Medicinal uses of the Poppy

Poppies have long been used to treat many illnesses and ailments dating back records show as far as 4000 BC and some of the most famous Physicians of all time have left written record of the use of opium. These physicians and writers where men like Homer, Hyppocrates, and Decorides, who found the use of the opium poppy of extreme importance. They used it in helping patients that had pain, that were sleepless and as a hypnotic during surgeries.

They did not realize the danger of addiction in using opium based medicines, what was realized was how helpful opium was in the care of patients. This continued through the centuries and even during the Victorian era the use of tonics and tinctures were in use by many people as a sleeping aid, as headache cure and even for the discomfort of teething babies.

The use of laudanum was quite popular during the 1800’s for every type of ailment from headaches to the common cold and it was used especially in the treatment of tuberculosis. For treating tuberculosis it was felt the use of laudanum it would help to get rid of pallid skin as well as some of the symptoms.

Even today there are several types of opiate based medications that are regularly prescribed for patients that are suffering from different types of pain. Although it's addictive properties are known, it is still one of the medications that is felt to be the proper type of medication to relieve pain.