Poppy Seeds: A Remedy or the Reaper?

Lilliana Diaz
Apr 15
3 min read

Poppy seeds are known to most as simply a seed. Sure they can be (and mainly are) used as a remedy for promoting digestion, improving skin/heart health, and enhancing fertility. Or perhaps you know these seeds as add on’s to a morning bagel, or even as a tea. Although unwashed poppy seeds without the correct processing done to safely eat them may be detrimental. And risks overdosage of opioids, long term, and short term health issues.

Background:

Poppy seeds start from a poppy plant called Papaver somniferum. Papaver somniferum is a plant that is known to produce numerous chemicals, otherwise known as alkaloids. Some alkaloids, such as morphine and codeine, had and continue to be used medically across history as pain relievers and more. Whilst the poppy seeds that you would see in places such as the grocery store, cafe’s, and restaurants are most likely processed in order for safe consumption, poorly processed seeds may contain enough opiates to intoxicate someone.

Uses/effects:

Poppy seeds alone contain little-to-no opiates, so it is not necessarily rejecting the fact that technically, it is possible to get high off of them. Although it certainly is not safe to do so. And whilst someone is able to expand onto other parts of the poppy plants such as the seed pods to refine them into substances to get high off of. This would still be trifling and unpleasant for someone to eat enough straight poppy seeds.

Nevertheless, creating something such as poppy seed tea by having the seeds in hot or boiling water, may produce a more concentrated effect. Poppy seed tea is a way for individuals to feel a natural high sense of mind, or to relieve anxiety. Although drinking larger amounts of poppy seed tea can possibly become deadly.

Events:

From a 2019 report, there had been a case that described how a 42-year-old male who learned he could make poppy seed tea by purchasing them online. Eventually, he bought and needed more and more poppy seed tea on a daily basis. And one day it reached a point where he no longer could manage his personal life, nor business. Unfortunately, the patient required buprenorphine and naloxone in order to treat opioid withdrawal.

Additionally, in the same case study there was a 43-year-old woman who migrated from heroin to poppy seed tea 10 years prior and consumed 5-6kg of poppy seed tea weekly. Mentioning how each time she attempted to stop, she experienced withdrawal symptoms and eventually started on buprenorphine maintenance. Along with an 82-year-old widow who had a 55-year history of opium usage, who consumed 1-21 of tea from dried poppy pods on a daily basis. Unfortunately, whilst poppy seeds are difficult to get an opioid addiction, it is not impossible, and many, including the last two patients, face a problem requiring buprenorphine and/or naloxone to treat the withdrawal effects.

Symptoms of poisoning:

For individuals who are drinking poppy seed tea, it is vital to understand and know the symptoms of an overdosage. Symptoms such as:

Slow, irregular breathing.
Slow heartbeat.
Discolored edges around the mouth.
Discolored fingernails.
Discolored skin that's cool to the touch.
Small pupils.
Sleepiness.
Confusion.

If anything seems unusual and you or someone suspects that they may have overdosed, call emergency medical services immediately. Poisoning symptoms usually happen within a span of four hours. If an individual feels symptoms such as, seek urgent medical assistance: