Poppyseed is an oilseed obtained from the opium poppy (Papaver somniferum). The tiny, kidney-shaped seeds have been harvested from dried seed pods by various civilizations for thousands of years. It is still widely used in many countries, especially in Central Europe and South Asia, where it is legally grown and sold in shops. The seeds are used whole or ground into a meal as an ingredient in many foods – especially in pastry and bread – and they are pressed to yield poppyseed oil.

Poppy seeds are less than a millimeter in length, kidney-shaped, and have a pitted surface.^[rx] It takes about 3,300 poppy seeds to make up a gram, and between 1 and 2 million seeds to make up a pound.^[rx] The primary flavor compound is 2-Pentylfuran.^[rx]

The seeds of other poppy types are not eaten, but they are cultivated for the flowers they produce. Annual and biennial poppies are considered a good choice to cultivate from seed as they are not difficult to propagate by this method, and can be put directly in the ground during January.^[rx] The California poppy (Eschscholzia California), for example, is a striking orange wildflower that grows in the Western and Northwestern United States.

Other Name(s):

Abou en Noum, Abu el Noom, Abu el-Num, Adormidera, Afyun, Ahiphenam, Amapola, Amapola Real, Anfiao, Aphioni, Aphukam, Bhainzi, Birkes, Blauwmaanzaad, Breadseed Poppy, Dormideira, Edible-Seeded Poppy, Garden Poppy, Garten Mohn, Graine de pavot, Hashhash, Herba Dormidora, Keshi, Khishkhash, Maankop, Maanzaad, Mak, Mak Lekarski, Mak Sety, Medicinal Poppy, Mohn, Oeillette, Oilseed Poppy, Oopiumjunikko, Opievallmo, Opium Poppy, Opiummohn, Opiumpapawer, Opiumvallmo, Opiumvalmue, Papaver somniferum, Papavero da Oppio, Papavero Domestico, Papavero Sonnifero, Papoula, Paragtarbuti, Pavot Officinal, Pavot Somnifère, Pavot A Opium, Pavot de Jardin, Pintacoques, Pioniunikko, Pionvallmo, Schlafmohn, Semilla de amapola, Slaapbol, Slaappapver, Small Opium Poppy, Small-Flower Opium Poppy, Uniko, Vallmo, Valmúafræ, Valmue, Valmue Frø, Vrtni Mak, White Poppy, Wild Poppy, Yanggwibi, Ying Su, Za Zang.

Other popular common names of the plant are Bread seed Poppy, Edible-Seeded Poppy, Garden Poppy, Gear, Maw Seed, Medicinal Poppy, Oilseed Poppy, Opium Poppy, Poppy Seeds, Scag, Smack, Small Opium Poppy, and White Poppy. The Latin name of the opium poppy literally means “sleep bringing poppy”. The plant is named that way due to its ability to induce sedation quickly after consumption.

Poppyseed is an oilseed obtained from the opium poppy  (Papaver somniferum), an annual herbaceous plant in the Papaveraceae (poppy family) that originated in southeastern Europe and western Asia and are now widely cultivated in Europe, Asia, China, and North Africa for their seeds, which are used in baking, as a condiment, and for their edible oil. It is also widely (and often illegally) cultivated for the production of opium, heroin, and morphine derived from the latex of the unripe fruit capsules. This species, along with numerous other Papaver species, are planted as ornamental for its attractive flowers and foliage.

The opium poppy is the only species of Papaveraceae that is an agricultural crop grown on a large scale. Other species, Papaver rhoeas, and Papaver argemone are important agricultural weeds and may be mistaken for the crop. It is also valuable for ornamental purposes and has been known as the “common garden poppy”, referencing all the groups of poppy plants. Poppy seeds are considered an important food item and the source of poppy seed oil, healthy edible oil that has many uses. The seeds are used, whole or ground, as an ingredient in many foods, especially in pastry and bread.  Up until now, some countries still ban the cultivation and the distribution of this crop.

Plant Description

The opium poppy is a robust annual, glabrous, glaucous, lactiferous herb or small shrub that grows about 1.5 m (4.5 ft.) tall. The plant is found growing in fields, clearings, stream banks, railroads, roadsides, and other disturbed sites. The plant thrives in rich, well-drained soils and tolerates moderately acidic to alkaline soils. Leaves are alternate, the lamina is ovate or oblong, 7–25 cm, both surfaces glabrous, glaucous and rather waxy, veins are distinct, slightly raised, base cordate, margin irregularly undulate-serrate, apex acuminate to obtuse; lower leaves are shortly petiolate but upper leaves are sessile and amplexicaul.

