
analgesicAn analgesic is any member of the diverse group of drugs used to relieve pain . The word analgesic derives from Greek an- and algos...
teaTea is the agricultural product of the leaves, leaf buds, and internodes of the Camellia sinensis plant, prepared and cured by various methods...
which is brewed from the pods or seeds of the
Papaver somniferum plantPlants are living organisms belonging to the kingdom Plantae. They include familiar organisms such as trees, herbs, bushes, grasses, vines, ferns, mosses, and green algae. The scientific study of plants, known as botany, has identified about 350,000 extant species of plants, defined as seed plants,...
. It has been consumed for its
analgesicAn analgesic is any member of the diverse group of drugs used to relieve pain . The word analgesic derives from Greek an- and algos...
, anti-diarrhoeal, and/or psychoactive effects for as long as the poppy has been cultivated down to the present day in many parts of the world. It is depicted both in
Asian literature-Examples:*East Asian literature**Chinese literature**Japanese literature**Korean literature**Vietnamese literature*South Asian literature**Bengali literature**Indian literature**Pakistani literature**Tamil literature*West Asian literature...
and
Western literatureWestern literature refers to the literature written in the languages of Europe, including the ones belonging to the Indo-European language family as well as several geographically or historically related languages such as Basque, Hungarian, and so forth...
, such as in
opium denAn opium den was an establishment where opium was sold and smoked. Opium dens were prevalent in many parts of the world in the 19th century, most notably China, Southeast Asia, North America and France...
s. Reputed modern users of poppy-head decoctions including poppy tea for analgesia include Otto von Bismarck, Charles Darwin, and Charles Dickens. It can also be used in small amounts as an analgesic, anti-diahrroeal, and sedative for many mammals and birds.
In some places, preparation of tea may be preferred to
opiumOpium is a narcotic formed from the latex released by lacerating the immature seed pods of opium poppies . It contains up to 12% morphine, an opiate alkaloid, which is most frequently processed chemically to produce heroin for the illegal drug trade...
as the
latexLatex refers generically to a stable dispersion of polymer microparticles in an aqueous medium. Latexes may be natural or synthetic. Latex as found in nature is a milky sap-like fluid within many plants that coagulates on exposure to air. It is a complex emulsion in which proteins, alkaloids,...
of the plant (itself the primary component of opium) is illegal. In the
NetherlandsThe Netherlands is a country in Northwestern Europe, constituting the major portion of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. It is a parliamentary democratic constitutional monarchy. The Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east...
, all parts of the
Papaver Somniferum after harvesting (except for the seeds) are illegal by law, as they are List I drugs of the
Opium LawThe Opium Law is the section of the Dutch Law which covers nearly all psychotropic drugs. All non-psychotropic, but prescription-only drugs are covered by the Medicine Act.- Origin and history :...
. Because of use for decorative purposes, the trade in, and possession of dried Papaver Somniferum is not actively prosecuted. Trade in, or possession of dried Papaver Somniferum with the intention of drug use can be prosecuted, although this is very unlikely. For this reason, it's an alternative to pharmaceutical opioids, which are highly regulated in most countries, while dried
Papaver somniferum is easily obtainable as it is commonly available for decorative use. Many varieties, strains, and cultivars of
Papaver somniferum are in existence, and the alkaloid content can vary significantly.
In the United States it is legal to purchase poppy seeds but all other parts of the plant are considered a schedule II controlled substance under the federal Controlled Substance Act of 1970. The Opium Poppy Exclusion Act of 1942 bans growing of the poppy in many cases but is generally not a problem for gardeners as the plant is widely grown for the flowers and for seeds for replanting and cooking, and for much of US history poppies were a significant cash crop, with the government especially pushing for farmers to grow more poppies for medicinal use during wars up to World War I. In practice poppy growing will get one in legal trouble in cases of very large plots and/or scored pods.
Poppy tea preparations are part of a spectrum of decoctions of poppy straw which use acid-base reactions and heat to extract soluble alkaloids from the straw, or simply uses water for the extraction, in particular the empty seed capsules are used. Alcohol can be used as a solvent on poppy straw as discussed below. Green poppies and other parts of the plant can also be used, as well as other end products ranging from poppy straw in yogurt to intermediates for the processing of near-pharmaceutical grade alkaloid salts can be made, as explored below.
