Introduction
Wild lettuce is related to the common lettuce and is also known as bitter lettuce, laitue vireuse, opium lettuce, poisonous lettuce, great lettuce, tall lettuce or rakuten-karyamu-so.
Wild lettuce is the same as prickly lettuce Lactuca Serriola but it is taller and can grow to a maximum height of 200 centimeters or 80 inches (6.6 feet) tall. The stem and leaves are purple in color and leaves are a bit different from others like they are less divided but more spreaded and have more than five florets. In Northern countries the flowers start blooming from July to September.
What Is the History of Wild Lettuce?
Wild lettuce was used during the 19th century by various physicians when opium was not found. Later, after various thorough studies and research done by the Council of Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain in the year 1911, they have discovered the two chemicals responsible for the medical properties which are lactucopicrin and lactucin.
During the 1970s the plant got a specific recognition in the United States and today FDA has approved that wild lettuce can be legally grown, bought and sold without any prescription. It is sometimes referred to as poor man's opium due to its mild sedative properties. It is known for its medicinal properties, natural remedies or treatments.
Wild lettuce is mostly seen in Great Britain, rarely in the North east of Ireland. It is widespread across Central and Southern Europe, and can be seen in local regions of SouthEast and East of England. In the rest of Great Britain it is found rarely and in Ireland it is almost absent. In Asian countries it is found in Punjab regions of Pakistan and India. In Australia, it grows in the wild regions. In North America, it is commonly seen in California, Alabama, and in Lowland Washington.
What Is the Pharmacology of Wild Lettuce?
Wild Lettuce is also known as Lactucarium and is derived from the stems of the Lactuca virosa. It can also secrete oils and extracts which have sedative effects in rats. Opium lettuce secreted from Lactuca Serriola and Lactuca Quercina has superior properties than the opium obtained from the other varieties of wild lettuce.
Wild lettuce contains flavonoids, coumarins and N-methyl-beta-phenethylamine. Various chemicals have been extracted from the wild lettuce. One of the chemical compounds extracted from wild lettuce is lactucin which is an adenosine receptor while the other one lactucopicrin acts as acetylcholinesterase enzyme which is a neurotransmitter that helps in the stimulation of nerve impulse.
What Are the Health Benefits of Wild Lettuce?
Wild Lettuce is also known as Lactucarium and is derived from the stems of Lactuca virosa. It can also secrete oils and extracts which have sedative effects. The extracts obtained from the wild lettuce has various medicinal properties and has various health benefits such as:
-
Reduces stress and pain.
-
Has sedative effects.
-
Used in the treatment of Asthma.
-
To treat coughs.
-
Helps to relieve joint pain.
-
Used in relieving menstrual pain.
-
Helps in treating insomnia.
-
Helps to lower the risk of atherosclerosis.
-
Helps in nerve stimulation.
-
Promotes proper circulation.
-
When applied directly on the skin it has sanitizing benefits.
-
Has hypnotic properties.
-
Used as opium alternative medicine due to its pain-relieving properties.
What Are the Side Effects of Wild Lettuce?
In spite of various health benefits there are several side effects of wild lettuce, which include the following:
-
It may result in increased heart rate sometimes.
-
Breathing difficulty.
-
Dizziness.
-
Severe drowsiness due to its sedative properties.
-
Some skin applications may cause skin irritation.
What Are Precautions to Be Taken While Using Wild Lettuce?
The following care and precautions have to be taken while using wild lettuce:
-
It is always better to inform the health care professional before looking for any natural solutions or alternative treatments.
-
When a person suffers from prostatic hyperplasia or narrow angle glaucoma, they should avoid usage of wild lettuce as it can trigger the symptoms.
-
Wild lettuce alters the function of the central nervous system so it should be avoided at least two to three weeks before undergoing surgery.
-
Wild lettuce should not be used in combination with other medicines that affect the central nervous system, especially in combination with medications such as Clonazepam and lorazepam.
It is important to remember that supplements or alternative treatments have not been tested for its safety and the dietary supplements are highly unregulated. The product may deliver different doses that differ from the specified amount from each herb, in few cases the herbs may be contaminated with other substances such as metals. These should be avoided in children, pregnant women and lactating mothers when looking for alternatives to relieve pain and stress. It is always better to go for yoga, meditation, physical therapy and muscle relaxation therapies. It may be beneficial as there is limited research for these medicinal herbs.
Conclusion:
Wild lettuce was used during the 19th century by various physicians when opium was not found as it has the beneficial properties that can relieve pain and stress and its sedative effects that can replace opium. The herb has various health benefits but still the research is not complete. When looking for alternatives to relieve pain and stress it is always better to pursue yoga, meditation, physical therapy and muscle relaxation therapies. It may be beneficial as there is limited research for these medicinal herbs. It is always very important to take the herb with the physician's guidance due to low research available on humans. And it should be avoided in infants, toddlers, pregnant and lactating mothers.
