Californian poppy

FAMILY: Papaveraceae.

HABITAT: native to California and Mexico, especially in coastal dunes and dry valleys near the sea. It is currently cultivated in many other warm-temperate climate countries.

USED PART: the aerial parts of the plant.

RECOMMENDED PHARMACEUTICAL PREPARATIONS: nebulised dry extract titrated in protopin min. 0.35% (Italian Pharmacopoeia X), with a daily dose of 300 to 600 mg, to be taken in a single dose about 45 minutes before going to bed.

THERAPEUTIC PROPERTIES: The main action of this plant is at the level of the central nervous system, where it has sleep-promoting activity, without causing dizziness upon awakening, as this effect does not exceed 6-7 hours.
A clinical study carried out on 20 patients with insomnia that had never been treated pharmacologically who took a dry extract of Escolazia at a dose of 500 mg in the evening gave the following results: 12 patients returned to normal sleep, lasting 6-8 hours without nocturnal awakenings, 6 subjects reduced their falling asleep time to 15 minutes, with some nocturnal awakenings followed by rapid resumption of sleep, 2 patients dropped out of the study due to the absence of tangible results. In the same study, 40 patients suffering from insomnia but on medication with sleeping pills were also evaluated. The results were as follows: 14 patients were progressively able to discontinue the drug and use only Escholtzia, 20 subjects decreased the dosage of the drug but failed to discontinue it, 6 patients had no significant results.

SIDE EFFECTS AND CONTRAINDICATIONS: In the case of prolonged treatment at rather high dosages, addiction may occur. It should be used with great caution in children under 4 years of age.
It is contraindicated in the first four months of pregnancy and during lactation.

It can be found in vagostabil® junior