Poppy seed tea relies more on washing trace amounts alkaloids from the surface of the seeds and usually relies on slightly acidified water and mechanical agitation to produce an end product which is different from poppy pod tea. Grinding seeds is unnecessary and counterproductive unless the weak cannabinoids present in the fatty portions of the seed are sought, in which case different extractions beyond the scope of this article would probably be required.
Tea obtained from poppy leaves also contains alkaloids and their salts but is also a much different, and weaker, product.
Poppy tea contains two groups of
alkaloidAlkaloids are naturally occurring chemical compounds containing basic nitrogen atoms. The name derives from the word alkaline and was used to describe any nitrogen-containing base. Alkaloids are produced by a large variety of organisms, including bacteria, fungi, plants, and animals and are part of...
s:
phenanthrenePhenanthrene is a polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon composed of three fused benzene rings. The name phenanthrene is a composite of phenyl and anthracene. It provides the framework for the steroids. In its pure form, it is found in cigarette smoke and is a known irritant, photosensitising skin to light...
s (including
morphineMorphine is a highly potent opiate analgesic psychoactive drug, is the principal active ingredient in Papaver somniferum , is considered to be the prototypical opioid. Like other opioids, e.g...
and
codeineCodeine or methylmorphine is an opiate used for its analgesic, antitussive, and antidiarrheal properties.-History:Codeine is an alkaloid found in opium and other poppy saps like Papaver bracteatum, the Iranian poppy, in concentrations ranging from 0.3 to 3.0 percent...
) and
benzylisoquinoline1-Benzylisoquinoline is the structural backbone of many alkaloids with a wide variety of structures, including papaverine, noscapine, codeine, morphine, apomorphine, berberine, protopine and tubocurarine.-Biosynthesis:...
s (including
papaverinePapaverine is an opium alkaloid used primarily in the treatment of visceral spasm, vasospasm , and occasionally in the treatment of erectile dysfunction. While it is found in the opium poppy, papaverine differs in both structure and pharmacological action from the analgesic opium alkaloids...
). Of these, morphine is the most prevalent comprising 8%-14% of the total. Its effects derive from the fact that it binds to and activates
mu opioid receptorThe μ opioid receptors are a class of opioid receptors with high affinity for enkephalins and beta-endorphin but low affinity for dynorphins. The prototypical μ receptor agonist is the opium alkaloid morphine; μ refers to morphine...
s in the
brainThe brain is the center of the nervous system in all vertebrate, and most invertebrate, animals. Some primitive animals such as jellyfish and starfish have a decentralized nervous system without a brain, while sponges lack any nervous system at all...
,
spinal cordThe spinal cord is a long, thin, tubular bundle of nervous tissue and support cells that extends from the brain. The brain and spinal cord together make up the central nervous system. It is around 45 cm long in men and around 43 cm long in women. The length of the spinal cord is much shorter than...
,
stomachIn most mammals, the stomach is a hollow, muscular organ of the gastrointestinal tract , between the esophagus and the small intestine. It is involved in the second phase of digestion, following mastication . The word stomach is derived from the Latin stomachus, which derives from the Greek word...
and
intestineIn anatomy, the intestine is the segment of the alimentary canal extending from the stomach to the anus and, in humans and other mammals, consists of two segments, the small intestine and the large intestine...
.
Dried
Papaver somniferum capsules and stems will, if harvested and dried by the usual protocol, contain significantly lower quantities of thebaine than opium made from latex as well as somewhat more codeine. When ingested, thebaine causes nausea, vomiting, and mild
myoclonusMyoclonus is brief, involuntary twitching of a muscle or a group of muscles. It describes a medical sign and, generally, is not a diagnosis of a disease. The myoclonic twitches are usually caused by sudden muscle contractions; they also can result from brief lapses of contraction. Contractions...
.
