Poppy is a plant and an herb.
- botanical information
- history
- part used
- astrological correspondences
- magick correspondences and uses
- health care
botanical information:
Botanical name: Papaver spp., especially Papaver somniferum
Common name: opium, poppy, poppy seed
Use the botanical name when ordering seeds (bulbs, etc.) or when looking up information in the library. Common names vary by nation, culture, and region, and sometimes the same common name is applied to different plants.
In modern times, Holland is the world’s leading producer of poppy seeds.
history:
History: Poppy seed was one of the ingredients mentioned in the Eber’s Papyrus. The Eber’s Papyrus (from between 1600 B.C.E. and 1550 B.C.E.), was discovered by German Egyptologist Georg Ebers in 1874 C.E. The Eber’s Papyrus is the oldest known complete medical textbook in existence. Most scholars believe that it is copy of a much earlier text, probably from around 3100 B.C.E. The Eber’s Papyrus includes information on surgery and internal medicine, including a list of more than 800 drugs.
Poppy was listed among many aromatic plants in a scroll of cuneiform from the great library at Nineveh. The library at Nineveh was established by King Ashurbanipal of Assyria (668-633 B.C.E.).
Poppies were commonly grown in ancient Egyptian temple gardens.
Christopher Columbus was sailing to find an alternate route for opium (not generic “spices” as you were taught in school). The Spanish Christians had just recently succeeded in killing huge numbers of Muslims and driving Islam out of Spain. Not surprisiningly this cut the Spaniards off from the Muslim/Arabic opium supply. The Queen of Spain paid for Columbus’ journey because sje experienced opium withdrawal.
part used:
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Part Used: Dried seed, whole or crushed. Information courtesy of Mountain Rose Herbs |
astrological correspondences:
Astrological planet: Moon 
magickal correspondences and uses:
Month: Poppy is associated with August.
Perfumes: White poppy perfume corresponds with monday and is a good perfume for mondays.
Incense: Black poppy seed incense corresponds with saturday and is a good incense to burn on saturdays.
Incense: Poppy incense or seed is appropriate for burning in love spells, such as the Aphrodite New Moon love spell, Hecate black candle love spell, or Isis Full Moon love spell.
See incense sticks below.
Lunar spells: Poppy (as an herb) may be used in as an ingredient or substitute for magick spells and formulas related to lunar matters (compassion, dreams, family, fertility, gardening, healing, love, peace, promoting sleep, prophecy, prophetic (or psychic) dreams), psychic awareness, sleep, and spirituality). Be careful about substitutions for preparations that will be ingested or come in contact with the skin. These substitutions do not apply to medical uses. See the article on the Moon for a list of herbal substitutes for poppy.
Love spells: Poppy flowers are appropriate for use in love spells, such as the Aphrodite New Moon love spell.
Magickal substitutions: Rosemary usually may be safely substituted for any herb in magick spells and rituals. Roses may safely be substituted for any flower.
health care uses:
Health Notice: Attempting to be an amateur doctor is potentially dangerous to your health. This web page is not professional medical advice. Nothing on this website should be considered as a substitute or replacement for professional medical advice. Persons should seek the advice of qualified health providers. Self-medication should not be used as a substitute for professional medical care. Please confirm all self-medication with your doctor or health care professional. See the article on healing for recommended healers.
traditional medicine:
Traditional Medicine: While many traditional practices have been scientifically verified, some are now known to be dangerous. Seek the advice of qualified health care providers.
Roman surgeons used an anathesia made from opium (morphine, numbing pain and limiting movement), henbane seeds (scopolamine, inducing sleep), and mandrake (slowing heart rate and deadened pain).
Traditional medicinal uses: Poppy was one of the ingredients mentioned in the Eber’s Papyrus. The Eber’s Papyrus is the oldest known complete medical textbook in existence. Most scholars believe that it is copy of a much earlier text, probably from around 3100 B.C.E. Poppy was listed among many aromatic plants in a scroll of cuneiform from the great library at Nineveh. The library at Nineveh was established by King Ashurbanipal of Assyria (668-633 B.C.E.). Note that not all traditional medications are effective or even safe.
cautions and contraindications:
Cautions and contraindications: Opium is highly addictive
Some herbs may be poisonious under some conditions. Exercise appropriate care.
Wild gathering: Avoid wild gathering. Some plants are endangered species. Some plants can be toxic just by touch. Even experts can make deadly misidentifications of wild plants. Please grow your own herbs in your own goddess garden (or window boxes).
See also: herbs.
using 
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