Omnia SanaCommon names in 22 European languages →
The complete database record: 1 documented constituent, 3 pharmacological actions, 7 traditional / indicated uses, with 15 cited sources.
Botanical Description
Herbaceous perennial (often grown as an annual) with delicate, finely divided, blue-green feathery foliage. Solitary, cup-shaped, four-petalled flowers in vivid orange to yellow arise on long stalks, opening in full sun and closing at night or in dull weather, followed by a long, slender, ridged seed capsule that splits explosively when ripe.[7]
Habitat & Distribution
Native to open grassland, coastal scrub and disturbed ground of California and neighbouring states; widely cultivated and naturalised elsewhere as a garden ornamental.[7]
Harvesting
The flowering aerial parts are cut in summer while in flower, and dried in a warm, shaded, airy place.[7]
Key Constituents
Pharmacological Actions
Anxiolytic for anxiety and nervous tension - also supported by a double-blind RCT of a fixed California poppy + hawthorn (Crataegus) + magnesium combination in mild-to-moderate anxiety
Traditional & Indicated Uses
Anxiolytic for anxiety and nervous tension - also supported by a double-blind RCT of a fixed California poppy + hawthorn (Crataegus) + magnesium combination in mild-to-moderate anxiety
Mild sedative / sleep support for insomnia (positive allosteric modulation of GABA-A receptors)
more plants for insomnia / sleeplessness →detailed sources →
Anxiolytic for anxiety and nervous tension - also supported by a double-blind RCT of a fixed California poppy + hawthorn (Crataegus) + magnesium combination in mild-to-moderate anxiety
Mild analgesic (traditional use for pain)
inferred from anxiolytic action
Traditional Use & History
California poppy has a Native American traditional reputation as a mild calming and pain-relieving remedy, used for insomnia, nervous tension and mild pain; unlike the related opium poppy it is non-addictive and its calming effects are now attributed to GABA-A receptor modulation, supporting its traditional anxiolytic and sedative use.[7]
Preparations
Dried flowering herb infused in hot water as a traditional calming, sleep-supporting tea.
Alcoholic extract of the dried flowering herb; note that alcoholic extracts (unlike the water-based tea) can affect drug-metabolising liver enzymes.
Concentrated extract, sometimes combined with hawthorn and magnesium, studied in a clinical trial for mild-to-moderate anxiety.
Dosage
The EU herbal monograph gives a single dose of 480-600 mg of the powdered herb and a daily dose of 960-1500 mg, in adults and elderly; for sleep, one single dose with dinner and another 30-60 minutes before bedtime. Not recommended under 18 years; consult a practitioner if symptoms persist beyond 2 weeks. Educational reference only, not a prescription.
Health Canada's NNHPD monograph gives 0.2-3 g of dried flowering herb top per day for adults 18 years and older, with infusion among the accepted methods of preparation. The EU herbal monograph covers the powdered herbal substance only and gives no infusion posology. Educational reference only, not a prescription.
Safety, Cautions & Contraindications
Has sedative activity: it can add to the effects of alcohol, sedatives and sleep medicines, so avoid combining and do not use before driving.
Alcoholic (ethanol) extracts inhibit or induce several cytochrome P450 enzymes (CYP3A4, 2C9, 2C19, 2D6) and activate the pregnane X receptor, so there is a risk of herb-drug interactions; the water-based tea appears safer in this respect. Avoid in pregnancy and breastfeeding.
