Ying Su Ke
StarPapaver somniferum L.
☯ TCM Properties
Astringes the Lungs and Stops Cough; Astringes the Intestines and Stops Diarrhea; Alleviates Pain; Secures the Lower Burner
Traditional Chinese Uses
Ying Su Ke (opium poppy husk) is a powerful astringent herb used to stop chronic cough, bind the intestines for long-standing diarrhea, and relieve severe pain. Due to its content of morphine and related alkaloids, it has significant narcotic potential and is classified as a controlled substance in most countries. It is only used for serious, unremitting conditions under close medical supervision, never for short-term acute illness, and with strict attention to dose and duration of treatment.
Western Herbalism Properties
Botanical Description
Papaver somniferum, the opium poppy, is an erect glaucous annual herb in the family Papaveraceae, cultivated worldwide and naturalized from its probable Mediterranean origin. Plants grow 60–150 cm tall with lobed, clasping bluish-green leaves and large solitary flowers 5–10 cm across in shades of white, pink, red, or purple, often with a dark basal blotch. The fruit is a subglobose to ovoid capsule 3–9 cm in diameter, glaucous-green ripening to brown, crowned by a persistent disc of 8–15 radiating stigmas; the capsule wall yields a milky latex containing morphine, codeine, thebaine, and other opium alkaloids. Ying Su Ke is the dried mature empty capsule (after removal of seeds) collected in summer. In TCM it is sour, astringent, and neutral with toxicity, binding the lung to stop chronic cough, astringing the intestines for chronic diarrhea, and relieving pain. It is a strictly controlled narcotic substance in most jurisdictions.
Dosage
| Form | Amount | Frequency | Duration | Population | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| decoction | 6-15g | Daily | — | — | — |
This information is for educational purposes only and is not intended to replace professional medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider before using any herbal remedy, especially if you are pregnant, nursing, or taking medications.
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