The opium poppy is botanically known as being in the Papaver somniferum family and is grown in closely regulated fields, because of the properties that are found in this plant. The alkaloids that are contained in the opium poppy are used to make several types of medications, having 10 times the amount of alkaloids as other species of poppies.

The alkaloids are extracted from the pod by placing vertical slices and letting the sap like substance appear, after it has dried several days it is taken off the pod and new slices are placed in this outer coating of the pod of the sap to be emitted a second time.

The seeds from this poppy are protected by and inner skin from the alkaloids, they are taken out of the pod at a later time and can be used in baked goods like poppy seed rolls and bread. They contain a variety of vitamins, minerals and omega fatty acids like, linolic acid, and omega 6 fatty acid. There is also oil made from the seeds that is used in foods and a second oil taken from the seeds is used for making soaps, creams and other products.