Drug info - Wild Lettuce (Lactuca virosa)

[Sushi]

 

• 1Introduction to Wild Lettuce
  • 1.1Physical characteristics
  • 1.2Chemical make-up
• 2Lactucarium
  • 2.1Effects of Wild Lettuce
  • 2.2Using Wild Lettuce
  • 2.3Ways of administration:
• 3The dangers of Wild Lettuce
• 4Combinations with Wild Lettuce
• 5Different Uses for Wild Lettuce
• 6History of Wild Lettuce
• 7Growing Wild Lettuce
• 8Forms of Wild Lettuce
• 9 Legal status of Wild Lettuce
  • 9.1United Nations
  • 9.2USA
  • 9.3EU
• 10More Wild Lettuce Sections
• 11The latest Ethnobotanicals threads
• 12References

[top]Introduction to Wild Lettuce

Wild Lettuce is a plant in the Lactuca genus in the family Asteraceae (or Compositae).

Origin: Europe, comes from the Mediterranean uplands. Indigenous to south west Europe, North Africa and West Asia. (A. Stojakowska, J.Malarz, W. Kisiel)

Range: Europe, including Britain, Central Russia and W. Asia, also distributed in other regions of the Northern Hemisphere, including America.

Other names: Bitter lettuce, Opium Lettuce, Laitue vireuse, Poisonous Lettuce, sałata jadowita, Rakutu-Karyumu-So.

[top]Physical characteristics

Lactuca virosa is a biennial herb with a fusiform, thick, branched root. In the first year of vegetation it produces a rosette of basal leaves and in the second year an erect stem (60-150cm) branched in the upper part. Its flowers are yellow, ligulate, collected in detached, elongated pyramidal panicles. The flowering period falls in June-August. Leaves are bluish-green, with prickles on the bottom side along the veins, basal - egg-shaped or oblongly oval (15-20cm long), upper – small – sagittate. The roots, leaves and stems white latex which darkens in an open air. (A. Stojakowska, J.Malarz, W. Kisiel)

Annual/Biennial growing to 1.8m. It is hardy to zone and is not frost tender. It is in flower from July to September, and the seeds ripen from August to September. The flowers are hermaphrodite (have both male and female organs) and are pollinated by insects.

Habitat: Grassy places by roads, canals etc. and on banks near the sea, usually on calcareous soils.
The wild lettuce is cultivated as a medicinal plant in many areas of Europe.
It requires well-drained moist soil. Prefers a light sandy loam, medium (loamy) soils and a sunny position. It cannot grow in the shade. The plant prefers acid, neutral and basic (alkaline) soils.

[top]Chemical make-up

"All parts of Wild Lettuce (lactuca virosa), but most of all the milk-juice, contain:
- the sedative acting sesquiterpene lacton
-bitter-substance (guaianolide) lactucine(C15H16O5)
and its p-hydroxyphenyl-'vinegar'acid-ester: lactupicrine (=latucopicrine).
(hope I translated the 'bitter-substance' and 'vinegar-acid' right)

The sesquiterpene lacton level is maximal 3.5% in the milk-juice. Further Wild Lettuce contains:
triterpene-alcohols (lactucerol),
a melampolglycoside (lactuside A),
guaianolide (11Beta,13-dihydrolactucerine, 8-deoxylactucine, glycoside, jaquineline and zaluzanine-derivates."

Sources:
National institute of public health and the environment of the Netherlands. RIVM "Smartshops, overview of products, claimed effect and their medical-toxicological relevance." 1999

Wild lettuce has been found to contain lactucic acid, lactucopicrin, 50 to 60 per cent lactucerin (lactucone) and lactucin.

We wszystkich częściach rośliny występuje biały, brunatniejący sok mleczny, zawierający 0,5-0,9% (w suchym 5-9%) gorzkich laktonów seskwiterpenowych - laktucyny i jej estru laktukopiryny.

Alkaloids [PL]:
laktucyna,
laktukopiryna,
sekwiterpeny laktonowe,
flawonoidy oparte na kwercetynie,
kumaryny,
cynchonina,
aesculina,
N-metylo, b-fenyloetyloamina.

