California poppy
Eschscholzia californica
Herbs & Roots. Native American and Western & European.
Also called Golden poppy, Cup of gold
Spanish: Amapola de California
Adds to sedationA golden wildflower used as a calming tea or tincture for sleep and nervous tension.
Did you know? California poppy became the state flower of California in 1903, and its flowers close at night and in heavy clouds.
What it may help, and how strong the proof is
- Sleep. Used for trouble falling asleep. Traditional use, with few human trials.Traditional proof
- Stress & anxiety. Used for anxiety and nerves. Traditional, with little human testing.Traditional proof
Parts of the body
Traditional use
Native peoples used the plant for pain and sleep. Western herbalists later used it as a mild sedative.
How it is classified
How people take it
Taken as tea, tincture, or capsule. Products vary widely, and no tested dose is standard.
Tea, tincture and capsule.
Where to get it
Native to western North America and grown as a garden flower. Dried flowers, tea, and extracts are sold by herb shops.
Be careful
The plant contains mild sedative compounds called alkaloids. Do not combine it with sedatives, sleep aids, or alcohol, since drowsiness can add up. Avoid it in pregnancy, in children, and before surgery or driving.
Avoid if: pregnancy; children under 12; before surgery.
Mixing with other things
- Works well together
Both are common sleep teas.
- Works well together
Often blended with passionflower for sleep and anxiety.
- Use cautionSleep or anxiety medicine (Ambien, Xanax, Ativan)
Mild sedation may add to sleep drugs and other calming medicines.
- Use cautionAlcohol (beer, wine, spirits)
Alcohol and this herb both cause drowsiness, so avoid combining them.
Adds up with others that can make you drowsy: , , , , , , , , , , , , , and 14 more.
The honest take
California poppy is pretty and widely sold as a sleep herb, but human research is thin. Its calming effect is mild and has not been proven strong. Keep use short and skip it with other sedatives.