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The poppy, this delicate flower with its bright red color, has multiple benefits regarding stress and improving sleep .
In this article, we present the origins of the poppy, its scientific composition, its beneficial effects on the body, the different methods to benefit from it and the precautions to take when using it.
What is the Poppy?
The Poppy, Papaver Rhoeas L, is a perennial flowering herbaceous plant belonging to the Poppy family: Papaveraceae. Its stems, petals and leaves contain powerful natural, non-opiate active ingredients.
Beyond its aesthetic appeal, the poppy has historically been used for medicinal purposes in many cultures. The ancient Greeks, Romans, and Egyptians exploited its sedative and anti-inflammatory properties.
Even today, the poppy is valued mainly for its soothing benefits on the nervous system and its support for the quality of sleep .
Poppy is rich in natural active ingredients
The chemical composition of the poppy reveals a wealth of bioactive compounds, which are responsible for its health benefits. The three main ones are:
- Alkaloids
- Flavonoids
- Mucilages
Alkaloids play a prominent role, including rhoeadine and rhoeine. These alkaloids are known for their sedative and analgesic properties , acting on the central nervous system to induce a state of relaxation and relieve pain.
Flavonoids are also abundant in poppies and act as protective antioxidants for the body. They neutralize free radicals and thus reduce oxidative stress.
Poppy also contains mucilages, viscous substances that provide softening and emollient properties.
The benefits of poppy on stress, anxiety and sleep
The benefits of poppy stem from its composition rich in alkaloids, flavonoids and mucilages.
Alkaloids induce a state of relaxation and relieve pain thanks to their sedative and analgesic properties. This calming action makes them a natural option for reducing stress and improving sleep quality .
The flavonoids found in poppies are powerful antioxidants, protecting the body's cells from damage caused by free radicals. By neutralizing these free radicals, flavonoids help prevent various chronic diseases and limit cellular aging. Their protective action on the cardiovascular system, the immune system, and inflammatory processes makes them valuable allies for maintaining overall health.
Finally, the mucilages give the poppy softening and emollient properties, beneficial for the respiratory and digestive tracts.
It can therefore be used to treat sore throats and gastrointestinal disorders.
How to take a Poppy cure?
There are several ways to benefit from the properties of poppy.
Poppy petal infusion is one of the most traditional methods. To make it, simply steep a few poppy petals in hot water for a few minutes, then strain and consume this soothing infusion before bedtime.
However, not all flavonoids and alkaloids are water-soluble. Therefore, infusion does not extract all of the plant's active ingredients. Slightly acidifying the water (with lemon juice, for example) slightly improves the effectiveness of this extraction.
Poppy extracts used in dietary supplements are generally obtained using more efficient extraction methods and organic solvents. This allows for a spectrum of active ingredients that is more representative of the plant's totality and greater effectiveness.
Precautions and contraindications for the use of poppy
Poppy is authorized for general use as a food supplement, with the normal rules of respecting dosage and use advice.
However, certain common sense precautions are necessary, given its sedative properties.
Pregnant or breastfeeding women, as well as people taking sedative medications or suffering from liver disorders, should consult a health professional before using poppy products.
A poppy-based sleep supplement
At Argalys, we have developed a unique formula, specially designed to relax you and help you sleep more easily.
Our sleep supplement contains Melatonin , the sleep hormone, concentrated poppy extracts and Honey.
This unique combination of 3 active ingredients known for their benefits on sleep and stress guarantees great effectiveness from the first day of taking it.
The effect of Argalys Spray is rapid thanks to sublingual absorption: in around twenty minutes!
Bibliography
- Supercritical Fluid Extraction of Flavonoids from Pluchea indica (L.) Less. and Its Antioxidant Activity - Peramaiyan Rajendran, et al.
- Health Benefits of Moringa oleifera: An Overview of the Medical Evidence - Melissa M. Murray, et al.
- List A of medicinal plants used traditionally - French National Agency for the Safety of Medicines and Health Products (ANSM), January 2016
