3 Top Medicinal Uses Of Argemone Mexicana | Prickly Poppy | Mexican

Poppy | Satyanashi | Brahmadandi Plant

Argemone Mexicana also called Mexican Poppy | Mexican prickly poppy

is a plant that is commonly found in Mexico but now spread all over the
world. You can find this plant commonly all over India since it thrives
well even in poor soil and in extreme drought conditions. The plant
produces yellow latex which is widely used for treating many skin
diseases. The whole plant is covered with thorns and produces yellow
flowers and seeds that closely resemble mustard seeds. Argemone
mexicana is called Satyanashi in Hindi and Brahmathandu | Kudiyotti in
Tamil, Brahmadandi in Telugu and Swarnakshiri in Sanskrit but in our
village we call it Sirangu Nayagam. This wonderful plant has anti
bacterial, anti inflammatory, anti diabetic, anti cancer, analgesic,
hallucinating and sedative properties. I had completely forgotten about
this plant, last week when my cousin got a skin allergy my mother in law
used the latex of this plant for treating the skin disease that is when I
realized I had not written about it in the blog. Actually almost all the
parts of the plant (the seeds, leaves, roots) are used as a medicine but the
dosage is very very important as all the parts of the plant has toxic
alkaloids and is toxic beyond certain amount when taken internally. In
fact a lot of harm has been done to humans especially in India by this
plant as the seeds and the oil are used as an adulterant. The seeds of
argenmone mexicana closely resemble mustard seeds so sometimes the
mustard seeds are adulterated with argemone seeds. Also argemone oil
got from the seeds is sometimes used as an adulterant for mixing with
sesame oil. When ingested it leads to a condition called epidemic dropsey
which usually results in pitting edema and breathlessness. When using
plants that are toxic at certain dosages it is best to be taken only under
medical supervision as most of the times we get the dosage wrong.
Animals generally don't eat this plant and if they do it causes diarrhea
and sleepiness. We use the plant mainly for external application and I
would strongly advice you to do the same and take it internally only
under an expert guidance. Argemeone mexicana is taken internally for
treating jaundice, malaria, cough, burning sensation in the urinary tract
and asthma. Externally it is used for treating lot of skin diseases like
ringworm, scabies, redness of the eyes, itching, eczema and burning
sensation. Argemone Mexicana Side Effects: Internal consumption of
argemone mexicana in large doses will lead to sever headache, burning
sensation in the eyes, eruptions in the face, nausea, fever, etc. You can
read the toxicology report done on healthy people using different doses
of argemone mexicana here. Argemone oil should not be consumed, if
consumed in certain dosage it will lead to epdiemic dropsey, vomiting,
diarrhea and in large doses will lead to acute toxicity......

3 Top Medicinal Uses, Health Benefits & Side Effects Of Argemone

Mexicana | Prickly Poppy | Mexican Poppy | Satyanashi | Brahmadandi
Plant:

1. Argemaone Mexicana For Skin Infections:

The yellow latex has anti bacterial properties, you can read the study that proves it
here. If you break any part of the plant, yellow latex will flow out. Take a cotton bud
and dip it in the latex and apply on the affected area. The whole plant is covered with
thorns so please be careful while extracting the milk. You can use the latex for skin
infections like skin ulcers, itching, eczema and boils.

2. Argemone Mexicana For Healing Wounds:

Argemone mexicana leaf extract is great for treating wounds that takes a long time to
heal. This remedy is backed by research, you can read the study here. To use, take the
leaves (carefully cut the leaves from the plant without getting hurt) and pound in a
mortar and pestle and extract the juice and apply on the affected area. The leaves can
be pounded into a paste and applied as a poultice too. The leaf poultice can be used
for insect bites also...

3. Argemone Mexicana Seeds As a Mosquito Repellent:

Since the mosquito repellents that we get in the markets come with many side effects
if used regularly, it is a good idea to get to know plants that have strong larvicidal
properties. Aregemone mexicana seed extract have strong larvicidal properties and
can be used as a mosquito repellent. You can also use the leaf extract as a mosquito
repellent too. you can read about the study that proves the larvicidal properties here.
Another interesting use of argemone mexicana is it's nematicidal activity. Especially
out of the 6 plants tested argemone mexicana tested the most effective in eradicating
meloidogyne javanica nematode (a major agricultural pest).

External application:
Its latex, leaf juice extract and seed oil are applied externally to heal wounds
faster, and in skin diseases.
Its juice extract, latex, seed oil is applied externally on wounds and skin diseases
Its root paste is anti inflammatory on external application. It is applied on
scorpion and insect bites.
Seed is analgesic relieves pain. Seed paste and seed oil is applied over joints to
relieve arthritis pain