Poppy tea
Encyclopedia
Poppy tea is an infusion (not a true tea
) brewed from poppy straw or seed
s of several species of poppy
. The species most commonly used for this purpose is Papaver somniferum, which contains opium.
The tea is consumed for its narcotic
, analgesic
, and anti-diarrheal, effects. This tea is depicted both in Asian literature
and Western literature
, such as in opium den
s. It can also be used in small amounts as an analgesic
, anti-diarrhoeal
, and sedative
for many mammals and birds.
as the latex
of the plant (itself the primary component of opium) is illegal. In the Netherlands
, all parts of Papaver somniferum after harvesting (except for the seeds) are illegal by law, as they are List I drugs of the Opium Law
. 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 is an alternative to pharmaceutical opioids, which are highly regulated in most countries, while the dried seed pod of 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.
s 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.
can be used as a solvent on poppy straw as discussed below. Green poppies and other parts of the plant can also be used. Other end products ranging from poppy straw in yogurt to variants of Concentrate of Poppy Straw and other intermediates for the processing of near-pharmaceutical grade alkaloid salts can theoretically be made, as explored below.
Poppy tea is sometimes called opium tea; this is a misnomer as that would be an aqueous extract of latex-derived opium, leading to a different alkaloid profile and other different properties. Concentrated aqueous opium solution is a medicinal product known as Black Drop
. Teas and alcoholic extracts made from the ashes of smoking opium are also called by their own names and have yet another range of alkaloid profiles.
Poppy seed tea relies more on washing trace amounts of alkaloids (4-550 ppm for morphine and 1 to 150 ppm of codeine) 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 in taste, appearance, potency, and alkaloid profile. In Eastern Europe poppy seed tea is called Koknar and is a common delight in certain social ceremonies and gatherings. Poppy straw tea and " Koknar " addiction is scientifically similar as any other opiate addiction like oxycodone, codeine, hydrocodone, morphine and other forms of opiate addiction, the only difference is the cheaper opiate - "poppy alkaloid extracts" like poppy tea are more common in the impoverished Eastern European towns and more readily available than traditional modern forms of opiates. The fact that all of these preparations contain active alkaloids aside from morphine such as codeine, noscapine and papaverine and others which can be bio-activated into still other substances complicates the issue of physical dependence and makes them more like opium than morphine in this respect.
However, many people have difficulty in achieving any euphoria with poppy seed tea, other than a very mild relaxation akin to a cup of tea. On online drug forums many people speculate it is a placebo effect or only works for a minority of people who have high sensitivity to opiates.
Tea obtained from poppy leaves also contains alkaloids and their salts but is also a much different, and weaker, product.
s: phenanthrene
s (including morphine
and codeine
) and benzylisoquinoline
s (including papaverine
). 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 receptor
s in the brain
, spinal cord
, stomach
and 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 myoclonus
. Thebaine
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-colored seeds and a tendency towards elongated 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 protopine
, which are not narcotic.
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.
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 juice
and/or cimetidine may also inhibit liver enzyme
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 evaporated 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 produce a product similar to laudanum
, paregoric
, 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. While 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 quantities to produce a decoction by agitating them in a solution of slightly acidified 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 carbamates, or other powerful laxative agents at quantities 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 papaverine
, noscapine
, 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 quantities of dietary fiber.
The ingestion of the seeds themselves in large quantities will have similar effects as well as effects from cannabinoids
present in the fats in the seeds. This practice can be very irritating to the upper gastro-intestinal tract and may under some circumstances compound constipation to a dangerous degree.
causing the user to become itchy. Benadryl (Diphenhydramine HCl), a histamine antagonist
may be used to counteract the histamine reaction to opioids, resulting in decreased itchy feeling and increased drug effect duration. One should be very careful with the amount of Benadryl as it can increase the risk of overdose if the pods are especially strong. A non-drowsy anti-histamine can work just as well to combat itching. 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 quinine
, codeine
alone, or clonidine
for this purpose because of the presence of papaverine
, 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).
