Opium. Kader Kochi.

Synonyms

Poppy tears, Papaver somniferum, Lachryma papaveris, Hul-Gil (Sumerian- joy plant). 

Constituents 

Annual flowering plant. Height 1 to 2 meter. Leaves are lobed and hairy.  Flowers are white or purple. Size of capsules is less than 2.5 cm diameter. Fruit capsules contain resin. Alkaloids are found in milky latex in unripe seed capsules. Morphine, codeine, papaverine, noscapine, and thebaine are common alkaloids. They are present in young leaves also. Sanguinarine is present in root. Seeds are kidney shaped, and they contain no alkaloids.  Bitter.

Therapeutics

This is medicine for pain in bowels, common bile duct, uterus, ureters, bladder, and urethra due to spasm (Belladonna). 

It is medicine for bronchial spasm, cardiac spasm, tetanic spasm, cramps, and neuralgia.

It is medicine for dysmenorrhoea.

It is medicine for sleeplessness.

It promotes endorphins synthesis in brain, and it suppresses pain.

It is a diaphoretic medicine. 

It reduces intestinal and renal secretions (Myrrha). 

It is medicine for diarrhoea.

It is medicine for premature ejaculation.

It is immune modulator, and immune booster (Arsenic album, Ricinus communis, Helleborus, Camphor, Allium sativa, Asafoetida, Mercurius).

It is remedy for rhinorrhoea.

It is remedy for respiratory failure.

It is remedy for autism spectrum disorders (Gelsemium, Hyoscyamus, Alumen, Physostigma, Pulsatilla, Stramonium).

It is remedy for fear, anorexia nervosa, depression, and dark face.

It is remedy for absent mind, and dementia.

It is remedy for excessive sleepiness with open mouth (Arsenic album, Naja).

It is a remedy that has long been used for crying of children (Crocus sativa, Ricinus communis).

It is remedy for weakness, and neurasthenia (Gelsemium).

It is remedy for week vision with contracted pupils.

It is remedy for pain near head and neck.

It is remedy for asthma, and dry cough.

It is remedy for indigestion, reflex vomiting, and constipation.

It is remedy for symptoms associated with contracted pupils, coated tongue, flushed face, oliguria and dry skin. (Dilated pupils- Belladonna, Stramonium, Hyoscyamus, Duboisinum, Veratrum).

It is remedy for tremor.

It is an anti-viral remedy (HIV infection, hepatitis B, Herpes simplex, Influenza).

It is a sulphur contain plant (Tabacum, Viscum album, Allium sativa, Azadirecta Indica, Sinapis niger, Asafoetida, Zingiber).

It had been used for smoking with tobacco.

It had been used with hemlock and aconite for suicidal attempt (Last lady pharaoh- Cleopatra vii).

Word opium was derived from “opos” (Greek) which means milky juice. Word meconium was derived from the phrase for “like opium juice”. 

Friedrich Wilhelm Adam Serturner (1783-1841) German pharmacist extracted morphine from poppy in 1804 (Paper was published in 1817).

Dose

Dilution.