ThebaineThebaine is an opiate alkaloid. A minor constituent of opium, thebaine is chemically similar to both morphine and codeine, but has stimulatory rather than depressant effects, causing strychnine-like convulsions at higher doses...
is an important precursor for manufacture of opioid pharmaceuticals and a small subclass of stimulants, and is more concentrated in the roots of Papaver somniferum than elsewhere. Thebaine is found in much larger quantities in the Iranian Poppy (
Papaver bracteatum), which also contains a great deal of codeine. Another narcotic-opium-alkaloid-bearing poppy,
Papaver setigerum (which is sometimes referred to as the Oriental Poppy although that name is properly applied to Papaver orientale; sometimes the name white poppy is used—it is also important to note that this poppy is neither the Persian White strain of
Papaver somniferum nor is it the White Poppy, i.e., a synonym for
Papaver somniferum var. album, a cultivar with light-coloured seeds and a tendency towards elongaged oval seed capsules) is also used in some industrial settings as a source of morphine but it is somewhat less concentrated than in Papaver somniferum. Other species of poppies, numbering in the hundreds, do not contain morphine but may contain minor opium alkaloids like
protopineProtopine is a benzylisoquinoline alkaloid occurring in opium poppy, corydalis tubers and other plants of the family papaveraceae. It has been found to inhibit histamine H1 receptors and platelet aggregation, and acts as an opioid analgesic....
, which are not narcotic.
Preparation and consumption
There are many different preparations of poppy tea. Most methods call for the "poppy straw" material (the seedpod and sometimes the stem) only to be used. Most methods call for the straw to be ground into a fine powder. A fine powder is needed because most of the opium latex is located within the cell walls of the pod. The seeds are discarded most of the time because they do not contain a high enough
alkaloidAlkaloids are naturally occurring chemical compounds containing basic nitrogen atoms. The name derives from the word alkaline and was used to describe any nitrogen-containing base. Alkaloids are produced by a large variety of organisms, including bacteria, fungi, plants, and animals and are part of...
content. However, there are dozens of poppy seed tea recipes. A quick and efficient method is to use a stovetop espresso maker. This results in a fairly concentrated beverage and does not appear to destroy the alkaloids despite involving steam passing through the poppy straw.
There is much debate on the best preparations of poppy tea. Many claim that boiling rapidly is the best, others insist on strictly cold water, and even more stand behind steeping in hot water. Some methods call for citric acid or acetic acid (vinegar) to be used during extraction. The purpose of the addition of citric and/or acetic acid is to lower the ph level of the neutral water (ph7) down to a slightly acidic ph of 6.5 which is optimal for morphine extraction.
The first is obvious, the second works in theory but to an extent that is very difficult to determine a priori. Production of 6-MAM from purified morphine is possible using the method discussed in the Wikipedia article for morphine for turning morphine into heroin (diacetylmorphine, the 3,6 acetyl diester of morphine) by means of the addition of acetic anhydride—substituting acetic acid for the anhydride will result in a mixture of the initial form of morphine (i.e. base or sulphate, hydrochloride &c.), 6-MAM, and morphine acetate. It is unclear what proportion of 6-MAM forms in the case of an aqueous solution of all the opium components. Another possible byproduct is acetylcodeine. Addition of nicotinic acid, otherwise known as Niacin and Vitamin B3, would give rise to 3-mononicotinylmorphine, related to morphine in a similar way, viz. 3,6 dinicotinylmorphine is a painkiller known as
nicomorphineNicomorphine is the 3,6-dinicotinate ester of morphine. It is a strong opioid agonist analgesic two to three times as potent as morphine with a side effect profile similar to that of dihydromorphine, morphine, and diamorphine. Nicomorphine was patented as Vilan by Lannacher Heilmittel Ges. m.b.H...
(Vilan) which is also three times stronger than morphine and gives rise to 6-MNM by means of hydrolysis. Adding aspirin to the mix theoretically does another thing of the same sort. (opiophile.com, opioids.com, poppies.org, and Wikipedia articles on drugs mentioned above including German versions) Acetylating with acetyl chloride will result in a higher 6-MAM yield and most clandestine production of heroin from powder morphine results in a mixture of morphine, 3-MAM, 6-MAM, and heroin; 6-MAM is also a breakdown product of heroin which is accelerated by the presence of water.
