Lactuca Virosa (Wild Lettuce) 15X Extract

Wild lettuce is also called 'Lettuce Opium.' It has traditionally been used as a relaxant.

The sesquiterpene lactones from Lactuca virosa are chemically identical to those from Lactuca altissima. As Grieve puts it, 'All lettuces possess some of this narcotic juice, Lactuca virosa having the most, and the others in the following order: L. scariola, or Prickly Lettuce, L. altissima, L. Canadensis, or Wild Lettuce of America, and L. sativa, or Garden Lettuce.'

As King's puts it, 'The most energetic lactucarium is said to be obtained from L. virosa and L. altissima.'

Wild lettuce is called 'Lettuce Opium' not in the politicized modern sense, but in the medicinal 19th century way, meaning that it is a valuable nervine, anodyne, hypnotic and anti-spasmodic, useful for restlessness, sleeplessness, and hysteria in children. Also helpful with a hacking cough, and in relieving rheumatic pain.

Grieve's classic 'A Modern Herbal': 'The Wild Lettuce grows on banks and waste places, flowering in July and August. It is cultivated in Austria, France, Germany and Scotland. Collectors cut the heads of the plants and scrape the juice into china vessels several times daily until it is exhausted. By slightly warming and tapping, it is turned out of its cup mould, is cut into quarters and dried.'

'In the United States, after importation from Germany via England it is said to be used as an adulterant for opium. It is usually found in irregular, reddish-brown lumps the size of a large pea, frequently mouldy on the outside. In the United States the German and French lactucarium is considered inferior to the British product.'

'All lettuces possess some of this narcotic juice, Lactuca virosa having the most, and the others in the following order: L. scariola, or Prickly Lettuce, L. altissima, L. Canadensis, or Wild Lettuce of America, and L. sativa, or Garden Lettuce. Cultivation has lessened the narcotic properties of the last, but it is still used for making a lotion for the skin useful in sunburn and roughness. The Ancients held the lettuce in high esteem for its cooling and refreshing properties. The Emperor Augustus attributed his recovery from a dangerous illness to it; built an altar to it, and erected a statue in its honour.'

'Lactucarium is not easily powdered, and is only slightly soluble in boiling water, though it softens and becomes plastic.'

'L. virosa has been found to contain lactucic acid, lactucopicrin, 50 to 60 per cent lactucerin (lactucone) and lactucin. Lactucarium treated with boiling water and filtered is clear, but on cooling the filtrate becomes turbid. It is not coloured blue by iodine test solution. The usual constituents of latex are albumen, mannite, and caoutchouc.'

'Medicinal Action and Uses: The drug resembles a feeble opium without its tendency to upset the digestive system. It is used to a small extent as a sedative and narcotic.'

'Dissolved in wine it is said to be a good anodyne.'

'Dr. Collins stated that twenty-three out of twenty-four cases of dropsy were cured by taking doses of 18 grains to 3 drachms of extract in twenty-four hours. It is used in Germany in this complaint, but combined with more active drugs. It is said to be also a mild diaphoretic and diuretic, easing colic, inducing sleep and allaying cough.'

'Water distilled from lettuce (eau de laitre) is used in France as a mild sedative in doses of 2 to 4 oz., and the fresh leaves boiled in water are sometimes used as a cataplasm.'

Dosages: Of powder, 10 to 20 grains or more. Of tincture, 30 to 60 drops. Of alcoholic extract, 1 to 5 grains. Of Lactucarium, 5 to 20 grains. Of fluid extract leaves, ¼ to 1 drachm. Of syrup, U.S.P., 2 drachms. Tincture, U.S.P., 30 drops.

King’s 1898 Dispensatory: 'The flowering herb of Lactuca virosa, Linné, and other species of Lactuca.'

'The chief constituent of lactuca is lactucarium. It is, when employed at all, usually given as a calmative and hypnotic, and as a substitute for opium, to which it is to be preferred in many instances, on account of its freedom, from unpleasant after-effects, as constipation, excitement of the brain, etc. However, it is not considered equal in power to opium.'

'The most energetic lactucarium. is said to be obtained from L. virosa and L. altissima.... It appears to be of use in insomnia, due to mental overwork. A syrup of lactucarium is of value in the cough of phthisis, and even garden lettuce appears to exert a good influence in this disease, tending to allay the broncho-pulmonary irritation.'

'Dose of lactucarium in pill or powder, which is the most efficient mode of administration, from 5 to 20 grains; of the tincture, 30 to 60 drops; of the alcoholic extract, 1 to 5 grains.'

Eclectic Materia Medica, 1922 (Felter): 'A non-constipating calmative and feeble hypnotic, sometimes proving useful in insomnia from mental overwork and, as a syrup, in the cough of phthisis. Even garden lettuce (Lactuca sativa) relieves irritation of the broncho-pulmonic membranes and has a tendency to induce drowsiness. Lactucarium is often inert; when a good preparation can be obtained it is fairly sedative for irritable children.'

Recent studies have shown that lactuca's constituents are similar to IB Proffen in analgesic and anti-inflammnitory effects!

Click here to read this study!