. Nausea can be attributed to the presence of noscapine
and is more common in first-time or inexperienced users. At high doses, the side effects are dangerous and can cause death through respiratory arrest
or inhalation of vomit. Constipation often results from prolonged use (as with any opiate).
Additionally, frequent use results in tolerance and dependence. Chemical dependency
builds in relation to the frequency of use, dose used, age, gender, weight, and medical condition. Once chemical dependency has developed, abrupt cessation of use will cause withdrawal
; symptoms include leg and abdominal cramps, mydriasis
, vomiting
, diarrhoea, headache
, insomnia
, cravings and anxiety
. 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 opioid
.
reported on the incident in January 2008.
Tea
Tea is an aromatic beverage prepared by adding cured leaves of the Camellia sinensis plant to hot water. The term also refers to the plant itself. After water, tea is the most widely consumed beverage in the world...
) brewed from poppy straw or seed
Seed
A seed is a small embryonic plant enclosed in a covering called the seed coat, usually with some stored food. It is the product of the ripened ovule of gymnosperm and angiosperm plants which occurs after fertilization and some growth within the mother plant...
s of several species of poppy
Poppy
A poppy is one of a group of a flowering plants in the poppy family, many of which are grown in gardens for their colorful flowers. Poppies are sometimes used for symbolic reasons, such as in remembrance of soldiers who have died during wartime....
. The species most commonly used for this purpose is Papaver somniferum, which contains opium.
The tea is consumed for its narcotic
Narcotic
The term narcotic originally referred medically to any psychoactive compound with any sleep-inducing properties. In the United States of America it has since become associated with opioids, commonly morphine and heroin and their derivatives, such as hydrocodone. The term is, today, imprecisely...
, analgesic
Analgesic
An analgesic is any member of the group of drugs used to relieve pain . The word analgesic derives from Greek an- and algos ....
, and anti-diarrheal, effects. This tea is depicted both in Asian literature
Asian literature
-Examples:*East Asian literature**Chinese literature**Japanese literature**Korean literature*Central Asian literature**Bengali literature**Indian literature**Pakistani literature**Tamil literature*West Asian literature**Arabic literature...
and Western literature
Western literature
Western 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 den
Opium den
An 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. It can also be used in small amounts as an analgesic
Analgesic
An analgesic is any member of the group of drugs used to relieve pain . The word analgesic derives from Greek an- and algos ....
, anti-diarrhoeal
Diarrhea
Diarrhea , also spelled diarrhoea, is the condition of having three or more loose or liquid bowel movements per day. It is a common cause of death in developing countries and the second most common cause of infant deaths worldwide. The loss of fluids through diarrhea can cause dehydration and...
, and sedative
Sedative
A sedative or tranquilizer is a substance that induces sedation by reducing irritability or excitement....
for many mammals and birds.
Legality
In some places, preparation of tea may be preferred to smoked opiumOpium
Opium is the dried latex obtained from the opium poppy . Opium contains up to 12% morphine, an alkaloid, which is frequently processed chemically to produce heroin for the illegal drug trade. The latex also includes codeine and non-narcotic alkaloids such as papaverine, thebaine and noscapine...
as the latex
Latex
Latex is the stable dispersion of polymer microparticles in an aqueous medium. Latexes may be natural or synthetic.Latex as found in nature is a milky fluid found in 10% of all flowering plants . It is a complex emulsion consisting of proteins, alkaloids, starches, sugars, oils, tannins, resins,...
of the plant (itself the primary component of opium) is illegal. In the Netherlands
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
, all parts of Papaver somniferum after harvesting (except for the seeds) are illegal by law, as they are List I drugs of the Opium Law
Opium Law
The 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 is an alternative to pharmaceutical opioids, which are highly regulated in most countries, while the dried seed pod of 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
In the United States it is legal to purchase poppy seedPoppy seed
Poppy seed is an oilseed obtained from the opium poppy . The tiny kidney-shaped seeds have been harvested from dried seed pods by various civilizations for thousands of years...
s 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.