When the tea is drunk, its effects begin after about 30 minutes, lasting up to 8 hours. It is intensely bitter and some users add other flavorings to the tea. The color and bitterness of the tea will give the user an idea of how potent the pods are. The darker and more bitter the tea comes out to be the more potent it will be. It is wise for the user to be careful with the amount they consume if the tea comes out to be very bitter and very dark.
Grapefruit juiceGrapefruit juice is the fruit juice from grapefruits. It is rich in Vitamin C and ranges from sweet-tart to very sour. Variations include white grapefruit, pink grapefruit and ruby red grapefruit juice.- Drug interactions :...
may also inhibit liver
enzymeEnzymes are proteins that catalyze chemical reactions. In enzymatic reactions, the molecules at the beginning of the process are called substrates, and the enzyme converts them into different molecules, called the products. Almost all processes in a biological cell need enzymes to occur at...
activation, thus increasing the strength and duration of the opiate effects.
The tea is also sometimes evaporated over a very low heat to make a thick, concentrated liquid or a dry powder, and some users put this material into gel caps to allow for dosage to be measured more carefully.
Although oral administration is the most common, dried poppy tea can also be snorted or smoked. However, many users report unpleasant side effects from these methods because of the non-active and potentially irritating substances which are present in addition to the alkaloids. Dried poppy tea is not the same as opium, as the former is made from the whole plant while the latter is made from exuded latex alone. Some users bypass the tea stage and simply add poppy straw to a food such as yogurt. This method partially masks the taste but may lead to more gastric discomfort than consuming tea or dried tea.
The pods may also be used in the green (undried) state to make tea.
Decoctions of poppy straw using alcohol as the solvent, such as vodka, slivovitz, gin, grain alcohol, or reagent-grade anhydrous ethanol can extract alkaloids over a period of hours without heating; the resulting liquid can be used as is or the liquid evapourated over low heat or in a pan to produce a liquid concentrate with less alcohol (heating to 80°C to effect fractional distillation by selectively boiling off the alcohol) or a solid which can be processed further into a material similar to Concentrate of Poppy Straw or processed by other methods to be used in a manner similar to opium derived from latex, e.g. processed into smoking opium or used to create medicinal products or extract alkaloids. Quite often home users will make
laudanumLaudanum , also known as opium tincture or thebaic tincture is an alcoholic herbal preparation containing approximately 10% opium and 1% morphine . It is made by combining ethanol with opium latex or powder...
,
paregoricParegoric, or camphorated tincture of opium, also known as tinctura opii camphorata, is a medication known for its antidiarrheal, antitussive, and analgesic properties. It was a household remedy in the 18th and 19th centuries, when it was widely used to calm fretful children. In the 20th century...
, or Black Drop (non-alcoholic laudanum) from published recipes with the concentrate from poppy straw decoctions, and if the initial liquid is to be completely dried, isopropyl or methyl alcohol can be used, as can other suitable organic solvents. Processing of the dry extract to isolate morphine is also possible, although the amount resulting from low to moderate to reasonably large numbers of heads can be barely visible to the naked eye. Whilst the quantity can vary vastly depending on strain, cultivar, growing conditions, harvesting and drying and many other factors, large poppy heads can contain up to 80 mg of anhydrous morphine base equivalent, with the actual percentage extracted also being over a huge range. The production of black tar heroin starting from poppy straw decoctions is of course also possible.
Seeds may also be used in large quantites to produce a decoction by agitating them in a solution of slightly acidifed water. Untreated poppy seeds may contain upwards of 330-515 mg of morphine and 75-200 mg of codeine per kilo of seeds, whereas most seeds available commercially have been washed which cuts the alkaloid content by 50 per cent or more; this adds even more to the batch-to- batch variability in content, as noted below with respect to the California overdose case.
