This Plant Is Dangerously Addictive
Animalogic・2 minutes read
Opium Poppy, a self-pollinating plant with origins in Turkey, Iraq, and Kuwait, produces latex to make drugs like heroin and morphine, while poppy seeds were discovered to contain opioids leading to false positive drug tests in the late 70s. Its alkaloids, morphine, and codeine, are used for pain relief, and poppy seeds are also employed in a medical test to detect abnormalities between the colon and bladder.
Insights
- Opium poppy, also known as Papaver Somniferum, is a plant that produces latex used for drugs like heroin and morphine, with its cultivation dating back to 6000 BCE in various regions.
- Poppy seeds, harvested from the opium poppy after the latex, were found to contain opioids in the late 70s, leading to potential false positive drug tests, while alkaloids from the plant are crucial for pain relief and medical tests detecting abnormal connections in the body.
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Recent questions
What is the origin of opium poppy?
Opium poppy cultivation dates back to 6000 BCE in Europe, the Mediterranean, and West Asia, with its believed origin in modern-day Turkey, Iraq, and Kuwait.
How are drugs like heroin and morphine derived?
Drugs like heroin and morphine are derived from the latex produced by the opium poppy, harvested from the seed capsule, with timing crucial for potency.
Are poppy seeds used in medical tests?
Yes, poppy seeds are utilized in a medical test to detect abnormal connections between the colon and bladder.
What is the family of opium poppy?
Opium poppy belongs to the Papaveraceae family.
When were poppy seeds discovered to contain opioids?
Poppy seeds were discovered to contain opioids in the late 70s, leading to false positive drug tests due to morphine contamination.
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Summary
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"Opium Poppy: History, Drugs, and Uses"
- Opium Poppy, also known as Papaver Somniferum, is a self-pollinating annual plant belonging to the Papaveraceae family, with beautiful blooms and tiny seeds dispersed by the wind.
- Evidence suggests opium poppy cultivation dates back to 6000 BCE in Europe, the Mediterranean, and West Asia, with its origin believed to be in modern-day Turkey, Iraq, and Kuwait.
- The opium poppy produces latex, which is the basis for drugs like heroin, morphine, and codeine, harvested from the seed capsule, with timing crucial for potency.
- Poppy seeds, harvested after the latex, were thought not to contain opioids until the late 70s when it was discovered they could lead to false positive drug tests due to morphine contamination.
- The opium poppy's alkaloids, including morphine and codeine, are used for pain relief in hospitals, while poppy seeds are also utilized in a medical test to detect abnormal connections between the colon and bladder.