Flower & Fruit

Flowers are large, showy, 5–12 cm across, strongly cupulate, white, pinkish or reddish, rarely pale violet, with or without a basal dark blotch. Sepals are green caducous, 2–3.5 cm. Petals are twice as large as sepals, obovate- orbicular, with margin usually wavy or variously cut, caduceus. Stamens are numerous with white filaments and yellowish, oblong-linear anthers. The ovary is green, superior, spherical, 1–2 cm across, glabrous with 4–18 parietal placentas and many ovules, and with 5–12 (−18) stigmas united into a compressed disk with deeply crenulate lobes. Fruit is a distinctive capsule, spherical or oblong, up to 4–6 cm in length and 3–4 cm in diameter, with small holes in the top. The capsule is green when it is forming and turns brown when mature and are crowned by astigmatic disk. The fruit consists of many, edible tiny, kidney-shaped seeds that is globose to reinform, reticulate, deep gray to black colored. Though there is a white-seed cultivar from India. Average seed numbers per plant can range from 10,000 to 60,000. Poppy seeds are considered an important food item and the source of poppy seed oil, healthy edible oil that has many uses.

History

The opium poppy is generally supposed to have originated from Asia Minor but its exact place is unknown. Opium poppies are probably one of the earliest plants cultivated by men in Europe since the Neolithic era and represent one of mankind’s oldest medicinal plants. The plant has been domesticated by the Sumerians, Sumerians, Assyrians, Egyptians, Minoans, Greeks, Romans, Persians, and Arabs. Over the centuries, however, it has been taken extensively into the Far East including India, Northern Burma and Thailand, and China. Up until now, some countries still ban the cultivation and the distribution of this crop.

Types

There are different varieties of poppy seeds. Some of the popular types are:

• Blue poppy seeds It is also called European poppy seeds as they are mostly seen on Western loaves of bread and in confectionery.
• White poppy seeds It is also called Indian or Asian poppy seeds, they are featured in the respective cuisines.
• Oriental poppy seeds It is also called opium poppy, this one yields opium and is grown for commercial purposes.

Health Benefits of Poppy Seeds

Poppy seeds have a wide range of benefits. They act as a cure for sleeplessness and mouth ulcers and enhance digestion. Poppy seeds even improve female fertility to a large extent and can also aid in cancer prevention.

1. Prevent Cancer

Genes of opium poppies had shown promise in the development of a cancer drug. The drug called noscapine was found to fight tumors and even shrink the breast and prostate cancer cells. It can also stop cancer cell proliferation.

According to another Indian study, poppy seeds can increase the activity of a carcinogen-detoxifying enzyme called glutathione-S-transferase (GST) by as much as 78%. This activity of poppy seeds, as per the study, is high enough for the food to be considered potent for cancer treatment. The tincture of the poppy plant is said to treat cancerous ulcers.(1), (2), (3)

2. Cure Sleeplessness

Consuming a poppy seed drink reduces the levels of cortisol in the body. This led to a calming effect as the stress levels eventually went down. More interestingly, the circadian rhythms in the test subjects showed a marked improvement. Also, the individuals felt less fatigued. The opium poppy is known to be particularly effective in inducing sleep. But exercise caution while giving it to kids. Consult your doctor before doing so. Simply take poppy seed tea before you go to bed to enjoy better sleep. Just make a paste of poppy seeds and mix it with warm milk. Take it before bedtime. One cup of poppy seed tea would do the trick. (4)

3. Improve Heart Health

Poppy seeds are a wonderful source of dietary fiber, which helps in lower cholesterol levels and eventually improves heart health. As per a study, the cholesterol content in a food item decreased with a higher amount of poppy seed oil. This simply proves that including the oil to your diet can make it more heart-healthy.(5)

4. Help Treat Kidney Stones

Poppy seeds consist of a good amount of potassium, one mineral known to offer protection against and even treat kidney stones. However, according to the research report, individuals with hyperoxaluria (excessive urinary excretion of oxalate that increases the risk of calcium oxalate kidney stones) need to limit the number of poppy seeds in their diet – as the seeds are high in oxalic acid.(6)

