Poppy seed oil also known as poppy oil is edible oil derived from poppy seeds of the poppy plant (Papaver somniferum).
The oil has culinary and pharmaceutical uses, as well as long established uses in the making of paints, varnishes, and soaps.
Poppy belongs to the Papaveraceae family and is a great choice for salad dressings. It has smooth, subtle flavours that also work well as a condiment. Poppy seeds have long been thought to have health benefits.
With their abundance of carbohydrates and calcium the oil is rich in linoleic acid (an important omega-6 fatty acid), which researchers say offers protection against heart disease and heart attacks.
It is also rich in oleic acid; an ingredient that researchers say can prevent breast cancer.
Poppy seeds have been cultivated for over 3,000 years and are grown in various European nations and in countries like Australia, India and Turkey.
Poppy seed oil is useful in treating carcinoma and is also used to enhance the flavour of a variety of foods and is also useful as massage oil.
Some studies have also shown that poppy seed oil is useful in fertility.
Women who have had their uterus bathed with poppy seed oil have become pregnant later.
It is also used as a contrast medium for an x-ray procedure called hysterosalpingography (HSG) which is used to evaluate fertility in women.
Poppy seed oil is also used as a carrier for iodine in paediatric medicine.
For sleeplessness, you could take one teaspoon of poppy seed oil, before going to bed.
An alternative way of consuming poppy seeds, for insomnia, is to take 2 teaspoons of extracted milk of the poppy seeds, mixed with sugar.
This should also be consumed at bedtime. Poppy seeds have also been known to provide relief from whooping cough symptoms and asthma.
It is often used for the treatment of stomach related health conditions like diarrhoea, and other similar conditions.
Due to its addictive properties, cultivators today have increasingly begun producing poppy seeds more suited for everyday use.