Medicinal Plants : Lactuca virosa

Name

Wild Lettuce

Biological Name

Lactuca virosa
Compositae

Other Names

Wild Lettuce, Lettuce Opium

Parts Used

Dried leaves

Active Compounds

Lactucin, a sesquiterpene lactone

Flavonoids; mainly based on quercitin

Coumarins; cichoriin and aesculin

N-methyl-b-phenethylamine

Remedies For

Nervine, anodyne, hypnotic, anti-spasmodic.

Wild Lettuce is a valuable remedy for use in insomnia, restlessness and excitability (especially in children) and other manifestations of an over active nervous system. As an anti-spasmodic it can be used as part of a holistic treatment of whooping cough and dry irritated coughs in general. It will relieve colic pains in the intestines and uterus and so may be used in dysmennhorea. It will ease muscular pains related to rheumatism. It has been used as an anaphrodisiac.

Combinations : For irritable coughs it may be used with Wild Cherry Bark. For insomnia it combines with Valerian and Pasque Flower.

Dosage

Infusion: Pour a cup of boiling water onto l-2 teaspoonfuls of the leaves and let infuse for l0-l5 minutes. This should be drunk three times a day.

Tincture: take 1-2 ml of the tincture three times a day.

Safety

No information available. Some herbs are known to react with your medication. Please consult your physician before starting on any herb.