5. Have Analgesic Effects

Since ancient times, the seeds have been used as an analgesic or to relieve pain. Even poppy tea (prepared by mixing the seeds in hot water) can offer analgesic benefits as per a health report. The analgesic effects of poppy seeds are especially powerful in the opium variety according to a report by Purdue University. (7), (8)

6. Digestive Help

If you are suffering from constipation or diarrhea, you need fiber in your diet. Poppy seeds have a remarkably high level of dietary fiber, which can help to bulk up the stool or promote peristaltic motion to regulate your bowel movements. They have been directly linked to soothing inflammation and pain, thus promoting normal functioning in your gut.(9)

7. Enhance Thyroid Function

Zinc is one of the minerals the thyroid gland needs for optimal functioning. Poppy seeds can play a vital role in this aspect as they are rich in zinc. Also, iodinated poppy seed oil has been used in numerous parts of the world to treat iodine deficiency –the cause of thyroid dysfunction.(10)

8. Promote Vision Health

As we age, our eyes naturally begin to fail us, but there are certain things we can do to stop this process. Antioxidant compounds are one great way to protect our eyes, but so is zinc, found in significant quantities in poppy, which can reduce the occurrence of macular degeneration and keep our vision strong.(11)

9. Improve Female Fertility

Research has shown that flushing the fallopian tubes with poppy seed oil can boost fertility. Researchers speculate that the oil can dissolve any debris or mucus in the tubes and increase the chances of fertility. The technique, also called hysterosalpingography, had 40 percent of infertile women in the test group achieve successful pregnancies. Not only had that, 29 percent of the infertile women in the group, who had their fallopian tubes infused with poppy seed water, attained successful pregnancies.(12)

10. Help Treat Eczema and Inflammation

Poppy seeds are effective in treating eczema due to their high content of linolenic acid. Poppy seeds, after being soaked in water or milk, can be ground along with lime juice to form a smooth paste. Applying this paste externally helps in treating burns and skin itchiness. It also acts as an effective painkiller by relieving the pain caused by skin inflammation.

11. Aid in Diabetes Treatment

As mentioned before, poppy seeds are high in fiber; they could be a preferred addition to a diabetic diet. And the manganese in the seeds might also aid in diabetes treatment. However, more research is essential for this aspect. Consult your doctor before you take poppy seeds for this purpose.

12. Help Achieve Clear Skin

Poppyseed scrub can help cleanse your skin, making it look clear and blemish-free. You can prepare a face scrub by mixing 2 teaspoons of poppy seeds with curd. Rub the paste gently on the clean face and neck in circular motions, massaging for 10 minutes. Wipe your face with a cotton ball and wash as usual. This will provide you with clear skin and a glowing complexion.

13. Boost the Immune System

The zinc in poppy seeds can contribute to a strengthened immune system. Seeds also enhance the production of immune cells in the body. And the iron in the seeds also helps in this aspect. The zinc in the seeds also helps ward off lower respiratory ailments.

14. Strengthen Bones

Poppy seeds are rich in calcium and copper. While the former improves bone health, the latter strengthens the bones as well as the connective tissue. Seeds are also rich in phosphorus, which, along with calcium, makes up part of the bone tissue. And the manganese in the seeds aids the production of collagen, a protein that defends your bones from severe damage.

15. Cure Mouth Ulcers

Though there is limited research on this, anecdotal proof suggests that poppy seeds can help cure mouth ulcers. Poppy seeds are known to have a cooling effect on the body, which plays a role in mouth ulcer treatment. Simply mix some crushed dry coconut, powdered sugar candy, and ground poppy seeds. Shape it into a pellet and suck on this for instant relief from mouth ulcers.

16. Improve Brain Health

The brain requires essential nutrients like calcium, iron, and copper – minerals that poppy seeds are rich in. These minerals aid in the regulation of neurotransmitters and enhance brain function. Poppy seeds might also cut the risk of cognitive disorder. However, further research is necessary in this aspect.

17. Relieves Body Pain

Poppy seeds consist of analgesic properties that can relieve various body pains effectively. Poppy seeds were widely consumed in the form of teas to alleviate pain and the factors associated with it. If you encounter headaches frequently, you should try sipping on some warm tea made with it. However, don’t opt for a home remedy in case of migraine and consult with your primary care physician in this regard.

