Corn poppy is one of the slightly poisonous plants and was once considered a remedy. It was used against coughs and hoarseness, but also to calm small children or sleep disorders. Today you can find the red flowers in tea blends.
Corn poppies are primarily poisonous to animals, but only when eaten
In principle, all parts of the poppy are slightly poisonous, but especially the unripe seed pods and the milky juice in the stems, less so the flowers and leaves. Corn poppy contains various alkaloids, such as rhoeadine, which is said to have an antispasmodic effect.
Large amounts of corn poppy can be dangerous not only for humans, but also for herbivorous animals such as ruminants, pigs or horses. Make sure it doesn't grow in the pasture.
Symptoms of poisoning in poppies:
- nausea
- Vomit
- stomach pain
- paleness
- fatigue
- restlessness
- cramps
- in severe cases, epilepsy-like convulsions and loss of consciousness
tips and tricks
In small amounts, poppies do practically no harm. Nevertheless, keep herbivorous animals and small children away from consumption.