Wild Lettuce and Lactuca Virosa Guide Wild Lettuce Extract and Lactuca Info Source

The History of Wild Lettuce

by wildlettuce

Wild lettuce, or Lactuca virosa, is a plant in lettuce (Lactuca) genus taken often for the mild psychotropic effects (sedative or hypnotic) it has, quite similar as commonly described to the effects of opium. However, besides the opium-like effects, it is also notable that the plant also has excellent antioxidant properties due to its flavonoid content. Apart from Wild Lettuce, this member of the lettuce family is also known as the Bitter Lettuce, Opium Lettuce, Laitue vireuse, Rakutu-Karyumu-So, and Poisonous Lettuce. The Wild Lettuce can be locally found in the southeastern and eastern portions of England and have been reported to grow wild in some parts of North America, although planned introduction has taken place in Washington, DC, Iowa, Alabama, and California.

The Wild Lettuce mainly flowers from July to September, a biennal plant quite similar to the Prickly Lettuce. The difference the Wild Lettuce has with the Prickly Lettuce is that the latter is former is taller, capable of growing up to 200 cm. It is also stouter, with leaves spreading out. As for the achene of the Wild Lettuce, it is purplish black and does not have bristles at the tip while it has the same pappus as the Prickly Lettuce.

The history of the Wild Lettuce is said to be traceable down to the Egyptians of the ancient times. Min, the Egyptian god of fertility, is closely tied to the Wild Lettuce as seen in a lot of his depictions where he is holding the plant. As such, the plant in their time was heavily regarded as a sex enhancer and aphrodisiac. The Romans also favored the Wild Lettuce, with Augustus claiming that the plant saved his life and Roman naturalists even writing extensively on the topic of the plant.

In the 19^th century, Wild Lettuce was used whenever doctors couldnt get their hands on opium. In 1911, Great Britains Council of the Pharmaceutical Society extensively studied the plant and discovered that there are two chemicals responsible for imparting the properties the Wild Lettuce has. These chemicals are lactucin and lactucopicrin.

Until the 1940s, pharmaceutical companies set to work producing Lactucarium. Studies on the Wild Lettuce ensued and it was revealed that it was both a cough suppressant and mild sedative. When a Wild Lettuce leaf or stem is broken, milky sap oozes out. When this sap dries, it is called as Lettuce Opium, although it really doesnt contain any opiates. The sap can easily be extracted a number of ways but the most popular method is to soak the plant in alcohol. After several weeks pass, plant material is strained out. The remaining extract is Lactucarium, consumed by dissolving a few drops of the extract into your tea.

In the 1970s, there was renewed interest in Wild Lettuce. And today, it is un-scheduled according to the standards of the Food and Drug Administration, meaning that while the plant is heavily associated to have similar effects as opium, it is legal to own, purchase, and grow your own Wild Lettuce without having to acquire a license or prescription.

2 Responses to “The History of Wild Lettuce”

1. melody says:
   June 5th, 2011 at 3:22 am

   wild lettuce is great!

2. joebaker says:
   July 1st, 2011 at 4:01 am

   what a great way to get a high (legally)… for now! – interesting history.

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