18. Help Treat Dandruff

Dandruff is a common problem which, if left untreated, can lead to hair loss. For treating dandruff, you can apply a mixture of soaked poppy seeds, hung curd, and a teaspoon of white pepper on the scalp. Leave the mixture on for half an hour and then rinse it off. Regular usage of this pack will considerably reduce the recurrence of dandruff.

19. For Psychological Health

You can rarely find foods that contain components to improve your psychological health. Poppy seeds are one of them as they are loaded with nutrients such as copper, iron, and calcium. When consumed regularly, the nutrients will regulate neurotransmitters that will improve cognition and concentration. Moreover, nutritionists recommend that consuming poppy seeds will delay the onset of age-related diseases like Alzheimer’s disease and dementia.

20. Diagnosing vesicoenteric fistula.

Research shows that the poppy seed test can be used to diagnose a condition called a vesicoenteric fistula. For this test, people who might have vesicoenteric fistula eat 35-250 grams of poppy seed mixed in yogurt or beverage. The person’s urine is monitored for 48 hours afterward. If the poppy seed is seen in the urine, the person is diagnosed with a vesicoenteric fistula.

Traditional uses and benefits of Poppy Seeds

• Opium poppy consists of a wide range of alkaloids and has been a very valuable medicine, particularly useful in bringing relief from pain.
• Latex is anodyne, antitussive, astringent, diaphoretic, emenagogue, hypnotic, narcotic and sedative.
• It is an effective remedy in treating nervous disorders.
• It soothes the brain nerves and provides relaxing effects.
• Poppy is an effective cure against cancer.
• It is a good herbal remedy for breast cancer.
• Linoleic acid contained in poppy reduces the risk of heart attack and heart diseases.
• It is useful in treating skin diseases like Eczema, inflammation, and itching.
• A paste made of poppy seeds, milk, and lime juice cures burning sensation and itching.
• It activates hair follicles and enhances hair growth.
• It promotes urination and is useful in expelling kidney stones.
• It improves insulin production and keeps blood glucose levels balanced.
• It reduces cholesterol levels in the blood.
• Poppy is high in dietary fibers which regulate bowel movements and cures constipation.
• It cures gastrointestinal diseases.
• Plant, capsule, seeds, and opium have been used in traditional folkloric medicine in different cultures in Europe, the Middle East, and Asia.
• The opium poppy is regarded as astringent, analgesic, anodyne, expectorant, aphrodisiac, antispasmodic, diaphoretic, bactericidal, calmative, carminative, demulcent, emollient, expectorant, hypotensive, hypnotic, narcotic, nervine, sedative, sudorific, and tonic.
• The poppy plant has been used in folkloric medicine for asthma, bladder, bruises, cancer, catarrh, colds, colic, conjunctivitis, cough, diarrhea, dysentery, dysmenorrhea, enteritis, enterorrhagia, fever, flu, headache, hemicranias, hypertension, hypochondria, hysteria, inflammation, insomnia, leucorrhea, malaria, mania, melancholy, nausea, neuralgia, otitis, pertussis, prolapse, proctitis, rheumatism, snakebite, spasm, spermatorrhoea, sprain, stomachache, swelling, toothache, tumor, ulcers, and warts.
• Poppy plant, boiled in oil, is claimed to aid indurations and tumors of the liver.
• A tincture of the plant is said to cure cancerous ulcers.
• The plant is considered an aphrodisiac, astringent, fattening, stimulant, tonic, and good for the complexion in ayurvedic medicine.
• Dried capsules without the seeds are used to treat cough and diarrhea in Vietnam.
• Dried capsules have also been used to treat cough in Europe and diarrhea and cough in China.
• Capsule decoction and an injection of the seed decoction are claimed to help uterine cancer.
• Fruit is recommended for anemia, chest pains, dysentery, and fever in Unani medicines.
• The capsule is regarded as antitussive, cooling, deliriant, excitant, and intoxicant, and an aphrodisiac if freely consumed in ayurvedic medicines.
• Seeds are considered aphrodisiac, constipating, and tonic in ayurvedic medicines.
• Iranians use the seed for epistaxis; a paste made from Linum, Malva, and Papaver is applied to boils.
• Chinese in Peninsular Malaysia have used the seed medicinally in the treatment of nausea, vomiting, fluxes, and fevers.
• Opium has been reported to be used as a remedy for such cancerous conditions as cancer of the skin, stomach, tongue, uterus, carcinoma of the breast, polyps of the ear, nose, and vagina; sclerosis of the liver, spleen, and uterus; and tumors of the abdomen, bladder, eyes, fauces, liver, spleen, and uvula.
• Opium is unexcelled as a hypnotic and sedative and is frequently administered to relieve pain and calm excitement.
• As astringent, it is administered for diarrhea and dysentery.
• Externally, opium has been applied for hemorrhoids, leprosy, and wounds of the eyes.
• Opium has been used in Lebanon to quieten excitable people, to relieve toothache, headache, incurable pain, and for boils, coughs, dysentery, and itches.
• Algerians pack opium into tooth cavities to relieve pain.

