Wild Lettuce

Wild Lettuce (Lactuca Virosa) is, as the name suggests, a member of the lettuce genus, but it is not likely to be used in most people’s salads for several reasons. Rather, the sap, leaves, and seeds are used to make medicines.

Common names for this plant include bitter lettuce, opium lettuce, poisonous lettuce, wild salad, and tall or great lettuce. Some of these hint at both uses and potential disadvantages – even dangers – of this cousin of the common lettuce.

The History Of Wild Lettuce

This plant has been utilized medicinally for almost 2,500 years when the Ancient Greeks used the sap obtained from Wild Lettuce for pain relief. We know it had reached North America at the time of the Civil War as medical staff used the plant as an analgesic when liquid opium was difficult to obtain.

Around the same time in Europe, individuals in Poland noted that – despite the opioid effects of this plant’s sap – it had none of the addictive properties. This added to the medicinal value of Lactuca Virosa.  

In the middle of the last century, the so-called hippie communities began to use it as a legal way to get high although the psychoactive properties of the plant are mild. Today Wild Lettuce is again popular with herbalists and homeopaths who use it for a range of remedies targeting several ailments.

Where This Plant Is Found

Wild Lettuce is thought to be native to parts of North America, the Middle East, central and southern Europe, and most of the UK. It has been introduced beyond its range to Australia and parts of India and Pakistan. It grows wild in all these regions.

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How to Identify Wild Lettuce

As the name indicates, this plant is related to the lettuce most of us are familiar with and would include in salads, etc. However, it does not look or grow, like your usual salad lettuce. Firstly, this plant takes two years to complete its lifecycle. Secondly, can reach a height of 6.6 feet / 2 meters although half that size is more common.

• Leaf: The leaves are grey-green, oval, and broad with jagged edges. There are spines along the edges of the leaves and the central vein or midrib on the underside of the leaf. These spines down the center of the underside are one of the best ways to identify Lactuca Virosa. The base of each leaf is wrapped around the stem rather than attached by a smaller stem or a stalk.  

• Stalk/stem: The stem is green and may have reddish or purplish marks and be covered in short spikes that are green, purple, or red. It is also not a rigid or fibrous stem and is easy to pierce and cut.
• Sap: The sap oozes from cuts in the stalks. It is white/milky and sticky and offers medicinal properties.

• Flower: The buds form in clusters and have tiny purple marks on them.

The flowers are small and yellow and look almost identical to those of the dandelion.

The individual flowers sometimes have a faint purple tinge at the edge and underside of the petals.

Flowers also only open in the morning and at midday when the sunlight is at its brightest.

• Seeds: Like the flowers, the seeds of the Wild Lettuce resemble those of the dandelion.

There is a large black seed that has a white tuft attached to aid seed dispersal.

The taste of Lactuca Virosa leaves is quite bitter.

Before you ate them raw you would need to remove the spikes!

How To Grow Wild Lettuce

Wild Lettuce grows readily from seed. These should be sown in spring or fall and either in pots or directly into your garden.

Prepare the soil so that it has been turned. It is not necessary to use fertilizer or compost, but some gardeners believe plants get a better head start if you do. Make a shallow depression in the soil and drop in the seeds, keeping them separate if possible. Cover the seeds lightly with soil and pat it down gently.  

The seeds will need enough water to keep them moist and sunlight to germinate. Shoots should appear after 10 – 20 days. Once the seedlings are big enough, transplant them so that they are approximately 6 inches / 15 centimeters apart. This gives the plants enough space to grow without crowding each other.

How To Harvest And Process This Plant

The plant is considered most potent when it is in bloom, but you can harvest it earlier.

• Harvesting leaves is straightforward, but wear gloves as the little spines on the leaves and stems can be a nuisance:
• Remove the leaves or cutting whole stalks
• Strip the leaves from the stalks
• If you want to use the fresh leaves, remove the leaf spines, especially the ones on the underside
• Wash the leaves to remove debris and loose spines
• To dry them for tea, spread the leaves out on a rack or cloth in a warm, well-ventilated area but away from direct sunlight
• Once thoroughly dry place the leaves in labeled airtight containers.

The Collection Of Sap

The collection of sap is more complex and varies depending on which method you favor:

The (very time-consuming) traditional method:

• Cut an inch off the top of the stalk and allow the sap to ooze out
• Scrape off the sap and place it in a bowl
• Repeat the process until you reach the base of the stalk.

The (quicker) modern method:

• Sever the stalks at ground level or pull them out roots and all
• Remove the flowers and strip the leaves from the stalks
• Chop the stalks into 1 inch / 2 ½ cm long pieces and lengthwise
• Cook on medium heat until the liquid browns, strains, and recook – stirring regularly – until it thickens.

The traditionalists believe that the sap needs time to form slowly and naturally after each cut as it is only through this process that the plant releases all the active compounds you want.

