https://www.gardenology.org/w/index.php?action=history&feed=atom&title=Lactuca_virosaLactuca virosa - Revision history2026-04-10T08:29:06ZRevision history for this page on the wikiMediaWiki 1.43.0https://www.gardenology.org/w/index.php?title=Lactuca_virosa&diff=6996&oldid=prevMediaWiki default at 05:17, 25 August 20072007-08-25T05:17:23Z<p></p>
<p><b>New page</b></p><div>{{Taxobox<br />
| color = lightgreen<br />
| name = Wild Lettuce<br />
| image = Koeh-213.jpg<br />
| image_width = 250px<br />
| image_caption = Wild lettuce (''Lactuca virosa'')<br />
| regnum = [[Plantae]]<br />
| divisio = [[Flowering plant|Magnoliophyta]]<br />
| classis = [[Magnoliopsida]]<br />
| ordo = [[Asterales]]<br />
| familia = [[Asteraceae]]<br />
| genus = ''[[Lactuca]]''<br />
| species = '''''L. virosa'''''<br />
| binomial = ''Lactuca virosa''<br />
| binomial_authority = [[Carolus Linnaeus|L.]]<br />
}}<br />
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'''''Lactuca virosa''''' is a legal [[ethnobotanical]] in the United States. It is related to common lettuce (''[[Lactuca sativa|L. sativa]]''), and is often called '''Wild Lettuce''', '''Bitter lettuce''', '''Laitue vireuse''', '''Opium Lettuce''', '''Poisonous Lettuce''', or '''Rakutu-Karyumu-So'''.<br />
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==History==<br />
''L. virosa'' was used in the 19th century by physicians when opium could not be obtained. It was studied extensively by the Council of the Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain in 1911 [http://www.wildlettuce.com/index.html#info|1]. They discovered two chemicals responsible for the properties of ''L. virosa''; [[lactucopicrin]] and [[lactucin]]. In the United States, the plant experienced a resurgence in popularity in the [[1970s]]. Today the plant is [[Controlled Substances Act|un-scheduled]] by the [[Food and Drug Administration]] (FDA), meaning it is legal to grow, purchase and own without prescription or license.<br />
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==Uses==<br />
The effects of ingesting ''L. virosa'' are similar to [[opium]], although no [[opiates]] are present in the plant. Effects are felt quickly but do not last long, between half an hour to a couple of hours. They dwindle slowly. The plant has been used as an anesthetic and a sleep aid, as well as recreationally. Oils and extracts can be produced from ''L. virosa'', they are often added to tea to help induce sleep. Many add the greens to salads, though the leaves of ''L. virosa'' are more bitter than other salad greens. Smoking involves either dried leaves or a sticky precipitate extracted from the leaves. Beverages can be prepared by soaking the leaves in alcohol.<br />
<!-- Image with unknown copyright status removed: [[Image:L_virosa.jpg|thumb|left|225px|Wild lettuce's analgesic effects have earned it the nickname Opium lettuce]] --><br />
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The plant contains [[flavonoids]], which have strong anti-oxidant properties. ''L. virosa'' has also been found to contain [[coumarin]]s, and [[phenethylamine|N-methyl-β-phenethylamine]] [http://www.holistic-online.com/Herbal-Med/_Herbs/h307.htm|2]. It has also been found to be a [[galactagogue]] for many women ( a substance which increases breast milk), particularly when used in combination with alfalfa.<br />
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==References==<br />
* {{cite book | author=[[Neltje Blanchan|Blanchan, Neltje]] | title=[[Wild Flowers Worth Knowing]] | year=[[2005]] | publisher=[[Project Gutenberg|Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation]]}}<br />
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==External links==<br />
*[http://www.erowid.org/plants/lactuca/ Erowid]<br />
*[http://www.wildlettuce.com Wild lettuce]<br />
*[http://plants.usda.gov/java/profile?symbol=LAVI8 USDA Plants Profile: ''Lactuca virosa''] <br />
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[[Category:Asteraceae]]<br />
[[Category:Medicinal plants]]</div>MediaWiki default