Ayurvedic Health benefits of Poppy Seeds

• Hair fall: Grind Opium seeds milk. Apply it over the head.
• Diarrhea: Take 3 g seed powder of poppy with warm milk. Have it once a day. OR Powder the roasted seeds of powder. Take a quarter tsp of it with honey.
• Insomnia: Take half tsp poppy seed oil before going to bed at night. Have it thrice a week.
• Coolant: Grind poppy seeds to make a paste. Consume 2 g of it daily with lukewarm water.
• Kidney Stones: Take 4 g poppy seeds with warm water. Its regular use stops the formation of kidney stones.
• Dark circles: Crush seeds of poppy to make a paste. Apply it below the eyes. Use it regularly to get rid of them.
• Itching: Apply poppy seed paste over itchy areas.
• Snoring: Dip one tsp of poppy seeds in water for 5 hours. Chew them with lukewarm milk at night.
• Obsessive-compulsive disorders: Take 3 tsp of poppy seeds and soak them overnight in water. The next morning, grind them to make a fine paste. Consume it daily.
• Aphrodisiac: Poppy seeds when smoked increase sexual performance. Simply put a tbsp of poppy seeds in the fire and inhale its smoke.
• Ringworm: Make a paste of vernonia cinerea, poppy, black cumin, dry coconut powder. Apply it for three hours. Wash it off with Luke’s warm water.
• Hoarseness: Prepare a decoction of poppy seeds and caraway seeds by taking them in equal quantity. Gargle with it twice a day.
• Sore Throat: Take 2 tbsp of coconut milk, 1 tbsp of poppy seed powder, 2 tbsp of honey. Mix all the ingredients. Have one tsp with milk at night.
• Amebiasis: Take 2 g each of black pepper, asafoetida, and poppy seeds. Grind them to make powder. Divide them in 10 parts. Take 1 pill four times a day.
• Dizziness: Soak 25-30 g wheat, 15-20 g poppy seeds, 10-12 almonds, 8-10 watermelon seeds in water for half an hour. Heat one tbsp of ghee in a pan. Fry cloves in it. Add all the soaked herbs to it. Take 4-5 tbsp two times a day with milk.
• Diarrhea: Take 20 g poppy seeds, 40 g sugar, 10 g cardamom, 10 g nutmeg, and 20 g tragacanth gum. Grind them to make powder. Take 3 g of the powder after every 3 hours with lukewarm water.
• Dizziness: Soak 8 almonds, 8 pumpkin seeds, 1 tsp of poppy seeds, and 3 tbsp of wheat in water overnight. Grind all the soaked herbs into a paste. Heat 1 tbsp of ghee. Add one tsp of cloves in it and fry. Add the paste along with 100 ml of milk and boil the mixture for 5 minutes. Add sugar to taste.

Other Top Uses Of Poppy Seeds

Let us look at some of the best ways to use poppy seeds.