What Wild Lettuce Is Good For And The Natural Remedies Made From It

Based on anecdotal evidence rather than strong clinical evidence, Lactuca Virosa is useful to ease or treat a range of health issues including:

• Pain relief for headaches, minor injuries, arthritis, and menstrual discomfort
• Urinary tract infections and edema (acts as a diuretic)
• Insomnia
• Anxiety
• Restlessness and hyperactivity
• Coughs and tight chest and asthma

There are several forms of Wild Lettuce herbal or natural remedies or products: tea, tincture, and powder (available as a loose powder or in capsule form). Which one you make or buy depends on what you want to use it for.

What Parts Of The Plant Are Used In Remedies?

The primary medicinal plant material obtained from Wild Lettuce is the sap which is obtained from the stalks.

However, the leaves are also used in several preparations including teas and tinctures.

A DIY Wild Lettuce Recipe

A popular way of ingesting Wild Lettuce for use for several health issues is in the form of a tincture. Here is an easy recipe:

Ingredients

• Fresh Wild Lettuce leaves
• Vodka (80% proof or higher)

Method

1. Harvest fresh leaves and tender stems.
2. Chop the plant material up roughly into small pieces.
3. Place the Wild Lettuce in a blender.
4. Blend the leaves on slow until they form a green paste.
5. Pour the paste into a suitable glass jar until it is about 1/3 full.
6. Add vodka so you have a 2:1 ratio / twice as much alcohol as plant paste.
7. Place a secure lid and a label on the jar.
8. Store the jar in a cool, dark area for 6 weeks.
9. Strain the tincture using cheesecloth or kitchen muslin.
10. Store the strained tincture in a labeled bottle or jar.

The alcohol helps to preserve the mixture. Most tinctures of this sort have a shelf-life of up to a year. However, if you notice a change in the smell or color of the tincture, you should probably get rid of it.

Dosage

As with most remedies, including herbal ones, how much you can safely use depends on several factors:

• Why you are using the remedy
• Your overall state of health
• Your age may be a factor
• What medications you are currently on
• Any medical conditions you suffer from.

Because of the extremely limited number of clinical studies, there is currently little scientific data about Wild Lettuce doses. The best advice is that you follow the instructions provided by your healthcare provider and/or the product manufacturer.

What Plants Resemble Wild Lettuce?

There are a few plants that are sometimes mistaken for Wild Lettuce. Fortunately, none are toxic, and one – Prickly Lettuce – in fact, has similar properties to its Wild cousin. Comparing these plants may help you to correctly identify them.

Feature	Wild Lettuce Lactuca Virosa	Prickly Lettuce Lactuca serriola	Prickly Sow Thistle Sonchus asper
Size	Up to 6.6 feet / 2 m but usually 3 feet / 1 meters in height	Up to 6.6 feet / 2 m but usually 3 feet / 1 meters in height	Up to 5 feet / 1 ½ m in height
Leaves	Grey-green, oval, broad, jagged edges with spines, spines along the midrib on the underside of the leaf	Grey-green, lobed, deeply serrated edges, spines along veins and leaf edges not on the midrib on the underside	Blue-green, shiny, lanceolate, very spiny on the edges and both leaf surfaces
Stem / stalk	Green, reddish/purplish marks, may have short green/purple/red spikes	Spineless reddish stem, slightly woody	Hairless except on upper stem, reddish, angled, sometimes branched
Flowers	Clusters, small, yellow, may have faint purple tinge at the edge and underside	Clusters, small, yellow, may have a faint purple tinge at the edge and underside	Yellow rays, flat-topped arrays not clusters
Seeds	Oblong black seed that has a white tuft	Long, grooved brown seed with a white tuft	Pear-shaped, grooved brown seed with a white tuft
Sap	Yes, from leaves and stems	Yes, from leaves and stems	Yes, from leaves and stems
Edible	Yes	Yes, but may cause health problems in cattle	Yes

Using these points of comparison – particularly the differences in leaf shape and spine distribution – should help to avoid identification errors. However, if you are ever unsure about a plant err on the side of caution and do not handle or ingest it!

Warning And Cautions

The studies that have been done do, unfortunately, indicate that there is a great deal about the side effects and potential dangers of Wild Lettuce that we do not yet know. It does appear to be the case that taking too much of this plant, or too often, can have unpleasant or dangerous side effects. These include slowed breathing, nausea and vomiting, dizziness, agitation, and blurred vision.

Pregnant and breastfeeding women or individuals who are taking diuretics, sedatives, or suffer from any psychiatric conditions should not use Wild Lettuce. There is also a possibility that some people may suffer an allergic reaction.

However, many individuals balance these potential dangers against the fact that there is anecdotal evidence of health benefits without serious harm that stretches over millennia.

The important rule of thumb is not to use Wild Lettuce in any form without first consulting your healthcare practitioner, especially if you have a medical condition or taking medication. 

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