2. Things to add to the mix to make it more potent include lemon juice, lime juice, distilled vinegar and california poppy. The lemon juice, lime juice and distilled vinegar all contain small amounts of different acids that can chemically change some of the opium molecules into more potent related molecules. A vitamin C tablet tossed in with the pods when they are ground can also help make the water more acidic and therefore more capable of extracting the proper alkaloids from the poppy material.

Cider vinegar works, too, but it smells horrible and makes an already somewhat unpleasant tea into a truly unpleasant tea.

California poppy is not a true poppy but it does have some sedative/euphoric properties. You can buy tinctures of California Poppy alone - or combined with Valerian Root or Kava Kava. Valerian and Kava again have sedative/euphoric and also muscle relaxant properties. Don't use prickly poppy - it is potentially toxic and there have been reports of people getting permanent tinitus (ringing in the ears) from excessive use.

3. Lemon & Lime also serve a double duty as flavor enhancers. Poppy tea made with lime as opposed to poppy tea made without will taste better. Just about any sort of fruit juice will improve the taste, especially orange juice and cranberry juice. Coca Cola is another solution. Maple syrup can actually make the beverage taste GREAT - especially with orange juice. COLD tea tastes better than WARM or HOT tea in my opinion. Start with a big pint glass full of ice, pour your cold ingredients [juice, etc.] in first then add the tea. If you're still sensitive to the taste drinking through a straw makes the experience more palatable.

4. While the pod "flesh" is the most potent part of the plant, the stems, seeds and possibly the leaves contain the same alkaloids albeit in smaller amounts, so don't throw them away. It is said that the stem is about half as potent by weight than the pod. One trick is to make a great deal of tea from leftover stems and then simmer it down in a large, flat saucepan which will allow for fast evaporation of water molecules leaving a stronger concentrate behind.

There are people who make tea just from the seeds (and vinegar and/or lemon/lime). I read once that the seeds themselves contain 2% - 3% of codeine and morphine by weight. While you would probably get more value from the seeds by scattering them in a wild, unmowed field, they, too can contribute to potency in the beverage.

5. If you are using a French Press, pour your drink then top the press off with hot water again. You can do this over and over again, each time with the tea getting lighter and lighter. You may be able to do this as many as 10 times before all you get is water. Even a very weak 10th steep in a French Press overnight will help with chronic pain and muscle spasms.

6. The spent "mush" after a successful round of extractions makes great compost - either dump it in your compost pile or directly into your garden (off season).

7. If you are a beginner and you're planning to give it a whirl, definitely start small and most importantly of all, DO NOT PUT YOURSELF IN A SITUATION WHERE YOU HAVE TO DRIVE. If you get enough of the alkaoids in you you may find yourself nodding off uncontrollably. You DEFINITELY do NOT want to be behind the wheel of an automobile.

8. Frequent use of any opiate has a great potential for causing addiction. If you find yourself "jonesing" for your tea its time to back off.

If you have become fully addicted to the tea, understand that you are addicted to opiates in general and that you may substitute. If you are addicted you should b honest with yourself and try to stop. Substituting to wean oneself from an opiate addiction is one way to "get clean." Switch from the tea to Ultram/Tramadol and wean yourself off of that.

If that is too difficult then switch to codeine, then progressively lower doses of codeine and then stop - you will feel cranky, irritable and have flu-like systems for perhaps 2 or 3 days, but it is worth going through if you are having a problem.

An even weaker opiate (opiod?) exists in the form of Darvon. You may find that stepping down through doses of codeine as low as you can then switching to Darvon and progressively lowering doses will help you quit altogether.

If you still can't do it, there is a common herb called "Feverfew" that you can get in capsules at any drug store, Wal-Mart, healthfood store, etc. It has been used in olk medicine for centuries for helping with withdrawal.

Other withdrawal tools include iboga or ibogaine (illegal in the US) and a Southeast Asian tree leaf called "Kratom." UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES SHOULD YOU MESS WITH EITHER OF THESE SUBSTANCES WITHOUT THE SUPERVISION OF A PHYSICIAN OR SPECIALIST. Read as much as possible about either of these before touching them. Iboga root can cause you to hallucinate for several days - it is dangerous and must be used with care under proper supervision.

9. Don't start.