• Adding Flavor: Poppy seeds are good at adding flavor to a number of food items like bread, rolls, cookies, and cakes. You may depend upon these seeds to add delight to your party menus.
• Ground form: People across the globe make use of ground poppy seeds in dishing up various types of desserts. Grind poppy seeds with other cooking ingredients while making soups, gravies, and kormas to enhance the flavor.
• Sauces: Poppy seeds are also utilized as thickening agents for various types of sauces available in the market.
• Cooking: Poppy seeds are also used in cooking different dishes like vegetables, noodles, and fish to add flavor and aroma to these items.
• Opium: Seeds of the Poppy plant are storehouses for opium, which is considered a useful ingredient for preparing various herbal medicines. However, criminal minds treat it as a narcotic drug and make illegitimate use of these seeds. Thus, we must make use of opium present in poppy seeds in medicines rather than taking drugs.
• Important ingredients: It also offers a number of ingredients, which include thiamine, riboflavin, lecithin, oxalic acid, pentosans, and amorphous alkaloid.
• Enzymes: It also helps in enhancing the enzymes like diastase, emulsion, lipase, and nuclease in the human body.
• Fatty acids: Seeds are also good sources of fatty acids, especially omega-3 fatty acids, which are essential by the human body to ensure good health..
• Carbohydrates: Poppy seeds may also be considered as good sources of carbohydrates and thus, these are helpful in enhancing the level of energy supplied to the human body for routine functions.
• Joint Pain: Make a paste of poppy seeds with water and apply it to the joints with pain and inflammation to get good relief.
• Mouth Ulcer: To get instant relief from mouth ulcers, consume it by adding some sugar to the poppy seeds and crushing it.
• Skin Care: Make your face look radiant and moisturized by applying the paste of raw milk and poppy seeds.
• Insomnia: Mix poppy seeds powder with hot milk to cure insomnia, anxiety, and restlessness.
• Improves Appetite: If you are facing a loss of appetite lately, has a milkshake or fruit juice to improve your appetite.
• Respiratory Diseases: Get good relief from whooping cough, asthma, and other respiratory issues by making a concoction with poppy seeds, water, and sugar.
• Itchy Skin: If your skin is itchy or has a burning sensation, make a paste with pre-soaked poppy seeds with lemon juice and apply it to the affected area.
• Dark Circles: Mix a teaspoon of lemon juice and half a teaspoon of poppy seeds powder to remove dark circles under your eyes.
• Indigestion: Make an herbal tea by brewing a teaspoon of poppy seeds with hot water and straining it. Mix honey and consume to treat cough, indigestion, and cough.

Culinary uses

• Poppy seeds are popular for pastries and baked goods in Turkey and Egypt and are widely used in the regional cuisines of Central and Eastern Europe.
• Seeds may be used whole, and are often sprinkled as a decorative topping on bagels and pieces of bread, or they may be ground into a paste and used as a filling.
• Ground poppy seeds are also used as a thickener in some Indian dishes.
• Oil extracted from poppy seeds can be used in cooking.
• Much used as a flavoring in cakes, bread, fruit salads, etc.
• Crushed and sweetened seeds are used as a filling in crepes, strudels, pastries, etc.
• A high-quality edible drying oil is obtained from the seed.
• Poppy seeds are commonly used in food items such as bagels (ring-shaped bread), bialys (Yiddish bread roll) pretzels, muffins, and cakes.
• Poppy seeds are used as filling ingredients for homnetash (Yiddish pastry) and strudel pastries.
• Poppy seeds can be dry roasted and ground to be used in wet curry (curry paste) or dry curry used in chapattis and in chutneys.
• They impart a creamy and nut-like flavor, and when used with ground coconut, poppy seeds provide a unique and flavor-rich curry base.
• Poppy seeds fried in butter can be added to noodles or pasta.
• Poppy seeds can be added to vegetable sauces such as asparagus and root sauces; they can be sprinkled onto coleslaw.
• They can be used to top creamed potatoes and au gratin dishes, and used in fish dishes.
• Poppyseed oil known as Gillette by the French can be used to substitute olive oil for culinary purposes.
• Oil is used locally in making sweets in some parts of Asia.
• Some native tribes in Southeast Asia consume the young leaves as vegetables.
• Gasagase Payase is a popular dish in Karnataka. It is basically a liquid dessert prepared with white poppy seeds, Jaggery, coconut, and milk.
• Poppy seeds are used for garnishing a special sweet called anarsa, which is prepared during Diwali in Maharashtra.
• Patties made from powdered poppy seeds are often grilled or fried.
• A rice dish can be prepared by simply mixing uncooked ground poppy seeds with mustard oil chopped green chili peppers, and rice.
• Poppy seeds cooked with Jaggery and coconut are enclosed in a case of a flaky pastry and deep-fried to prepare a delicious sweet called karanji.
• White poppy seeds paste is used to prepare a masala that is used in preparing exotic dishes with chicken, meat, and vegetables in Andhra Pradesh.
• Poppy seeds are used in preparing popular sweet pastry dishes like Strudel and Germknödel in Austria and Hungary.
• Ground poppy seeds are widely used in pastries. Before being used in pastries, they should be soaked in boiling water for 1 to 3 hours before grinding.
• These seeds are best when sprinkled over naan bread and cooked in a clay oven known as tandoor.

