BOTANICAL NAME: Papaver somniferum
FAMILY: Papaveraceae
CLASSICAL CLASSIFICATION:
Bhavaprakasha: Haritkyadi varga
ENGLISH NAME: Opium
COMMON NAME:
Sanskrit: Suksmabeeja, Tilabehda, Khastila.
Hindi: Postha
Kannada: Gasagase
Bengali: Postodheri
REFERENCE: BHAVAPRAKASH SAMHITA with link e Nighantu:
https://niimh.nic.in/ebooks/e-Nighantu/bhavaprakashanighantu/?mod=read
उक्तं खसफलक्षीरमाफूकमहिफेनकम् |
आफूकं शोषणं ग्राहि श्लेष्मघ्नं वातपित्तलम् |
तथा खसफलोद्भूतवल्कलप्रायमित्यपि ||२०८||
HABITAT: Native range of this annual herb is eastern Mediterranean but it is cultivated in Asia, Europe and China. United Kingdom is cultivating this plant for medicinal purpose.
BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION:
A annual usually glaucus quite glabrous herb whose leaves are oblong, lobed, and dentate. Its flowers are white, sometimes purple or scarlet. Capsule stalked about 2.5cmin diameter egg shaped glabrous, stigmatic rays 5to12 without pores under stigma. Seeds are white or black in color. Fruiting and flowering period is Farming season.
AYURVEDIC CHARACTERISTICS:
| RASA | GUNA | VEERYA | VIPKA | PRABHAVA | DOSHGHNTA |
| Tikta, kashaya. | Sukshma, Ruksha | Usna | Katu | – | Kaphvatasmaka, pittaprakopka. |
AYURVEDIC ENERGETICS:
| TASTE | PROPERTY | POTENCY | POST DIGESTION EFFECT | ACTION | DOSHA ACTION |
| Pungent, Astringent | Minuteness, Dry | Hot | Pungent | – | Kapha vata pacifying, Increases pitta |
MAJOR CHEMICAL CONSTITUENTS: Narcotine, codeine, morphine or alkaloid
THERAPEUTIC USES:
- Tumor: Root decoction is mainly preferred
- Insomnia: Sweet liquid dish is given
- Cancer: Leaves and seeds powder is used
- Dandruff: Seed paste is used as external application
INDICATIONS:
Atisara Diarrhea, Sannipata Jwara Chronic fever, Shodhana Cleanser
USEFUL PART: Seed, exudate from fruit, Unripe capsule
DOSAGE: 10-15mg
AYURVEDIC FORMULATION:
1. Ahiphenasava
2. Sambunatha rasa
3. Karpura rasa