Lactuca virosa
Lactuca virosa Common name: Wild Lettuce
Family: Asteraceae
Part used: Dried leaves, latex (milky juice)
Constituents: Acids (mallic, citric, oxalic), alkaloids, sesquiterpene lactones (lactucin, lactulone, lactupicrin, lactucic acid), flavonoids (quercitin, apigenin, luteolin), coumarins
Actions: Nervous system relaxant, sedative, analgesic, hypnotic, narcotic, antispasmodic
Medical uses: The latex of this plant was at one time sold as “Lettuce Opium” and has been used as an opium substitute. A valuable remedy for use in insomnia, restlessness and over-excitability (especially in children) and other manifestations of an overactive nervous system. As an antispasmodic it can be used as holistic treatment for whooping cough and dry irritated coughs in general. It will relieve colic pain in the gut and uterus and so can be used in painful periods. It will ease muscular and joint pains related to rheumatism, and has been used as an aphrodisiac.
Pharmacology:
- Alkaloids & sesquiterpene lactones are possibly responsible for sedative effects.
Pharmacy: Dried leaves: 0.5-3g TID. Infusion: 1 tsp/cup, infuse 15 min, TID. Tincture: (1:1, 25%), 0.5-3ml TID.
Contraindications: Allergic reaction to Asteraceae family
Toxicity: In high doses can produce stupor, depress breathing and overdose can cause coma/death.