Production
Poppy tea preparations are part of a spectrum of decoctions and other extracts 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, while the stems of the plant are similar but have lower percentages of alkaloids by weight. AlcoholAlcohol
In chemistry, an alcohol is an organic compound in which the hydroxy functional group is bound to a carbon atom. In particular, this carbon center should be saturated, having single bonds to three other atoms....
can be used as a solvent on poppy straw as discussed below. Green poppies and other parts of the plant can also be used. Other end products ranging from poppy straw in yogurt to variants of Concentrate of Poppy Straw and other intermediates for the processing of near-pharmaceutical grade alkaloid salts can theoretically be made, as explored below.
Poppy tea is sometimes called opium tea; this is a misnomer as that would be an aqueous extract of latex-derived opium, leading to a different alkaloid profile and other different properties. Concentrated aqueous opium solution is a medicinal product known as Black Drop
Kendal Black Drop
Kendal Black Drop was a drug based on opium. Named after Kendal in the Lake District, England, it is associated with the romantic poet, Samuel Taylor Coleridge....
. Teas and alcoholic extracts made from the ashes of smoking opium are also called by their own names and have yet another range of alkaloid profiles.
Poppy seed tea relies more on washing trace amounts of alkaloids (4-550 ppm for morphine and 1 to 150 ppm of codeine) 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 in taste, appearance, potency, and alkaloid profile. In Eastern Europe poppy seed tea is called Koknar and is a common delight in certain social ceremonies and gatherings. Poppy straw tea and " Koknar " addiction is scientifically similar as any other opiate addiction like oxycodone, codeine, hydrocodone, morphine and other forms of opiate addiction, the only difference is the cheaper opiate - "poppy alkaloid extracts" like poppy tea are more common in the impoverished Eastern European towns and more readily available than traditional modern forms of opiates. The fact that all of these preparations contain active alkaloids aside from morphine such as codeine, noscapine and papaverine and others which can be bio-activated into still other substances complicates the issue of physical dependence and makes them more like opium than morphine in this respect.
However, many people have difficulty in achieving any euphoria with poppy seed tea, other than a very mild relaxation akin to a cup of tea. On online drug forums many people speculate it is a placebo effect or only works for a minority of people who have high sensitivity to opiates.
Tea obtained from poppy leaves also contains alkaloids and their salts but is also a much different, and weaker, product.
Chemical composition
Poppy tea contains two groups of alkaloidAlkaloid
Alkaloids are a group of naturally occurring chemical compounds that contain mostly basic nitrogen atoms. This group also includes some related compounds with neutral and even weakly acidic properties. Also some synthetic compounds of similar structure are attributed to alkaloids...
s: phenanthrene
Phenanthrene
Phenanthrene is a polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon composed of three fused benzene rings. The name phenanthrene is a composite of phenyl and anthracene. In its pure form, it is found in cigarette smoke and is a known irritant, photosensitizing skin to light...
s (including morphine
Morphine
Morphine is a potent opiate analgesic medication and is considered to be the prototypical opioid. It was first isolated in 1804 by Friedrich Sertürner, first distributed by same in 1817, and first commercially sold by Merck in 1827, which at the time was a single small chemists' shop. It was more...
and codeine
Codeine
Codeine or 3-methylmorphine is an opiate used for its analgesic, antitussive, and antidiarrheal properties...
) and benzylisoquinoline
Benzylisoquinoline
1-Benzylisoquinoline is a chemical compound, and 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 papaverine
Papaverine
Papaverine is an opium alkaloid antispasmodic drug, used primarily in the treatment of visceral spasm, vasospasm , and occasionally in the treatment of erectile dysfunction...
). 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 receptor
Mu Opioid receptor
The μ-opioid receptors are a class of opioid receptors with high affinity for enkephalins and beta-endorphin but low affinity for dynorphins. They are also referred to as μ opioid peptide receptors. The prototypical μ receptor agonist is the opium alkaloid morphine; μ refers to morphine...
s in the brain
Brain
The brain is the center of the nervous system in all vertebrate and most invertebrate animals—only a few primitive invertebrates such as sponges, jellyfish, sea squirts and starfishes do not have one. It is located in the head, usually close to primary sensory apparatus such as vision, hearing,...
, spinal cord
Spinal cord
The 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...