An urban legend asserts that commercially-available seeds are deliberately sprayed with dilute solutions of pesticides, particularly organophosphates and carbamtes, or other powerful laxative agents at quantites which become clinically significant if a large quantity of seeds or the washings thereof are consumed. Diarrhoea which comes in the hour after consumption of tea is more likely the result of the interaction of other alkaloids present such as
papaverinePapaverine is an opium alkaloid used primarily in the treatment of visceral spasm, vasospasm , and occasionally in the treatment of erectile dysfunction. While it is found in the opium poppy, papaverine differs in both structure and pharmacological action from the analgesic opium alkaloids...
,
noscapineNoscapine is a benzylisoquinoline alkaloid from plants of the Papaveraceae family, without significant painkilling properties. This agent is primarily used for its antitussive effects. It has also been shown to have anticancer activity...
, narceine or others. In the case of tea made from the straw, even more likely to cause this is the fact that the pods contain significant quantites of dietary fibre.
The ingestion of the seeds themselves in large quantities will have simailar effects as well as effects from
cannabinoidsCannabinoids are a group of terpenophenolic compounds present in Cannabis and which occur naturally in the nervous and immune systems of animals. The broader definition of cannabinoids refers to a group of substances that are structurally related to tetrahydrocannabinol or that bind to...
present in the fats in the seeds. This practise can be very irritating to the upper gastro-intestinal tract and may under some circumstances compound constipation to a dangerous degree.
Effects
Effects vary widely depending on dosage (amount of poppy straw used, alkaloid content of poppies and the quality of extraction), on individual sensitivity and on any opiate tolerance which has built up. In varying degrees, the tea's contents are the base from which all opiates (natural, semi-synthetic & synthetic) are derived. The user can expect a warming sensation of the skin and body during onset. Since many of the opioid receptors are located in the spinal chord (CNC) as well as in the digestive tract, the user describes the ability to feel the intestinal tract with the sensation of lightness, and pleasure. An elevated mood change follows, along with a state of euphoria and well being. Pupils tend to constrict, and the face, neck, and outer extremities flush. Additionally, some users report a sensation of light pressure on the back of the neck. Since opioids are known to release histamine, the user may become itchy as the liver starts to metabolize the alkaloids. Effects also include euphoric feelings, happiness, drowsiness, and loss of concentration.
A small amount of dried poppy or poppy tea at night is an effective remedy for restless leg syndrome (RLS), and is superior to
quinineQuinine is a natural white crystalline alkaloid having antipyretic , antimalarial, analgesic , and anti-inflammatory properties and a bitter taste. It is a stereoisomer of quinidine....
,
codeineCodeine or methylmorphine is an opiate used for its analgesic, antitussive, and antidiarrheal properties.-History:Codeine is an alkaloid found in opium and other poppy saps like Papaver bracteatum, the Iranian poppy, in concentrations ranging from 0.3 to 3.0 percent...
alone, or
clonidineClonidine is a medication used to treat several medical conditions. It is a direct-acting α2 adrenergic agonist.-Uses:It has been prescribed historically as an antihypertensive agent...
for this purpose because of the presence of
papaverinePapaverine is an opium alkaloid used primarily in the treatment of visceral spasm, vasospasm , and occasionally in the treatment of erectile dysfunction. While it is found in the opium poppy, papaverine differs in both structure and pharmacological action from the analgesic opium alkaloids...
, a non-narcotic smooth-muscle relaxant which impacts vascular systems, but withdrawal from the narcotic constituents of the tea, mainly codeine and morphine, will paradoxically cause RLS ("kicking" the habit).
Side effects and tolerance
Side effects increase with dosage and include sleepiness, mild stomachache, lethargy, itching, slowed breathing and
nauseaNausea is the sensation of unease and discomfort in the stomach with an urge to vomit.-Causes:...
. Nausea can be attributed to the presence of
noscapineNoscapine is a benzylisoquinoline alkaloid from plants of the Papaveraceae family, without significant painkilling properties. This agent is primarily used for its antitussive effects. It has also been shown to have anticancer activity...
and is more common in first-time or inexperienced users. At high doses, the side effects are dangerous and can cause death through cessation of breathing or choking on vomit. Constipation often results from prolonged use (as with any opiate).
