Wild Lettuce

Western Bulk Herbs – Wild Lettuce

Western Bulk Herbs Wild Lettuce is an anti-spasmodic that is a powerful remedy for insomnia and restlessness and can help calm heightened emotions. Not at all like the iceberg lettuce most people are accustomed to, this herb can help to relieve coughs and irritated coughs such as whooping cough. Eases muscular pains such as those from rheumatism and even pains in the gut from colic. This herb pairs well with Wild Cherry Bark as well as Valerian Root.

Latin Name:
Lactuca virosa

Common Name:
bitter lettuce, laitue vireuse, opium lettuce, poisonous lettuce, tall lettuce, great lettuce, rakutu-karyumu-so

Parts Used:
Dried Leaves

Properties:
Wild Lettuce is a sedative herb that functions as an anodyne and hypnotic.

Traditional Uses:
This herb’s hypnotic and sedative functions help to improve sleep and relieve insomnia. The anodyne qualities relieve aches and pains, and it serves as a good relief from harsh coughs.

Internal Applications:
Can be brewed into an herbal tisane or tea and the decoction drank to gain the beneficial qualities of the herb. See above. Relieves cough, insomnia, and pain in the gut and muscles.

Topical Uses / Applications:
N/A

Culinary Uses:
N/A

Chemical Properties:
There is a latex within the herb that contains lactucin, lactucone, lactupicrin, lactucic acid, alkaloids, and triterpenes.

Folk Lore:
Once upon a time, the latex of this herb was promoted and sold under the name ‘Lettuce Opium”. Today, wild lettuce is recognized as sedative and calming herb.

Cautions:

*Disclaimer: These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.

Resources:

David Hoffman’s The New Holistic Herbal