Lactuca virosa
This herb
contains the
tropane hyoscyamine, much as the nightshades do,
but Lactucarium, an Eclectic preparation made from the
latex harvest from this
herb when it is flowering, is a sedating bitter that contains no
hyoscyamine. Its dried latex looks, tastes, and
smells similar to opium (more Moon here) and so
has been used to adulterate opium in the past,
which probably partially accounts for one of its common
names, lettuce opium.
In British herbalism, it is often combined with passionflower
and hops in equal parts and made into a tea for insomnia. 1/2-1
teaspoon of the herb mixture per cup is infused 15 minutes and 1/2
cup of the infusion drunk for chronic sleeplessness. Although
the very young leaves are edible, it is better to grow regular cultivated
lettuce for table use.
Be careful with this plant, as it is toxic in large quantities;
'virosa' means poisonous, as in 'virulent.' It can cause stupor
and has even caused death, but it is generally less dangerous
than various other baneful plants. This plant is also
known
as
strong-scented
lettuce, laitue vireuse, and acrid
lettuce. This is not the same as Lactuca scariola or
prickly lettuce, which is often sold in its place. Note that the
leaves of L. virosa are not lobed like those of L. scariola (see
pic of L. virosa plants from Harold's garden). |
Lactuca virosa
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