Wild Lettuce features brilliant green leaves that emerge from a green stalk with purple spots now and then. When touched, the plant secretes lactucarium, a milky white material. When dried, this substance looks like opium and a pain reliever derived from the unripe seedpods of the opium poppy. From ancient times until the nineteenth century, opium was widely used as a pain reliever and sedative. Iran, Austria, France, Germany, and Scotland are among the countries that grow wild Lettuce (Lactuca virosa). This herb grows up to 6 feet (1.8 metres) in height and thrives in sunny places like riverbanks and roadside.

History of Wild Opium Lettuce

In folk medicine, lettuce opium has been used for everything from improving circulation to curing swelling genitals. It is used in cough mixes in Europe as a substitute for opium. 1977, Lewis A tincture has been used in homoeopathy to treat laryngitis, bronchitis, asthma, cough, and urinary tract infections. Schauenberg was born in 1977. The juice of the stem covering produces thrice, a therapeutic substance whose use and efficacy are hotly debated. Grieve was released in 1971. Lettuce preparations have long been utilised in Chinese medicine. The seeds have been used as a galactagogue, and the dried juice has been advised as a topical wound antiseptic (to increase the flow of milk in nursing mothers). Wild Lettuce is used as medicine. Millions of years back to ancient Egypt and depictions of it were seen in hieroglyphics. In the emperor, Augustus built an altar to the plant after using it to recover from illness. It is often called “opium lettuce” because it was used during the 19th century when opium was unavailable. The plant is not addictive and does not cause the side effects of opiates, such as an upset stomach.

Wild Lettuce can treat several illnesses:

1. Coughs

2. Urinary tract infections

3. Colic

4. Menstrual pain

5. Rheumatism\Aching joints

6. Anxiety

7. ADHD and hyperactivity in children

8. Flatulence

9. Insomnia\Sleep problems

10. Edema

11. Anti-convulsant

12. Kidney disorders

Extraction of wild Lettuce– Extracts are very simple to produce, but you must be careful not to overheat the plant. The active ingredients are heat sensitive. Whenever the mixture is boiled down or starts to stick to the bottom of the pot, the wild salad’s active components are destroyed.

Steps for the extraction-

Step1- Gathering of leaves.

Step2- Putting into a blender.

Step3- Blending for just a few seconds. You don’t need to blend up the leaves thoroughly.

Step4- Pouring the ground leaves into a pot.

Step5- Adding just enough water to cover it.

Step6- Putting the pot on a stove at low heat.

Step7- Do not let the mixture boil.

Step8- Heating it for 30 minutes, stirring often.

Step9- The water should turn a very dark green colour.

Step10- Straining the leaves through a fine mesh.

Step11- Collecting the liquid.

Step12- Putting the liquid into a clean pot.

Step13- Heating the leaves for the extract at low heat again.

Step14- Stirring the extract frequently. Make sure the mixture does not stick to the bottom of the pot.

Step15- Now, The water will get evaporate, leaving behind a concentrate of wild lettuce extract.

So, your wild Lettuce extract is ready.

Applications and drawbacks of wild Lettuce

Wild lettuce extract has specific applications: it used for whooping cough, cough, asthma, urinary tract problems, trouble in sleeping (insomnia), restlessness, muscular or joint pains, excitability in children, painful menstrual periods, excessive sex drive in women (nymphomania), poor circulation, swollen genitals in men (priapism), and as an opium substitute in cough preparations.

Wild lettuce extract also has disadvantages for most people in small amounts. It is not scientifically proven, but Wild Lettuce is Likely unsafe when eaten in large quantities or when the wild Lettuce has been harvested too early. This can cause sweating, fast heartbeat, pupil dilation, dizziness, ringing sound in the ears, blurred vision, sedation, breathing difficulty, and death. In addition, applying wild Lettuce directly to the skin can irritate.

Interactions from wild Lettuce

Try not to take this combination-

· Sedative medications (CNS depressants) interacts with Wild Lettuce

Wild Lettuce might cause insomnia and drowsiness. Medications that results in loss of sleep are called sedatives. Administring wild Lettuce along with sedative medications might cause too much sleepiness. Some sedative medications include clonazepam (Klonopin), lorazepam (Ativan), phenobarbital (Donnatal), zolpidem (Ambien), and others.

· What should be the dose?

The appropriate dose of wild Lettuce depends on several factors such as the age, health, and several other conditions of the user. Unfortunately, there is not enough scientific information to determine an appropriate range of doses for wild Lettuce, so keep in mind that natural products are not always safe, and dosages can be significant. Make sure to follow relevant directions on product labels, and consult your pharmacist or physician or other healthcare professional before using.

Active Ingredients

1. Sesquiterpene lactones – Lactucin, lactucopicrin

2. Lactucarium

3. Lactucerols

4. Lactucerin

5. Lactucic acid

6. Flavonoids

7. N-methyl-B-phenethylamine

8. Coumarins

9. Beta-carotene

10. Vitamins A and C

11. Calcium

12. Magnesium

I hope this helps!