Wild Lettuce
OTHER NAME(S): Acrid Lettuce, Allubbyne, Bitter Lettuce, German Lactucarium, Green Endive, Lactucarium, Laitue Amère, Laitue à Opium, Laitue Scariole, Laitue Serriole, Laitue Vireuse, Lettuce Opium, Poison Lettuce, Strong-Scented Lettuce, Wilder lattich, Lactuca virosa, Lechuga Silvestre, Laitue Sauvage
Overview
Wild lettuce is a plant. The leaves, sap (latex), and seed are used to make medicine.
Wild lettuce is used for whooping cough, asthma, urinary tract problems, cough, trouble sleeping (insomnia), restlessness, excitability in children, painful menstrual periods, excessive sex drive in women (nymphomania), muscular or joint pains, poor circulation, swollen genitals in men (priapism), and as an opium substitute in cough preparations.
Wild lettuce has calming, relaxing, and pain relieving effects.
The seed oil is used for "hardening of the arteries" (atherosclerosis) and as a substitute for wheat germ oil.
Some people apply wild lettuce latex directly to the skin to kill germs.
Some people inhale wild lettuce for a recreational "high" or hallucinogenic effect.
Wild lettuce has calming, relaxing, and pain relieving effects.
Uses
Insufficient Evidence for
- Whooping cough.
- Asthma.
- Urinary tract problems.
- Cough.
- "Hardening of the arteries" (atherosclerosis).
- Trouble sleeping (insomnia).
- Restlessness.
- Painful menstrual periods.
- Sexual disorders.
- Muscle and joint pain.
- Killing germs, when the latex is applied to the skin.
- Other conditions.
More evidence is needed to rate the effectiveness of wild lettuce for these uses.
Precautions
Wild lettuce is POSSIBLY SAFE for most people in small amounts.
Wild lettuce is LIKELY UNSAFE when eaten in large amounts or when the wild lettuce has been harvested too early. This can cause sweating, fast heartbeat, pupil dilation, dizziness, ringing in the ears, vision changes, sedation, breathing difficulty, and death.
Applying wild lettuce directly to the skin can cause irritation.
Pregnancy and breast-feeding: Not enough is known about the use of wild lettuce during pregnancy and breast-feeding. Stay on the safe side and avoid use.
Enlarged prostate (benign prostatic hyperplasia, BPH): Don't use wild lettuce if you have this condition. It contains a chemical that can harm people who have trouble urinating.
Allergy to ragweed and related plants: Wild lettuce may cause an allergic reaction in people who are sensitive to the Asteraceae/Compositae family. Members of this family include ragweed, chrysanthemums, marigolds, daisies, and many others. If you have allergies, be sure to check with your healthcare provider before taking wild lettuce.
Narrow-angle glaucoma: Don't use wild lettuce if you have this eye condition. It contains a chemical that might make glaucoma worse.
Surgery: Wild lettuce can affect the central nervous system. There is a concern that it might cause too much sleepiness if it is taken along with anesthesia and other nerve-numbing medications used during and after surgery. Stop using wild lettuce at least 2 weeks before a scheduled surgery.
Interactions
Moderate Interaction
Be cautious with this combination
- Sedative medications (CNS depressants) interacts with Wild LettuceWild lettuce might cause sleepiness and drowsiness. Medications that cause sleepiness are called sedatives. Taking wild lettuce along with sedative medications might cause too much sleepiness. Some sedative medications include clonazepam (Klonopin), lorazepam (Ativan), phenobarbital (Donnatal), zolpidem (Ambien), and others.
Dosing
The appropriate dose of wild lettuce depends on several factors such as the user's age, health, and several other conditions. At this time there is not enough scientific information to determine an appropriate range of doses for wild lettuce. Keep in mind that natural products are not always necessarily safe and dosages can be important. Be sure to follow relevant directions on product labels and consult your pharmacist or physician or other healthcare professional before using.
References
- Newall CA, Anderson LA, Philpson JD. Herbal Medicine: A Guide for Healthcare Professionals. London, UK: The Pharmaceutical Press, 1996.
- McGuffin M, Hobbs C, Upton R, Goldberg A, eds. American Herbal Products Association's Botanical Safety Handbook. Boca Raton, FL: CRC Press, LLC 1997.
- McEvoy GK, ed. AHFS Drug Information. Bethesda, MD: American Society of Health-System Pharmacists, 1998.
- Gruenwald J, Brendler T, Jaenicke C. PDR for Herbal Medicines. 1st ed. Montvale, NJ: Medical Economics Company, Inc., 1998.
- Brinker F. Herb Contraindications and Drug Interactions. 2nd ed. Sandy, OR: Eclectic Medical Publications, 1998.
- Besharat S, Besharat M, Jabbari A. Wild lettuce (Lactuca virosa) toxicity. BMJ Case Rep. 2009;2009. pii: bcr06.2008.0134.
- Gumprecht T. On the use of the Lactuca Virosa, in Hooping-Cough. Med Chir Trans. 1815;6:608-17. No abstract available.
- Mullins ME, Horowitz BZ. The case of the salad shooters: intravenous injection of wild lettuce extract. Vet Hum Toxicol. 1998;40(5):290-1.