Opium

Opium is a drug derived from the poppy plant (Papaver somniferum). The poppy plant is cultivated in temperate climates mainly in Afghanistan, Pakistan, Thailand, Turkey, Colombia, and Hungary where the weather is warm and dry and it is harvested in the months of March and April. About 40% of the world's supply of legal opium comes from Australia. Since the 1800s, opium has been used in the treatment of diarrhea, dysentery, coughs, asthma, and other disorders. It also serves as a pain reliever and anesthetic.

In traditional Persian medicine, opium was recommended for the treatment of migraine headaches, sciatica, and other painful ailments. In the 1500s, opium was introduced to Western medicine by Arabian traders. The French physician Joseph Rommel, who studied medicine in Baghdad, introduced opium to France in 1696. It was administered as an analgesic and hypnotic. In the 1700s, it was used to treat diarrhea and dysentery.

Opium was also used as a recreational drug. It was smoked or eaten and resulted in a feeling of euphoria. Opium was also used as a sedative and anesthetic. In the 1800s, opium use became popular in China. Opium was also traded in the United States and elsewhere. Opium use was considered a serious problem and was banned in many countries.

Today, opium is used in the treatment of pain and as a sedative. It is also used in the manufacturing of heroin and other drugs. The global illicit trade in opium is a major contributor to organized crime and corruption.

Opium has been cultivated and used for thousands of years. In the Neolithic era, opium was cultivated in Mesopotamia and Egypt. It was also used in ancient Greece and Rome. In the Middle Ages, opium was used as a medicine and as a recreational drug. It was also used as a religious sacrament. In the 1800s, opium use became popular in China. It was also used in the treatment of diarrhea, dysentery, and other disorders. In the United States, opium was used as a cure-all and was available without a prescription. It was also used as a recreational drug.