W surowcu występuje: (in raw material:)
ol. eteryczny,
gorycz laktucyna i laktukopiryna,
następnie laktucerol,
mannitol,
alkaloidy,
b-amiryna,
kwasy organiczne.
[/PL]


The whole plant is rich in a milky sap piekący smak (see below) that flows freely from any wounds. This hardens and dries when in contact with the air. It is harvested in the summer when it is in flower. That's when the plant puts its energy in mating. How long it will live depends on your growing season. The sap contains 'lactucarium', which is used in medicine for its anodyne, antispasmodic, digestive, diuretic, hypnotic, narcotic and sedative properties. This species is probably the richest supply of lactucarium.

How would you describe the taste of the sap? Is it bitter? Acrid? Pungent??
(Sushi)

[top]Lactucarium

The latex from aerial parts known as Lactucarium germanicum, Opium frigidum or lettuce opium was mentioned in Dutch, Spanish and German (until 1890) pharmacopoeias. It was know as an antitussive and sedative remedy in ancient times (Dioscorides, Hippokrates, Gallen) and was used to produce analgesia before the introduction of chloroform. In 1799 Cox from Philadelphia noticed similarity of pharmacological effects caused by lactucarium to those produced by poppy opium. In the 19th century lactucarium, as well as tinctures, extracts and syrups prepared from the plant were widely used in official medicine. The interest in the plant at that time led to the first isolation of two major constituents of lactucarium – lactucin and lactucopicrin, by Ludwig and Kromayer in 1847 (cited by Spath et al. 1951). Later, initial pharmacological and clinical studies were carried out and it was generally accepted that the compounds were responsible for the opiate resembling activity of the plant (Hegi1929; Frost 1937). In the 1930s, Knoll A.G. pharmaceutical company introduced Latucyl – an antitussic drug containing 0.2g sesquiterpene lactones per dose. (A. Stojakowska, J.Malarz, W. Kisiel)

Since early ages, wild lettuce has enjoyed a special status as a beneficial therapeutic plant and was treasured as a tranquilizer and pain killer. Lettuce Opium - Lactucarium - is well known in medicine that pre-dates the industrial revolution. Used as a sedative when actual opium is not available, it induces a "hypnotic state marked by strange dreams".

Concentrations of lactucarium are low in young plants and most concentrated when the plant comes into flower. It is collected commercially by cutting the heads of the plants and scraping the juice into china vessels several times a day until the plant is exhausted. The liquid from the stem is the most potent part of the plant.

It is used in the treatment of chronic catarrh, coughs, swollen liver, flatulence and ailments of the urinary tract.
The sap has also been applied externally in the treatment of warts.
A homeopathic remedy is made from the plant.

Some physicians believe that any effects of this medicine are caused by the mind of the patient rather than by the medicine. About half the people who try it report feeling nothing while the other half report positive effects. People who only use drugs occasionally (or not at all) will benefit the most from this substance. In most cases, people who consume marijuana or other drugs on a daily or almost daily basis, don't feel much.

Toksycznie działają obecne w soku mlecznym gorycze: laktucyna i laktukopiryna. Laktucyna jest znacznie bardziej aktywna niż laktukopiryna. Oba związki działają ośrodkowo uspokajająco i depresyjnie (już we względnie małych dawkach jako antagoniści kofeiny), lecz dużo słabiej od morfiny. W odróżnieniu od morfiny nie wykazują działania analgetycznego.

As usual, the plant has flavanoids, an antioxidant ( such as those in normal tea) as well as coumarins, and n methyl beta phenethylamine.

In old literature (Giftpflänze, Frohne & Pfänder 1983) there have been notes of a hyoscamine-like alkaloid present in Lactusa virosa, but this has never been proved. New studies claim this is not present.
(Wild lettuce and yams)

[top]Effects of Wild Lettuce

Anodyne; Antispasmodic; Digestive; Homeopathy; Hypnotic; Narcotic; Sedative; Tonic.

Silny środek nasenny, wykrztuśny, rozkurczający i kojący. Medycyna ludowa wykorzystywała lactucarium jako lek przeciwastmatyczny. Dawniej wykorzystywano sok mleczny sałaty jadowitej, gdy brakowało opium do znieczulania. Środek bywa porównywany do opium, ale jest dużo łagodniejszy. Działa uspokajająco, wywołuje uczucie zrelaksowania i euforię. Mimo działania podobnego do opium, ziele nie zawiera alkaloidów podobnych strukturalnie do opiatów, nie wywołuje też typowych dla nich nudności.