Herb-Drug Interactions
Harvest Readiness
[10]
External Identifiers
References & Sources
- Rolland, A., Fleurentin, J., Lanhers, M.C., Younos, C. et al (1991) 'Behavioural effects of the American traditional plant Eschscholzia californica: sedative and anxiolytic properties', Planta Medica, 57(3), pp. 212-216. doi:10.1055/s-2006-960076 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.1055/s-2006-960076 - Rolland, A., Fleurentin, J., Lanhers, M.C., Misslin, R. and Mortier, F (2001) 'Neurophysiological effects of an extract of Eschscholzia californica Cham. (Papaveraceae)', Phytotherapy Research, 15(5), pp. 377-381. doi:10.1002/ptr.884 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.1002/ptr.884 - Kalyniukova, A., Ahmed, S., Ak, G., Saka, E. et al (2025) 'Comprehensive Metabolomic Profiling and Biological Activity Analysis of Eschscholzia californica Extracts Using LC-ESI-QTOF-MS', Food Science & Nutrition, 13(9), pp. e70885. doi:10.1002/fsn3.70885 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.1002/fsn3.70885 - Gafner, S., Dietz, B.M., McPhail, K.L., Scott, I.M., Glinski, J.A., Russell, F.E., McCollom, M.M., Budzinski, J.W., Foster, B.C., Bergeron, C., Rhyu, M.R. and Bolton, J.L (2006) 'Alkaloids from Eschscholzia californica and their capacity to inhibit binding of [3H]8-hydroxy-2-(di-N-propylamino)tetralin to 5-HT1A receptors in vitro', Journal of Natural Products, 69(3), pp. 432-435. doi:10.1021/np058114h Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.1021/np058114h - Cahlikova, L., Macakova, K., Kunes, J., Kurfurst, M., Opletal, L., Cvacka, J., Chlebek, J. and Blunden, G (2010) 'Acetylcholinesterase and butyrylcholinesterase inhibitory compounds from Eschscholzia californica (Papaveraceae)', Natural Product Communications, 5(7), pp. 1035-1038. doi:10.1177/1934578×1000500710 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.1177/1934578×1000500710 - Singh, S., Jain, L., Pandey, M.B., Singh, U.P. and Pandey, V.B (2009) 'Antifungal activity of the alkaloids from Eschscholzia californica', Folia Microbiologica, 54(3), pp. 204-206. doi:10.1007/s12223-009-0032-7 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.1007/s12223-009-0032-7 - Fedurco, M., Gregorova, J., Sebrlova, K., Kantorova, J., Pes, O., Baur, R., Sigel, E. and Taborska, E (2015) 'Modulatory Effects of Eschscholzia californica Alkaloids on Recombinant GABAA Receptors', Biochemistry Research International. doi:10.1155/2015/617620 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.1155/2015/617620 - Cahlikova, L., Kucera, R., Hostalkova, A., Klimes, J. and Opletal, L (2012) 'Identification of pavinane alkaloids in the genera Argemone and Eschscholzia by GC-MS', Natural Product Communications, 7(10), pp. 1279-1281. doi:10.1177/1934578×1200701008 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.1177/1934578×1200701008 - Manda, V.K., Ibrahim, M.A., Dale, O.R., Kumarihamy, M., Cutler, S.J., Khan, I.A., Walker, L.A., Muhammad, I. and Khan, S.I (2016) 'Modulation of CYPs, P-gp, and PXR by Eschscholzia californica (California Poppy) and Its Alkaloids', Planta Medica. doi:10.1055/s-0042-103689 Traditional / reference
https://doi.org/10.1055/s-0042-103689 - Plants For A Future 'Eschscholzia californica (Californian Poppy)'. Available at: https://pfaf.org/user/Plant.aspx?LatinName=Eschscholzia+californica Traditional / reference
https://pfaf.org/user/Plant.aspx?LatinName=Eschscholzia+californica - Hanus, M., Lafon, J. and Mathieu, M (2004) 'Double-blind, randomised, placebo-controlled study to evaluate the efficacy and safety of a fixed combination containing two plant extracts (Crataegus oxyacantha and Eschscholtzia californica) and magnesium in mild-to-moderate anxiety disorders', Current Medical Research and Opinion, 20(1), pp. 63--71. doi:10.1185/030079903125002603 Randomized trial
https://doi.org/10.1185/030079903125002603 - European Medicines Agency (HMPC) (2015) 'European Union herbal monograph on Eschscholzia californica Cham., herba'. Available at: https://www.ema.europa.eu/en/documents/herbal-monograph/final-european-union-herbal-monograph-eschscholzia-californica-cham-herba_en.pdf Traditional / reference
https://www.ema.europa.eu/en/documents/herbal-monograph/final-european-union-herbal-monograph-eschscholzia-californica-cham-herba_en.pdf - Health Canada, Natural and Non-prescription Health Products Directorate (2026) 'Natural Health Product Monograph: California Poppy - Eschscholzia californica'. Available at: https://webprod.hc-sc.gc.ca/nhpid-bdipsn/dbImages/mono_california-poppy_english.pdf Traditional / reference
https://webprod.hc-sc.gc.ca/nhpid-bdipsn/dbImages/mono_california-poppy_english.pdf - Ghasemzadeh Rahbardar, M. and Hosseinzadeh, H (2024) 'Therapeutic potential of hypnotic herbal medicines: A comprehensive review', Phytotherapy Research, 38(6), pp. 3037-3059. doi:10.1002/ptr.8201 Meta-analysis / review
https://doi.org/10.1002/ptr.8201 - Block, K.I., Gyllenhaal, C. and Mead, M.N (2004) 'Safety and efficacy of herbal sedatives in cancer care', Integrative Cancer Therapies, 3(2), pp. 128-148. doi:10.1177/1534735404265003 Meta-analysis / review
https://doi.org/10.1177/1534735404265003
Selected studies & references
All 12 studies in the Knowledge Finder →
This profile is assembled automatically from the Omnia Sana plant database, which we curate by hand. How this site is built.