WILD LETTUCE LACTUCA VIROSA

WILD LETTUCE (Lactuca virosa L.) ++

Activities (Wild Lettuce) :
Allergenic (1; CAN); Analgesic (1; APA; CRC; FAD; PHR; PH2); Anaphrodisiac (f; MAD); Antispasmodic (1; CAN; PHR; PH2); Antitussive (f; CRC); Candidicide (1; APA); CNS Depressant (f; APA); Collyrium (f; CRC); Dermatitigenic (f; FAD); Diaphoretic (f; CRC); Diuretic (f; CRC; FAD; MAD); Emmenagogue (f; MAD); Expectorant (f; CRC); Fungicide (1; APA); Hallucinogen (f; APA); Hypnotic (f; CAN; CRC); Hypotensive (1; APA); Lactagogue (f; CRC; FAD); Laxative (f; CRC); Narcotic (f; PHR; PH2); Nervine (f; FAD); Poison (f; CRC); Sedative (1; APA; CAN; FAD; MAD); Soporific (f; APA; CRC); Tonic (f; FAD); Tranquilizer (f; PHR).

Indications (Wild Lettuce) :
Acne (f; FAD); Arthrosis (f; CAN); Asthma (f; CRC; PHR; PH2); Atherosclerosis (f; CRC; HHB; PHR; PH2); Blennorrhea (f; MAD); Bronchosis (f; PHR; PH2); Cancer (f; CRC); Candida (1; APA); Catarrh (f; PH2); Colic (f; CRC); Constipation (f; CRC); Cough (f; APA; CAN; PHR; PH2); Cramp (1; CAN; MAD; PHR; PH2); Cystosis (f; MAD); Dermatosis (f; FAD); Dropsy (f; CRC; MAD); Dysmenorrhea (f; CAN); Dyspnea (f; MAD); Dysuria (f; CRC; PH2); Fever (f; CRC); Fungus (1; APA); Gout (f; CRC); Hepatosis (f; CRC; HHB; PH2); High Blood Pressure (1; APA); Hyperkinesis (f; CAN); Infection (1; APA); Insomnia (1; APA; CAN; FAD; MAD); Jaundice (f; CRC); Laryngosis (f; CRC; MAD; PH2); Mycosis (1; APA); Myosis (f; CAN); Nervousness (1; APA; CAN; FAD; MAD; PHR); Nymphomania (f; CAN); Ophthalmia (f; MAD); Pain (1; APA; CAN; CRC; FAD; MAD; PHR; PH2); Pertussis (f; CAN; CRC; PHR; PH2); Poison Ivy (f; FAD); Priapism (f; CAN; MAD); Rheumatism (f; APA); Scrofula (f; MAD); Spermatorrhea (f; MAD); Strangury (f; CRC); Swelling (f; HHB; PH2); Tracheosis (f; CRC; HHB; PH2); UTI (f; PHR); Wart (f; FAD); Water Retention (f; CRC; FAD; MAD); Yeast (1; APA).

Dosages (Wild Lettuce) :
0.5–3 g dry leaf, or in tea, 3 ×/day (CAN); 0.3–1 g soft leaf extract (CAN); 0.5–3 ml liquid leaf extract (1:1 in 25% ethanol) 3 ×/day (CAN); 0.3–1 g lactucarium (dried latex) 3 ×/day (CAN; HHB; MAD).

Contraindications, Interactions, and Side Effects (Wild Lettuce) :
Class 1 (AHP) but class 2b. Australians council against exceeding dosage. Contraindicated in BPH and glaucoma (AHP). “Hazards and/or side effects not known for proper therapeutic dosages” (PH2) (but PH2 designates no specific quantified dosage! JAD). I do not believe the CAN listing of hyoscyamine (usually in Solanaceae), nor morphine (only in poppy) in wild or tame lettuce. Lettuce may contain allergenic sesquiterpenes. Overgrazing on immature wild lettuce has caused dyspnea, pulmonary emphysema, and weakness in cattle. In view of the lack of toxicological data, and the possible allergic activity, excessive use, especially during lactation and pregnancy, should be avoided. Overdoses may cause coma, depressed respiration, dizziness, mydriasis, stupor, tachycardia, tinnitus, and even death (CAN; PH2). Lactucarium is mydriatic; Lactucin and lactupicrin are sedatives, but do not readily cross the blood-brain barrier.