I planted these two wild lettuce plants in the summer of 2017, and this year the growth has really taken off. The reasoning for my planting this was that I could never find wild lettuce growing on our property; or anywhere nearby in all my walks. I had been reading up on the plant last year and all its medicinal properties for pain relief and anxiety issues.
Right now I currently have a wild lettuce tincture in the cupboard brewing. It still has four weeks before I will be able to test it out. This is for me and my anxiety and to help relax my mind when I am having an episode due to my auto-immune disease. My doctor had prescribed Xanax, but anyone who knows me, I do NOT like taking medications that are developed in a laboratory. I prefer natural homeopathy and natural remedies.
I also want to make a wild lettuce resin for my husband for his chronic back and neck pain, Back in 2013, he had neck surgery; having a plate put in from C3-C6 in his neck. He had degenerative disc disease and it was wreaking havoc on his all over lifestyle, work related tasks and just a general pain that he was having problems handling day in and day out. The surgery helped with the pain, but then his doctor prescribed Schedule 1 narcotics. (Sigh) And if you know anything about opioids, they are NOT easy to stop once you have become dependent on them.
I am hoping once I can harvest the sap/latex from within the wild lettuce stems that I can produce enough of the resin for him to be once and forever not dependent on any pain medications. It has been a long road for us with this and he has been trying all types of alternative medications (growing cannabis, sampling CBD oil treatments, etc). Adding the wild lettuce resin will be another one, but without the concerns of drug-testing issues and him (Mr Golden D) not being legally a MMMP (Medical Marihuana Program card holder); as wild lettuce is not a narcotic and does not show up on drug-testing.
According to WebMD's website:
Wild lettuce is a plant. The leaves, sap (latex), and seed are used to make medicine.
Wild lettuce is used for whooping cough, asthma, urinary tract problems, cough, trouble sleeping (insomnia), restlessness, excitability in children, painful menstrual periods, excessive sex drive in women (nymphomania), muscular or joint pains, poor circulation, swollen genitals in men (priapism), and as an opium substitute in cough preparations.
The seed oil is used for “hardening of the arteries” (atherosclerosis) and as a substitute for wheat germ oil.
Some people apply wild lettuce latex directly to the skin to kill germs.
Some people inhale wild lettuce for a recreational "high" or hallucinogenic effect.
How does it work?
Wild lettuce has calming, relaxing, and pain relieving effects.
I had purchased a packet of ten wild lettuce seeds last year and planted two in the front herb and flower garden area. Plus this year I planted two more in the back of the property as I had heard these may have the tendency to be a biennial producing the milky sap substance in the stems that is used to make the resin.
ALL images are my own
Great post, very informative!
Sorry to hear about the troubles your husband is going through, I hope the tincture works wonders for him.
I’ve been on the lookout for these around my place as well, no luck yet.
I’d be interested in a few seeds when ya sell’em. :)
I did not know about the pain relieving qualities of wild lettuce! I learned something new! Thanks, @goldendawne!
I didn't either until last year when I was researching new additions that I wanted to add to the herb and flower garden for this year and in 2019.
howdy there @goldendawne! so you have a literal botanic garden there!
so sorry to hear about your husband, hopefully the wild lettuce tincture will help but why does it take four months to use?
this is amazing what you're doing, I think it's a God given project I really do. what is the immune disease that you're fighting? I'm sorry I forgot.
God bless you both!
Not months... only four weeks. The selected herb, plant, leaf or flowers need to infuse good into the alcohol or glycerin oil; which ever you use.
I have Meniere's Disease- effects hearing, balance, vertigo, etc
howdy back @goldendawne..oh ok I get it.
Meniere's Disease..I've never heard of that, is that rare?and you have found at least some herbal treatments?
I've never had lettuce flower. Neat to see the seeds are like a dandelion.
I'm with you on the Natural, Homeopathy side of the fence. Doctors cannot wait to find something wrong with you... And their medication comes from refined plants! You couldn't make this crap up!
Personally this area is one of my weak points... Although i am up to speed on most alternative remedies...
I haven't even considered Wild Lettuce before...
Great exposure!
I understand wild lettuce is one of the most powerful pain relievers in nature. Nature's morphine so to speak. My trouble is identifying it. There's so much out there that look like it if it's not in flower, at least to my eyes. I don't grab something I am not 100% sure of. It has been used for a very long time for chronic pain and I too need to get more familiar with it. Great post!
Cool about all the seeds!
Still waiting for the sap post.... :))
Great post! So sorry about what you and your husband have been through, and thank you for sharing the information.
They are not dandelion, are they?
I am loving your wild plant discovery adventures!
I collect many seeds and put them in the garden, I call them wild sourced seeds... Once they are in my garden they are not wild foods but cultivated foods, easier to feed the hubby on the down low!
Today's adventure is to learn about collecting wild grass seeds to seed the area we cleared this spring for wedding parking this fall... Its time to mow... But the seeds!!! I will likely be leaping ahead of the mower with basket in hand... Lol