opium poppy


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opium poppy

n.
An annual plant (Papaver somniferum) native to southwest Asia, having grayish-green leaves and variously colored flowers and cultivated for its edible seeds and as the principal source of opium.

opium poppy

Herbal medicine
An annual, the unripe seeds of which contain alkaloids, including morphine, codeine and papaverine. The poppy has been used for than 5000 years in cultural rituals for inducing euphoria and reducing anxiety and inhibitions; the alkaloids are analgesic, antispasmodic and antitussive, and have been used for pain, colic and asthmatic attacks. Ripe poppy seeds have virtually no alkaloids and are often used as condiments.
 
Toxicity
Opium can cause fatal respiratory paralysis.

opium

the air-dried milky exudation from unripe capsules of the opium poppy Papaver somniferum or its variety P. somniferum album. Opium contains some 25 alkaloids, the most important being morphine (from which heroin is derived), narcotine, codeine, papaverine, thebaine and narceine; the alkaloids are used for their narcotic and analgesic effect. It is poisonous in large doses. Because it is highly addictive, opium production and cultivation of opium poppies is prohibited by most nations by international agreement, and its sale or possession for other than medical or veterinary uses is strictly prohibited by law.
camphorated tincture of opium
see paregoric.
opium poppy
see papaversomniferum.
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References in periodicals archive ?
The Golden Triangle, located at the convergence of the borders of Thailand, Laos and Myanmar, is notorious for drug trafficking and opium poppy cultivation.
Opium cultivation in Laos declines by 45%: U.N
During the 2002/03-crop year, CBN began to estimate the actual acreage under licit opium poppy cultivation by using satellite imagery and then comparing it with exact field measurements.
India
The most significant decline over the past decade was observed in the Wa region, following the United Wa State Army's (UWSA) pledge to end opium poppy cultivation in its primary territory, UWSA Region 2.
Burma
During the past Iranian year (ended on March 20,) Iran has seized more than 1,000 tons of opium smuggled from Afghanistan, the largest producer of opium poppy in the world.
Police Seize Large Amounts of Illicit Drugs in Southern Iran
The majority of opium addicts still reside in households or villages that produce, or used to produce, opium poppy.
Laos
The Tokyo-based NPO Myanmar Substitutionary Medicinal Plant Project (MSMP Project) said growing marketable medicinal plants could ultimately lead to eradicating opium poppy cultivation in the mountainous areas of Myanmar known for its illegal opium production.
Medicinal plants seen as opium poppy substitute in Myanmar
Burma continued to cut opium poppy cultivation this year, but remains vulnerable to periodic spikes in opium production.
Burma
official expressed satisfaction Wednesday with measures taken by the Taliban leadership in Afghanistan to eliminate opium poppy cultivation and called for concerted effort by the international community to meet socioeconomic fallout in poppy growing areas.
U.N. official happy with Taliban drug enforcement
Pakistan's anti-narcotics chief said Friday Afghanistan's Taliban badly needs commitment and support from the international community to launch a drive against opium poppy cultivation, which is on the rise in Afghanistan.
Afghanistan ready to reap bumper opium crop
Nong Hoi, the Hmong village, used to be a prime area of opium poppy cultivation more than 20 years ago but it is now a ''drug-free'' area since King Bhumibol initiated the substitution of vegetables, fruits, and flowers for the hill tribes.
Albright lauds Thailand, slams Myanmar over drugs
He also said that opium poppy production in the country will be very much reduced this year by destruction of poppy fields and also because of bad weather.
Myanmar holds drug-burning ceremony
During the past Iranian year (ended March 20,) Iran seized more than 1,000 tons of opium smuggled from Afghanistan, the largest producer of opium poppy in the world.
7 Iranian Policemen Killed in Clashes with Drug Traffickers

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