herb data, Wild Lettuce, Lactuca virosa, Lettuce Opium, holisticonline.com

Herb Information

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:

nfusion: 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.