What did the beautiful opium poppy
give and take away?
By Chelsie Vandaveer
August 20, 2001
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The opium poppy has been used and misused for thousands of years. Its botanical name, Papaver somniferum, literally means, poppy bringing sleep. Six thousand years ago in ancient Sumeria, it was called the "joy plant". Greeks and Romans used it to ease pain and aid sleep. Arabian traders took it to China about 1,000 years ago to trade for silk and spices.
Twenty-five different alkaloids have been isolated from this poppy, but only a few have had a major impact on medicine. The analgesic properties of morphine brought about advances in surgery and relief for wounded soldiers; codeine was a blessing to victims of whooping cough and arthritis; tinctures of opium like laudanum were sold over the counter for treatment of dysentery.
The beautiful poppy gave and took away. The apathy of opium stole the money from the poor, the talents from writers and artists, and the land from China and India.
To view some excellent photographs of these beautiful flowers, click on the link below:
http://www.aros.net/~lambo/somniferum/poppy.htm 
Series: | 1 | | 2 | | 3 | | 4 | | 5 | | 6 | | 7 |
killerPlants Tendrils: ~~1~~2~~3~~4~~5~~
Suggested Reading:
What flower caused China to lose Hong Kong? Plants that Changed History - July 15, 2001
How did a rye disease relieve migraines? Plants that Changed History - July 22, 2003
What is ololiuqui? Herbal Folklore - July 14, 2003
What is LSD? Plants that Changed History - July 15, 2003
Why is wheat preferred to rye for making bread? Herbal Folklore - September 10, 2001
What was spiderwort? What's in a Name? - December 6, 2002
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Henry Fields Seed and Nursery -$20 off—>Click here.
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Michigan Bulb -$20 off—>Click here.
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