Lactuca sativa

Lactuca sativa
Family:Lactuca sativa; Anaphrodisiac; Anodyne; Antispasmodic; Carminative; Diuretic; Emollient; Expectorant; Febrifuge; Galactogogue; Hypnotic; Hypoglycaemic; Narcotic; Parasiticide; Sedative.
Common name:Lettuce
The whole plant is rich in a milky sap that flows freely from any wounds. This hardens and dries when in contact with the air. The sap contains 'lactucarium' which is used in medicine for its anodyne antispasmodic digestive diuretic hypnotic narcotic and sedative properties. 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. 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 cultivated lettuce does not contain as much lactucarium as the wild species most being produced when the plant is in flower. An infusion of the fresh or dried flowering plant can also be used. 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. Some physicians believe that any effects of this medicine are caused by the mind of the patient rather than by the medicine. The sap has also been applied externally in the treatment of warts. The seed is anodyne and galactogogue. Lettuce has acquired a folk reputation as an anaphrodisiac anodyne carminative diuretic emollient febrifuge hypoglycaemic hypnotic narcotic parasiticide and sedative.

Herbal Database

01.01.2005 04:00 []