HERB PROFILE · EDUCATIONAL REFERENCE

Wild Lettuce

Botanical nameLactuca virosa

Plant part usedLeaf and dried latex (lactucarium)

Important safety information: Poisoning can cause agitation, dizziness, sweating, nausea, vomiting, visual disturbance, urinary retention and dangerous nervous-system or cardiac effects. Avoid with sedatives, alcohol, glaucoma, prostate/urinary retention, pregnancy, breastfeeding and children. Never inject extracts.

Herbal actions

Sedative traditionally
analgesic traditionally
antispasmodic traditionally

Traditional and practitioner uses

These uses are presented for historical and educational context. They are not treatment claims.

Historical pain and sleep use
No established safe household dose
Not an opioid substitute

Main constituents

Sesquiterpene lactones including lactucin and lactucopicrin

Preparation overview

Tea: Not recommended for household dosing. Evidence is inadequate and poisoning has been reported after ingestion of wild lettuce preparations.

Liquid extract reference: Not recommended for self-dosing

Preparation strengths are not interchangeable. Open the interactive guide for the complete evidence notes and sources available for this herb.

Herbilous provides educational information only. It does not diagnose, prescribe, or replace professional medical advice. Seek urgent care for severe or worsening symptoms.