Ahiphene

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Papaver somniferum (Papaveraceae)

Sanskrit Names: Ahiphene
English Name: Opium poppy
Hindi: aphim, afin, afyun, kahs-khasa, kas-kas, kashkash, khash-khash-ka-per, pest, post, sufeed srah, post; khash-khash-ka-per, khash-khash-ke-bonde, khash-khash, khash--khash-ke-khash, afim, afeem, amal, posts, doda
Botanical Name: Papaver somniferum L.
Synonyms: Sujshme Beeja (smallest seeds) Sukshma Tandula
Family: Papaveraceae

Description

This species is native to Mediterranean region, but foind globally today.vDistributed in South East Europe and West Asia. .White, yellow and black varieties. Based on their utility and karma they are of 4 types. The actions can be Jarana, Marana (to kill someone), Dharana (holding in the body), Sarana (Anuloma). Quite glabourous herb. Leaves: oblong. Flowers: white sometimes purple. egg shaped globes. Flowering and fruiting time are the farming seasons. Seeds: white or black. Planting takes place just before the rains.

Principle Constituents

Classical Categories (Gana)

This herb belongs to the following classical groups:

1. Caraka Ganas: None
2. Susruta Ganas: None

Energetics

1. Rasa (taste): Tikta (bitter), Kashaya (astringent)
2. Guna (quality): Sukshma (fineness), Ruksha (dry)
3. Virya (energy): Ushna (heating)
4. Vipaka (post digestive effect): Katu (pungent)
5. Prabhava (Special quality): Madaka (intoxicating)
6. Dosha Effect: KV- P+
7. Srotas (channels): Annavaha, Manovaha, Sukravaha

Chemical Constituents

1. Alkaloids such as Morphine, Codeine, Cotaline, Narcotine.
2. Seeds contain a sweet, fixed, yellowish and colourless oil.
3. Opium is a major source of morphine and various other alkaloids.

Ayurveda Actions

• Akshepahara - anti convulsant
• Dhatu shoshaka - can lead to 7 tissue depletion
• Jwaraghna - anti pyretic
• Mada kari - intoxicating
• Nidrajana - sedative
• Rakta stambhaka - stops bleeding
• Shulaprashamana - pacifies pain
• Shukra stambhaka - Effective control of Ejaculation
• Shwasa kasahara - reduces asthma/cough
• Swedajana - promotes sweating
• Vedana sthapana - pain killer

Important Actions

It is one of the most valuable drugs if properly used and the most dangerous if misused. It is the best drug to relieve pain but should never be given when the cause of pain is not known and when the pain could be relieved by fomentation, counter irritation, expurgation, and other processions. Also, it should never be given when the patient is sleeping.

If there is indigestion, it is better to allow proper digestion to take place rather than to check the active natural processes. Therefore in the early stages of indigestion or diarrhoea it is contra-indicated. But in late stages when motion is yellow and the mala shows no signs of indigestion, opium is a very valuable drug to give rest to the intestines and to effect a cure in certain stages of diarrhoea, dysentery and cholera. Improper use or large doses help to poison the system not only by its own poisonous effect but also by any retained, undigested faecal matter in the intestines and suppression or retention of urine. Another great danger in its use is that it lessens all tissue activity and all secretions except sweat are reduced. When stools and urine are stopped, the patient may be apparently feeling better but actually may be growing worse due to the accumulation of poisons in the system. It is therefore most dangerous to give opium when the kidneys , urinary system or liver are affected.

In pain due to nervous disease, its action is marvellous and sometimes permanent. In some diseases in which all other drugs failed altogether for months or years, a small dose of opium effected a radial cure; for example, one case of pain in the gastric region with irritation which lasted for years and another case with gnawing pain in the left shoulder-joint due to chronic rheumatism or gouty tendency which did not yield to any other treatment responded to a very small dose of opium and was permanently cured. In distressing cough or spasm in lung diseases its use may be advantageous.
In children, opium is given in the Northern Circars for almost all diseases. The success mostly depends upon the experience of the mother and on the hereditary habit. But, it should be strongly discouraged.

As an aphrodisiac, it is successfully used by some but it is difficult to estimate its value. In diabetes, its use is invariably harmful in the long run and the cases in which opium is found useful are more easily amenable to cure by having recourse to a natural diet rich in vegetables, to regulated physical exercises and mental rest. In cases of pain due to incurable diseases such as cancer, last stages of consumption etc., it is most valuable as alleviating the sufferings temporarily but should be used cautiously. As an external application, it is most useful in relieving pain and in inflammation in certain cases and is used as a liniment with oil and camphor or as a plaster with Gandhapheroja (a gum resin) – 10 to 30 grains to an ounce either of liniment or of plaster.

Indications

Vata vyadhi – vata disorders. Ama -toxins , Vibhandha – constipation, Kasa - cough, swasa, - asthma, Pratishyaya – common cold, Diabetes, Anemia

External use

Intake of high dose induces ojahakshaya and vatavriddhi and produces delirium. It is toxic, death may also occur. It is useful in kapha vata disorders.

Internal use

Circulatory system: Reduces heart rate, it increases the strength of the heart.
Digestive system: As it is ruksha and kashay, it reduces salivation, lowers appetite and acts as an astringent. Reduces pain, induces constipation.
Nervous System: Acts as an analgesic, sedative and anticonvulsant. It stimulates vomiting centers in the brain, vagus nerve and centers of contraction of pupils. Useful in abdominal colic, renal colic, sciatica and parshvashool. Effective in pain induced insomnia. An anticonvulsant, it is used in epilepsy, spasm. Parkinson's disease, dhanustambha (tetany) and in strychinine poisoning.
Respiratory system: Depressant of the respiratory system. Useful in cough caused by vata and kapha, whooping cough, pleuritis. rhinitis and asthma.
Reproductive system: Reduces all dhatus and impotency occurs.
Skin: Acts as a diaphoretic and is useful in shitajanya effects.
Urinary system: Causes retention of urine. Helps to reduce urine sugar in diabetes

Precautions

Is very strong poison

Contact with the skin may cause erythema, urticaria and itching. When orally consumed, symptoms commence within half an hour. With injections into blood stream 2 to 3 minutes.

It first stimulated then depresses and finally paralyses the nerve centres. The systems will manifest in the following three stages:

1) Stage of excitement: increased sense of well-being, mental activity, freedom from anxiety, flushing of face, tachycardia etc.

2) Stage of stupor: symptoms like headache, nausea, vomiting, send of weight in the limbs, giddiness, stupor, contacted pupils, cyanosis of lips etc.

3) Stage of Coma: deep coma, flaccid muscles, diminished reflexes, pin-point pupil, chyene-syokes breathing etc.

Fatal dose of opium 2g; morphine 0.2g and codeine 0.5g

(Sastry JLN 2005)

Parts Used

Parts used: Seeds, seed oil, unrip capsules, flowers and exudate from fruit.
Dosage: 3- tp 125 mh

Important Combinations

Ahiphenasava, Nidrodayavati, Karpoor rasa, Dugdhavarti

Research