California poppy

A gentle sleep-and-stress herb with more traditional than rigorous clinical backing.

A rough internal score reflecting quantity, quality, and consistency of human evidence. Not a clinical recommendation.

California poppy is commonly used in European sleep and calm formulas. Human data is limited, but preclinical work suggests mild anxiolytic and sedative activity.

• May reduce nervous tension
• Often supports sleep-onset formulas
• Less likely to feel heavy than stronger sedatives

Usually used as tea, tincture, or 300-1000 mg/day of extract equivalents in the evening.

• Drowsiness
• Dizziness
• Dry mouth

Can add to the effects of alcohol, benzodiazepines, or sleep medications. Avoid before driving until response is known.

A meaningful share of the literature uses multi-herb formulas, so the herb-specific effect is hard to isolate.

• Sleep45
• Anxiety35
• Stress35