Wild lettuce is a natural sedative, it is very good for an over-excited nervous system. It is particually good for hyperactive children, and can be of considerable help with symptoms of over-excitement or inability to sleep. Known as "lettuce opium" it is also helpful for adults who suffer from insomnia, restlessness, anxiety or neurosis.

It's natural tranquilising effects also help the condition of the individual if suffering from whooping cough, or coughs in general. It can also relieve colic type pain, including menstrual pains and rheumatism. Wild lettuce can help reduce the feeling of restlessness, excitability and insomnia. Furthermore it can relieve colic pains in the intestines and uterus and also muscular pains related to rheumatism.

Lactucarium has the effects of a feeble opium, but without its tendency to cause digestive upsets, nor is it addictive. It is taken internally in the treatment of insomnia, anxiety, neuroses, hyperactivity in children, dry coughs, whooping cough, rheumatic pain etc.

[top]Using Wild Lettuce

Lactuca Virosa (Opium Lettuce/ Wild Lettuce)

[top]Ways of administration:

An infusion of the fresh or dried flowering plant can be used.

Wild Lettuce cut leaves, 1-2 teaspoonsful per cup of hot water up to 3 times a day. It has a bitter flavouring, and is best used as a tea with lemon or with sugar (honey would be better).

Herbal Tincture, Extraction Ratio 1:3, Alcohol Vol. 45%, 2-4ml up to 3 times a day.

LATEX (Lactucarium), Tincture [1:2, 95% alcohol], 1/2 to 1 teaspoon.”

The liquid from the stem is the most potent part of the plant and is geneally too strong to be used as a sleep aid , but it can be put into hot water and frozen into cubes , and this can be used as a ready made tea , just drop a cube into a hot cup of water before bed.This will keep potentcy for weeks.

Wild lettuce tea
Best way to make a Wild Lettuce extract?

Dosage: The wild lettuce plant (or the hearts and roots of iceberg lettuce) is liquefied in a blender
until about a pint of liquid is produced. The liquid is then left in a bowl under heat lamps or the hot
sun until it has evaporated, leaving only a sticky brownish-green residue. The residue is placed in an
opium pipe and heated, with the pipe pointed downward so that the residue does not get in the stem.
The resultant white smoke is held in the lungs for about half a minute.

David W. Group - Encyclopedia of Herbs and Mind Enhancing Substances

[top]The dangers of Wild Lettuce

Describe the addiction potential, toxicity and other risks.
"The plant should be used with caution, and never without the supervision of a skilled practitioner. Even normal doses can cause drowsiness whilst excess causes restlessness and overdoses can cause death through cardiac paralysis."

Describe problems and risks that arise with Overdose, side-effects, long term effects.
Cases of poisoning caused by this plant have only been recorded very rarely. Can cause drowsiness, or if taken in excess can cause restlessness. Side effects include distorted vision, loss of balance , and in lactating women an increse , substantial, in milk production (galactagogue).

Podczas szczytu popularności tej używki nie stwierdzono przypadków toksyczności lub wywołania uzależnienia.

[top]Combinations with Wild Lettuce

Describe which combinations are possible or known.

It can be combined well with Valerian as a sleepwell tea.
It is a powerful sleep aid and is best mixed with valeria root, and hops (chmiel, Humulus L.). For insomnia it combines with valerian (Valeriana officinalis) and pasque flower (Euphorbia pulcherrima).

Dioscorides sited (sp?) this as the reason the lactucarium, or juice, of wild lettuce would be added to opium latex, for it was known to possess the properties of an effective pain reliever and sedative sleeping aid.

To fight irritable coughs wild lettuce may be combined with wild cherry bark.

Describe the effects, side effect, after effects.

Wild lettuce (lactuca virosa) terrible experience
(another recurrence of hyoscine myth, also about combination of Wild Lettuce, hydrocodone and Adderall)

Describe problems with combining the drug.

Please check relating studies for information. Reviewing the available studies on the topic is essential. Please see medline & the file archive. If you do not have access to medline, please request the articles you need, from a member who does have access. See the file request thread here:
Help from people with Medline access requested

[top]Different Uses for Wild Lettuce

i.e. medical, recreative, erotic, etc.