, stomach
Stomach
The stomach is a muscular, hollow, dilated part of the alimentary canal which functions as an important organ of the digestive tract in some animals, including vertebrates, echinoderms, insects , and molluscs. It is involved in the second phase of digestion, following mastication .The stomach is...
and intestine
Intestine
In human anatomy, the intestine is the segment of the alimentary canal extending from the pyloric sphincter of 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 myoclonus
Myoclonus
Myoclonus 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. Brief twitches are perfectly normal. The myoclonic twitches are usually caused by sudden muscle contractions; they also can result from brief...
. Thebaine
Thebaine
Thebaine , its name coming from the Greek Θῆβαι, Thēbai, an ancient city in Upper Egypt, 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 convulsions similar to strychnine...
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-colored seeds and a tendency towards elongated 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 protopine
Protopine
Protopine 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 alkaloidAlkaloid
Alkaloids are a group of naturally occurring chemical compounds that contain mostly basic nitrogen atoms. This group also includes some related compounds with neutral and even weakly acidic properties. Also some synthetic compounds of similar structure are attributed to alkaloids...
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.
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 juice
Grapefruit juice
Grapefruit juice is the fruit juice from grapefruits. It is rich in Vitamin C and ranges from sweet-tart to very sour. It is considered by some cultures to be a mystical tonic which promotes health and vigor. Certain civilizations have had holy men who live on Grapefruit juice alone...
and/or cimetidine may also inhibit liver enzyme
Enzyme
Enzymes are proteins that catalyze chemical reactions. In enzymatic reactions, the molecules at the beginning of the process, called substrates, are converted into different molecules, called products. Almost all chemical reactions in a biological cell need enzymes in order to occur at rates...
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
Slivovitz
Slivovitz or Slivovitsais a distilled beverage made from Damson plums. It is frequently called plum brandy, and in the Balkans is part of the category of drinks called rakia...
, 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 evaporated 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 produce a product similar to laudanum
Laudanum
Laudanum , also known as Tincture of Opium, is an alcoholic herbal preparation containing approximately 10% powdered opium by weight ....
, paregoric
Paregoric
Paregoric, or camphorated tincture of opium, also known as tinctura opii camphorata, is a medication known for its antidiarrheal, antitussive, and analgesic properties.-History:...
, 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. While 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 quantities to produce a decoction by agitating them in a solution of slightly acidified 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 carbamates, or other powerful laxative agents at quantities 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 papaverine
Papaverine
Papaverine is an opium alkaloid antispasmodic drug, used primarily in the treatment of visceral spasm, vasospasm , and occasionally in the treatment of erectile dysfunction...
, noscapine
Noscapine
Noscapine 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
Narceine
Narceine is an opium alkaloid produced by the Papaver somniferum plant. It is a bitter, crystalline compound with narcotic effects and was formerly used as a substitute for morphine. Its name is derived from the Greek , meaning numbness, and the postfix -ine referring to an alkaloid....
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 quantities of dietary fiber.
The ingestion of the seeds themselves in large quantities will have similar effects as well as effects from cannabinoids
Cannabinoids
Cannabinoids are a class of chemical compounds that include the phytocannabinoids , and chemical compounds that mimic the actions of phytocannabinoids or have a similar structure...
present in the fats in the seeds. This practice 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 cord (CNS) 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. The presence of opioids in the bloodstream will cause the subsequent release of histamineHistamine
Histamine is an organic nitrogen compound involved in local immune responses as well as regulating physiological function in the gut and acting as a neurotransmitter. Histamine triggers the inflammatory response. As part of an immune response to foreign pathogens, histamine is produced by...
causing the user to become itchy. Benadryl (Diphenhydramine HCl), a histamine antagonist
Histamine antagonist
A histamine antagonist, commonly referred to as antihistamine, is a pharmaceutical drug that inhibits action of histamine by blocking it from attaching to histamine receptors.- Clinical effects :...
may be used to counteract the histamine reaction to opioids, resulting in decreased itchy feeling and increased drug effect duration. One should be very careful with the amount of Benadryl as it can increase the risk of overdose if the pods are especially strong. A non-drowsy anti-histamine can work just as well to combat itching. 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 quinine
Quinine
Quinine is a natural white crystalline alkaloid having antipyretic , antimalarial, analgesic , anti-inflammatory properties and a bitter taste. It is a stereoisomer of quinidine which, unlike quinine, is an anti-arrhythmic...
