Wild lettuce 25 gr

Description
The wild lettuce is a plant belonging to the Asteraceae family, of European origin, biennial, with widely branched root. The stem is straight, hollow, branched, smooth and usually spend three feet high. Its leaves are serrated on the edges, bluish green or purple. The inflorescence is formed by a small spike of pale yellow chapters. The fruits are black and small dimensions.

Properties
The plant has various chemicals: alkaloids, organic acids and bitter substances, esters (lactucerol) and lactucin lactupicrina, alcohols, enzymes.

Powerful narcotic effects, hypnotics and sedatives. Ingestion of this tea soothes the nervous excitement. The lactucarium (opiarium apparently related word) is obtained by making incisions into the lactiferous vessels of the plant stem. It has an action similar to opium, but is not habit forming, so wild lettuce is also known as lettuce opium.

 

Effects
Wild Lettuce is used for its soothing and relaxing. It acts similarly to opium, but without side effects. It is a valuable remedy for insomnia, nervousness, excitement, and other manifestations of an overactive nervous system. As an antispasmodic, can be used as part of a treatment coughing. Relieves cramps in the intestines and uterus, so you can use in case of dysmenorrhea. Relieves muscle aches associated with rheumatism.

Use
Wild Lettuce can be drunk as a tea: Put 1 to 2 tablespoons of tea in one cup of boiling water and let stand for 10-15 minutes. Drink three times a day.

Another method is to prepare an extract. Place 100 grams of wild lettuce for 8 hours in warm water without allowing it to boil. Filter and drain all liquid from wild lettuce. Place the liquid in a pan in a water bath and let it evaporate. What remains is a paste known as wild lettuce opium.

For dry cough can be mixed with wild cherry root. To combat insomnia and valerian mixed with poinsettia.