[top]History of Wild Lettuce

The history of Wild Lettuce can be traced way back to the ancient Egyptians. Lettuce was depicted on Egyptian paintings 4500 years B.C and the Egyptian god of fertility, Min, is closely tied to the plant and he is often depicted holding a rosette of Lactuca serriola. Min was the god of the desert, of lightening and sandstorms, in addition to being known as the god of procreation and fertility. The lettuce and the phallus symbolically represented Min.

Articles on the Egyptians and the use of Wild Lettuce as an aphrodisiac and sex enhancer:
Egyptians ate lettuce to boost sex drive
(article claiming in the end there are tropane alkaloids in lactucarium)
Min, God of Fertility, Power and the Eastern Desert...

Wild Lettuce was also used by the Romans, and Augustus was said to have raised a statue in honor of the Lettuce infusion that he claimed saved his life. The story goes that Roman emperor Augustus supposedly constructed a statue of a physician who had recommended lettuce to treat him of a serious ailment. While it is not comprehensible which variety of lettuce cured the emperor, it is believed that the herb was wild lettuce.

The Roman naturalist Gaius Plinius Secundus (23 AD - 79 AD) , better known as Pliny the Elder wrote extensively of Lactuca in his work Naturalis Historia:

http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/cgi-bin...&group=typecat

Dioscorides, the famed physician, pharmacologist and botanist of ancient Greece who authored the pioneering five volume tome “De Materia Medica” - the precursor to all modern pharmacopeias - described wild lettuce as having effects similar to that of Papaver somniferum, the opium poppy.

In medical practice, Lactuca virosa has been used for over a thousand years as a substitute for opium. The Arab physician that introduced opium to Islamic medicine (Avicenna 980-1036) wrote that the Lactuca virosa produced opium that was similar, but mild in comparison to real opium.

As a food, Lactuca virosa has a history of being used in salads.

Lactucarium (called “opium frigidum”) was in past centuries used together with poison hemlock (Conium L.) and henbane (Hyoscyamus niger) as a narcoticum during surgeries.

Due to a high latex content in the plant material Wild Lettuce was utilized as an alternative source of rubber during the World War II.

Lactucarium was produced by pharmaceutical companies until about the 1940's. With the passing of time Wild Lettuce was replaced with varieties almost completely devoid of medicinal properties.

In mid 70’s Wild Lettuce extracts intended for smoking was sold in USA under trade names of "L'Opium" i "Lettucene".

[top]Growing Wild Lettuce

Can include synthesis or growing, depending on which drug is described. Should include general text on making … and one or more how to grow … or how to synth … TEK’s. Difficulties(diseases, molds, infection, etc with growing) If this goes beyond your knowledge, contact me about it. If many TEK's exist, it is possible to link to several documents, pdf's, pages or threads.

Lactuca Virosa (Wild Lettuce)

[top]Forms of Wild Lettuce

Used: extracts, tinctures, dried leaves, infusions.
Optimal storage: store in a cool dry place away from direct sunlight.

Photo's of the drug in it's various forms are welcome. Please upload them to the suited section of the image gallery and then place a link in the article. Then the photo will be displayed

[top] Legal status of Wild Lettuce

Is it controlled anywhere at all?

[top]United Nations

Describe the legal situation according to the UN treaties.
See: http://www.unodc.org/enl

[top]USA

Describe the legal situation in the USA.

[top]EU

Describe the legal situation in the EU.

Describe the legal situation in other countries.
See: http://www.unodc.org/enl/browse_countries.jsp

[top]More Wild Lettuce Sections

Wild Lettuce Experiences : post & read experiences with Wild Lettuce.

Wild Lettuce File Archive Upload and read research & articles on Wild Lettuce.
If no such section exists yet, please request this. Please upload files to this section.

Wild Lettuce Forum Post and read about Wild Lettuce.

Wild Lettuce Image GalleryPost and view pictures of Wild Lettuce.
If no such section exists yet, please request this. Please upload files to this section.

[top]The latest Ethnobotanicals threads

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Category: Wild Lettuce

[top]References

1. Erowid
2. Wikipedia
3. various websites
3. A. Stojakowska, J.Malarz, W. Kisiel “Lactuca virosa: in vitro culture and production of sesquiterpene lactones” in Medicinal and aromatic plants, Volume 11 by Y. P. S. Bajaj.
4. Adam Gottlieb "Legal Highs"
5. David W. Group "Encyclopedia of Mind Enhancing Foods, Drugs and Nutritional Substances"