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Welcome to the eighth edition of our Herb Spotlight Series! This month, we’re exploring Wild Lettuce. Commonly considered a nuisance garden weed, this prickly plant is a powerful botanical ally and a must-have in any home apothecary.
What is Wild Lettuce?
Wild Lettuce (Lactuca serriola, L.) is a member of the dandelion family with similarly “toothed” leaves. It is recognized by the prominent vein on the back of the leaf covered in tiny prickly spines. The spiny plants can reach up to 4 feet tall and produce tiny daisy-like yellow flowers in the fall. It is also known as Prickly Lettuce, Bitter Lettuce, Compass Plant, Opium Lettuce, Opium Plant, and Tall Lettuce. It is the closest wild relative of our modern cultivated lettuce.
Harvesting and Storing Wild Lettuce
Wild lettuce reaches maximum potency in the early fall, just before flowering. You can, of course, harvest the leaves at any time, but a Fall harvest is recommended. Harvest the leaves near the base where they grow out from the stem. I recommend wearing gloves to protect your hands from the tiny spines and keep the sticky white sap off your fingers. The sap will not hurt you and is, in fact, where the “medicine” lies, but it’s a hard-to-remove kind of sticky that I prefer to keep off of my hands.
To store Wild Lettuce, you will first need to dry it. Once cleaned, you can tie the harvested leaves in bundles and hang them to dry or place them flat on screens. Discard any leaves that turn black during the drying process. Once thoroughly dried, you can store Wild Lettuce in an airtight container for 9-12 months or until it begins to lose color.
History and Folklore of Wild Lettuce
Wild Lettuce has a long history of use dating back to ancient Egypt, where it is said to have been used in mummification. Interestingly, Wild Lettuce was also associated with the God Min, a god of fertility and harvest, viewed as the embodiment of the masculine principle that is sometimes compared with lusty Pan.
Both the Egyptians and the Greeks used Wild Lettuce as an anaphrodisiac. The Pythagoreans called it the "eunuch plant" because it caused urination and relaxed sexual desire. It was part of the staple diet for priests and thought to cool their carnal appetites. The Greeks also used Wild Lettuce as a sedative and to help with digestion issues. In Greek mythology, Aphrodite is said to have laid Adonis in a bed of Wild Lettuce, leading to the plant's association with food for the dead and forever linking it to mourning and loss.
On the other hand, the Romans viewed Wild Lettuce as a healer after Emperor Augustus reportedly miraculously recovered after being treated with the prickly plant. This duality paints Prickly Lettuce as a plant of both death and rejuvenation.
Wild Lettuce is not native to the US. It was brought to the US from Europe in the 1700s. Its first appearance in American medicinal writing was in 1792, when a doctor from Philadelphia named Kore wrote about the opium-like qualities of dried lettuce latex. After the introduction of Wild Lettuce to the Americas, the Navajo are said to have used wild lettuce as a ceremonial emetic.
Constituents of Wild Lettuce
Wild Lettuce contains Sesquiterpene lactones – lactucin, Coumarins- ci-chorin and aesculin. Acids, Alkaloids- hyoscyamine, Flavanoids- querceti, Terpenoid bitters, Resin, and N- methyl- β- phenethylamine (3, 6)
Herbal Actions of Wild Lettuce
Analgesic, Anti-inflammatory, Antitussive, Astringent, Anodyne Nutritive, Hypnotic, Nervine, and Sedative.
Herbal Energies of Wild Lettuce
Moist, Cool, Neutralising, Tonifying, Bitter, Pungent
Precautions, Contra-indications, and Interactions of Wild Lettuce
Avoid taking if you are on any medications to induce sedation as Wild lettuce may enhance the sedative effect. Do not use if allergic or sensitive to anything in the Asteraceae (daisy) family or allergic to latex. Ingestion of large quantities may cause stomach ache.
Typical Usage of Wild Lettuce
In modern herbal medicine, Wild Lettuce is used for a variety of conditions, such as whooping cough, asthma, muscular or joint pain, urinary tract problems, cough, insomnia, excitability in children, painful menstrual periods, poor circulation, and as an opium substitute in cough remedies. Depending on the condition being treated, it can be used in various forms, such as tinctures, teas, or poultices.
In Conclusion
Wild Lettuce is a must-have in any home apothecary or herbal first aid kit thanks to its analgesic and anti-inflammatory properties. If you already use Wild Lettuce, what is your favorite way to use it? Tell us in the comments below, and we would love to see your recipes as well! Until next time,
Disclaimer:
Content from thisunboundlife.com is meant to be informational in nature. It is not intended as a substitute for professional medical advice. Just because something is “natural” does not mean it’s safe for every person. Many plants should be avoided when pregnant or nursing; some can cause extreme interactions with prescription and over-the-counter medicine.
While we strive to be 100% accurate, utilizing information from scientific studies, trusted sources, and verified publications, we are not health professionals, medical doctors, or nutritionists. It is solely up to the reader to verify nutritional information and health benefits with qualified professionals for all edible plants listed on this website and to ensure proper plant identification.
The information provided by this site is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Before using herbal preparations, always research, speak to a professional regarding significant concerns, and never fail to seek medical advice when needed.