How to Buy Poppy Seeds

• Poppy seeds are available in both whole and ground forms. They can also be purchased as poppy seed paste, poppy seed powder, and poppy seed oil.
• Poppy seeds are extremely high in polyunsaturated fats which can make them vulnerable and get spoiled. Hence, always buy poppy seeds from a store that guarantees authenticity and freshness.
• Check the appearance of poppy seeds, whenever possible. They should be deep metallic blue in color, with a mild nutty taste and pleasant crunch.
• Ivory, beige, dark grey, and tobacco-brown poppy seeds are also available, which give a similar taste and can be used instead.

Poppy Seeds Storage Tips

• Poppy seeds can be stored in airtight containers in a cool, dry, dark place for up to six months. Keep them refrigerated where they will retain their freshness and prevent rancidity.
• When stored at room temperature, the oil content in poppy seeds can become rancid quickly, giving a bitter and unappetizing taste.

The following doses have been studied in scientific research:

BY MOUTH

• For diagnosing vesicoenteric fistula: 35-250 grams of poppy seed are mixed with a drink or yogurt and taken by mouth. Urine is monitored for 48 hours thereafter.

• Poppyseed is LIKELY SAFE for most adults when taken by mouth in amounts commonly found in food.
• Poppyseed is POSSIBLY SAFE when taken by mouth in amounts used for medical purposes. A single beverage or yogurt containing 35-250 grams of poppy seed has been used safely. Although uncommon, eating poppy seed can cause allergies in some people. Symptoms include vomiting, swelling of the inside of the mouth, hives, eye swelling (conjunctivitis), and breathing difficulty. Inhaling poppy seed might also cause allergy symptoms, including skin redness and swelling under the skin.
• Pregnancy and breastfeeding: Poppy seed is LIKELY SAFE for pregnant and breastfeeding women in food amounts. But larger medicinal amounts should be avoided until more is known.
• Allergy to other plants: People who are allergic to poppy seed might also be allergic to hazelnut, rye grain, kiwi, sesame, or buckwheat. If you are allergic to poppy seed, be sure to check with your healthcare provider before taking these other foods or supplements.

Other Facts

• Stem and leaves are thinly covered with coarse hairs.
• All parts of the plant exude white latex when wounded.
• Seed yields 44 – 50% of edible drying oil.
• Oil is very good for lighting; it burns for longer than most oils.
• Oil is also used in paints, soap making, etc.
• Opium poppy plant also has valuable ornamental uses as a garden flowering plant, and its flowers and dried pods are used in various floral arrangements.
• Poppy seeds are used as bird feed.
• Poppyseed oil is a source of drying oil used for the manufacture of paints, varnishes, and soaps.
• Poppyseed is almost exclusively used for the extraction of oil in turkey.
• Nutritious poppy-seed cake or meal left after extraction of the oil is used alone or mixed with other feeds, suitable as food for cattle and other animals.
• Average seed numbers per plant can range from 10,000 to 60,000.
• There are some 900,000 poppy seeds to the pound.
• Dried latex is the source of morphine, codeine, papaverine, and noscapine. These substances are used in the manufacture of painkillers and cough syrups.
• The opium poppy is also used for the production of heroin. Heroin is a type of recreational drug which induces euphoria and eliminates anxiety. It produces strong addiction.
• Animals can become drowsy, comatose or heavily sedated after consumption of this plant.

Precautions

• This plant contains a number of very toxic compounds, many of which are extracted and used as pain killers etc. in medicine.
• They are also used to make various highly addictive narcotic drugs.
• Excessive may cause death.
• Prolonged use may cause severe addiction.
• In some people, poppy seeds can cause allergies.
• Some of these include vomiting, hives, eye swelling, skin redness, and difficulty in breathing.
• Excess consumption of poppy seeds during pregnancy or breastfeeding can cause issues and must be avoided.

References

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