, codeine
Codeine
Codeine or 3-methylmorphine is an opiate used for its analgesic, antitussive, and antidiarrheal properties...
alone, or clonidine
Clonidine
Clonidine is a sympatholytic medication used to treat medical conditions, such as high blood pressure, some pain conditions, ADHD and anxiety/panic disorder...
for this purpose because of the presence of papaverine
Papaverine
Papaverine is an opium alkaloid antispasmodic drug, used primarily in the treatment of visceral spasm, vasospasm , and occasionally in the treatment of erectile dysfunction...
, 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 drowsiness, mild stomach ache, lethargy, itchiness, slowed breathing and nauseaNausea
Nausea , is a sensation of unease and discomfort in the upper stomach with an involuntary urge to vomit. It often, but not always, precedes vomiting...
. Nausea can be attributed to the presence of noscapine
Noscapine
Noscapine 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 respiratory arrest
Respiratory arrest
Respiratory arrest is the cessation of breathing. It is a medical emergency and it usually is related to or coincides with a cardiac arrest. Causes include opiate overdose, head injury, anaesthesia, tetanus, or drowning...
or inhalation of vomit. Constipation often results from prolonged use (as with any opiate).
Additionally, frequent use results in tolerance and dependence. Chemical dependency
Physical dependence
Physical 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...
builds in relation to the frequency of use, dose used, age, gender, weight, and medical condition. Once chemical dependency has developed, abrupt cessation of use will cause withdrawal
Withdrawal
Withdrawal 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 alcohol...
; symptoms include leg and abdominal cramps, mydriasis
Mydriasis
Mydriasis is a dilation of the pupil due to disease, trauma or the use of drugs. Normally, the pupil dilates in the dark and constricts in the light to respectively improve vividity at night and to protect the retina from sunlight damage during the day...
, vomiting
Vomiting
Vomiting is the forceful expulsion of the contents of one's stomach through the mouth and sometimes the nose...
, diarrhoea, headache
Headache
A headache or cephalalgia is pain anywhere in the region of the head or neck. It can be a symptom of a number of different conditions of the head and neck. The brain tissue itself is not sensitive to pain because it lacks pain receptors. Rather, the pain is caused by disturbance of the...
, insomnia
Insomnia
Insomnia is most often defined by an individual's report of sleeping difficulties. While the term is sometimes used in sleep literature to describe a disorder demonstrated by polysomnographic evidence of disturbed sleep, insomnia is often defined as a positive response to either of two questions:...
, cravings and anxiety
Anxiety
Anxiety is a psychological and physiological state characterized by somatic, emotional, cognitive, and behavioral components. The root meaning of the word anxiety is 'to vex or trouble'; in either presence or absence of psychological stress, anxiety can create feelings of fear, worry, uneasiness,...
. 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 opioid
Opioid
An opioid is a psychoactive chemical that works by binding to opioid receptors, which are found principally in the central and peripheral nervous system and the gastrointestinal tract...
.
Overdose
In 2003, a case of fatal overdose of poppy seed tea was 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
ABC News is the news gathering and broadcasting division of American broadcast television network ABC, a subsidiary of The Walt Disney Company...
reported on the incident in January 2008.
External links
- Poppy Tea FAQ
- http://www.forensics.edu.au/sections.php?op=viewarticle&artid=20Poppy seed contents include oleamideOleamideOleamide is an amide of the fatty acid oleic acid. It is an endogenous substance: it occurs naturally in the body of animals. It accumulates in the cerebrospinal fluid during sleep deprivation and induces sleep in animals...
, a hypnotic amide agent] - Poppy Seed Tea Can Kill
- "Opium Made Easy: One gardener's encounter with the war on drugs" by Michael Pollan in Harper's Magazine, April 1, 1997