Additionally, frequent use results in tolerance and dependence.
Chemical dependencyPhysical dependence refers to a state resulting from chronic use of a drug that has produced tolerance and where negative physical symptoms of withdrawal result from abrupt discontinuation or dosage reduction. Physical dependence can develop from low-dose therapeutic use of certain medications as...
typically builds up after one to two weeks of daily usage, but varies by individual. Frequent use followed by abrupt abstinence gives rise to
withdrawalWithdrawal can refer to any sort of separation, but is most commonly used to describe the group of symptoms that occurs upon the abrupt discontinuation/separation or a decrease in dosage of the intake of medications, recreational drugs, and/or alcohol...
symptoms including leg and abdominal cramps,
vomitingVomiting is the forceful expulsion of the contents of one's stomach through the mouth and sometimes the nose. Undesired vomiting may result from many causes, ranging from gastritis or poisoning to brain tumors, or elevated intracranial pressure...
,
diarrheaIn medicine, diarrhea , also spelled diarrhoea , is the condition of having frequent loose or liquid bowel movements. Acute diarrhea is a common cause of death in developing countries and the second most common cause of infant deaths worldwide...
,
headacheIn medicine a headache or cephalalgia is a symptom of a number of different conditions of the head. Some of the causes are benign while others are medical emergencies.There are a number of different classification systems for headaches...
,
insomniaInsomnia is a symptom of any of several sleep disorders, characterized by persistent difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep despite the opportunity. Insomnia is a symptom, not a stand-alone diagnosis or a disease. By definition, insomnia is "difficulty initiating or maintaining sleep, or both"...
, cravings and
anxietyAnxiety is a psychological and physiological state characterized by cognitive, somatic, emotional, and behavioral components. These components combine to create an unpleasant feeling that is typically associated with uneasiness, fear, or worry....
. Physical symptoms of withdrawal usually fade after 4–10 days but cravings and psychological dependence may continue for longer. Treatment methods for addiction are generally the same for any opiate.
Overdose
A case of fatal overdose of poppy seed tea in conjunction with other drugs in 2003 has been reported on a website authored by the victim's parents. The site alleges that a sample of poppy seed tea was sent for laboratory analysis. This victim is reported to have used 3.5 lb of poppy seeds in his tea preparation as on several previous occasions. The concentration of morphine in the tea was shown to be around 250 μg/ml and the amount of morphine which had been consumed by the individual was around 500 mg. This is about five times the lethal oral dose (without tolerance to opioids).
ABC NewsABC News is a division of American television network ABC, owned by The Walt Disney Company. Its current president is David Westin.-Current programs:* America This Morning* Good Morning America* Good Morning America Weekend Edition...
reported on the incident in January 2008.
Alternatives
There are also other plants which can be used to make a
sedativeA sedative is a substance that induces sedation by reducing irritability or excitement.At higher doses it may result in slurred speech, staggering gait, poor judgment, and slow, uncertain reflexes...
infusionAn infusion is the outcome of steeping plants with a desired flavour in water or oil.-History:The first recorded use of essential oils was in the 10th century by the Muslim Persian chemist Avicenna.-Preparation techniques:...
. These include
kratomKratom is a medicinal leaf harvested from a large tree native to Southeast Asia in the Rubiaceae family, first documented by Dutch colonial botanist Korthals. It is botanically related to the Corynanthe, Cinchona and Uncaria genera and shares some similar biochemistry. It is in the same family as...
,
kava kavaKava Kava is the rock band / live dance act from Huddersfield in the UK featuring the soulful vocals of Pat Fulgoni, Matt Bond guitarist, Jason Riley on bass guitar alongside drums, electronica, brass, strings and beats...
and Eschscholzia californica
The latter one is also called the California poppy, and is becoming increasingly popular. Note that laws regarding the sale and/or use of
kava kavaKava Kava is the rock band / live dance act from Huddersfield in the UK featuring the soulful vocals of Pat Fulgoni, Matt Bond guitarist, Jason Riley on bass guitar alongside drums, electronica, brass, strings and beats...
vary by geographic region. Thus, it may not be possible to acquire it.
External links