Everyone knows that poppy seeds come from the opium poppy, papaver somniferum. Opium comes from milking the unripe seed pods. These seeds come from fully ripened pods, and while all parts of the plant can carry the opium alkaloids, the seeds contain an extremely low level of opiates and are safe for consumption. That said, ...
In January 2012 I injured my breastbone, or sternum, in a skiing accident in the Queyras natural park in the French Alps. I fell heavily on my side while moving at speed and several days later developed such severe pain in the centre of my chest that I was unable to sleep. I had to ...
When Europeans first renewed trading with other Eurasians civilizations after the collapse of the Roman Empire, they had a particular interest in Chinese goods. At first, they purchased Chinese porcelain, silk, and tea from Arab middle-men. As new technology and navigational skills helped them (especially the British) sail to China and trade with the Chinese ...
The use of opium has occurred for thousands of years throughout the world. The images and dreams induced by the opium poppy have inspired artists and been the subject of their works for centuries. In British culture writers were influenced by the effects of opium and its more socially-acceptable medicinal form, laudanum. Made infamous by ...