California Poppy: half-life, strengths and approval status

What is california poppy?

California poppy (Eschscholzia californica) is a wildflower whose dried above-ground parts are taken by mouth, usually as tablets or in combination products, for stress and sleep. It is not the opium poppy.

Also known as: Eschscholzia californica, Eschscholtzia, California poppy herb.

Amounts studied

The trials below tested combination products, not California poppy alone, so we do not list one amount.

Approval status and how it is used

It is sold in the US as a dietary supplement. Under the 1994 dietary supplement law (DSHEA), FDA does not approve dietary supplements before they are marketed, and the maker, not FDA, is responsible for safety and labeling. In the EU, EMA concluded that California poppy can be used to relieve mild symptoms of mental stress and to aid sleep, in adults only. EMA bases this on long-standing ("traditional") use: there is not enough evidence from clinical trials, but the effect is plausible and the herb has been used safely this way for at least 30 years, including at least 15 years in the EU. EMA also noted a few studies, including one in people with sleep problems, that suggested a positive effect on sleep (EMA).

What studies show: we found no large trials of California poppy on its own. In 264 people with mild-to-moderate anxiety, a product combining hawthorn, California poppy and magnesium (Sympathyl) for 3 months reduced anxiety scores more than placebo (Hanus 2004). In an observational study without a placebo group, a California poppy and valerian product for 4 weeks was followed by about a 30% drop in insomnia scores (Abdellah 2020). Because both tested combinations, the effect of California poppy itself is not known.

Safety: at the time of EMA's assessment no side effects had been reported. In the combination trial, side effects were mostly mild digestive or mood complaints, at similar rates to placebo (Hanus 2004). The sources here do not describe drug interactions.

California poppy half-life and time to peak

• Half-lifeNot listed
• Time to peak (Tmax)Not listed

We could not find a single published half-life or time to peak for California poppy that applies to a supplement dose, so we do not list one. Plant extracts are mixtures of many compounds, so no single figure would describe them.

How to track california poppy in Dose Track

1. Add california poppy as a custom compound. Start typing its name and Dose Track fills in the details from its research library for you to check, and it sits next to everything else you take.
2. Log each dose when you take it so your history shows exactly what you took and when.
3. Set reminders on your own schedule, whether that is daily, weekly or every few days.
4. Your log is stored on your phone and no account is needed. Data only leaves it for features you choose, like AI answers and lab reading.

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Related compounds

Frequently asked questions

Sources

1. European Medicines Agency, HMPC. California poppy: summary for the public (EMA/HMPC/334023/2015).
2. Hanus M, Lafon J, Mathieu M. Double-blind, randomised, placebo-controlled study to evaluate the efficacy and safety of a fixed combination containing two plant extracts (Crataegus oxyacantha and Eschscholtzia californica) and magnesium in mild-to-moderate anxiety disorders. Curr Med Res Opin. 2004;20(1):63-71.
3. Abdellah SA, et al. A combination of Eschscholtzia californica Cham. and Valeriana officinalis L. extracts for adjustment insomnia: a prospective observational study. J Tradit Complement Med. 2020;10(2):116-123.
4. FDA. Questions and answers on dietary supplements.

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