Materia Medica

Wild Lettuce (Lactuca virosa) — Bitter Lettuce, Opium Lettuce
Wild lettuce, Lactuca virosa, has a long European history as a bitter sedative and analgesic herb whose dried milky latex was called lactucarium or “lettuce opium.” This guide explains why that nickname is misleading, reviews lactucin and lactucopicrin research, documented human toxicity, identification, and safety without providing home extraction or dosing instructions. Read more...