Thank you for the info

 

A little too late this past season I hunted up and harvested as much as I could find. Not too much because it was late August when I started and in my area would have fared better probably in June.

Some is still hanging in my garage and some stripped off already. I probably have several ounces worth of dried leaves. I also harvested several thousand of the tiny seeds. I hope they'll germinate in the spring.
The only one I've been able to find locally is the prickly version. It's pretty much the same but has a line of tiny, fine prickleys along the spine on the underside of the leaf.

I've only tried it as tea once but it did seem to help the pain I was having at the time.

This year I plan to harvest a bunch and make an extract. You can also buy it pretty cheaply on line.

Sent from my SM-G930P using Tapatalk

 

Thank you..where can I buy the seeds do you know? I live in zone 5 and not sure if I have ever seen this plant before..

 

So far the only place I've found the seeds is on Ebay but Amazon has it in liquid extract form. I'm waiting on a bottle of it to come in.

 

Question from a legal standpoint. Is this restricted in any way? And does this show up on drug tests as anything illicit? Sometimes i have bad back pain flare up from an old injury and id like something to take away a good chunk of the pain without taking Opiates (i hate the side effects from opiates). Being in the reserves we get tested at random so i dont want to risk my career at all.

 

This is not illegal and does not have opium in it. The professionals are saying it has opium like effects but not actual opium. So, you'd be good to go.

 

Place the pot on the stove at low heat for 30 minutes. Do not let it boil, because you’ll destroy all the good stuff in it...

This solution contains all the core elements of Wild Lettuce, especially the pain killing essence. But it’s not concentrated enough. In order to obtain this essence you should warm it over low heat again until the water is vaporized, basically dehydrating the solution until it becomes a paste like this.

Be careful at the end when there is little water left, you should not burn the extract at bottom of the pot.

If getting up to boiling is going to destroy the good stuff, this sounds like it would be a good project to use your dehydrator for rather than trying to evaporate it down on that stove.

 

I'm not sure i'd want to try doing that with a dehydrator. I've evaporated milk and other things before without a problem when making types of desserts so this shouldn't be a problem I don't think.

 

UPDATE:

Got that bottle of liquid extract of Wild Lettuce (Latuca Virosa) from Amazon. Been using it for a couple of days. It helps a little so far, takes the edge off anyway. Its a thin liquid, smells and tastes like just cut sweet alfalfa. I like it. For someone who has just the normal aches and pain with aging should work good for you.

Those of us with chronic pain it may/can help some. I'll be buying seeds to make my own that way I can concentrate it more.

 

What is the dosage instructions?

 

Take about 20 to 30 drops (1 full squeeze of dropper) and put in 2 to 4 ozs of juice or water up to 4 times a day.

I've been taking it straight, just putting it in on my tongue and holding it for a few seconds. Tastes good.

 

It looks rite to me

 

don't think so ,,,looks more like curly dock,,,,flowers on wild lettuce look more dandelion like

 

The leaves are different than the wild lettuce I know. Wait for it to flower out and see what color the flowers are to help ID. http://www.illinoiswildflowers.info/prairie/plantx/wild_lettucex.htm They are yellow to orangish around here. My understanding is that you are supposed to wait until then to harvest anyway.

With that said, there are different wild lettuce out there I see talked about. "opium" lettuce, etc.

What are you using it for?

Are you looking to smoke it or dry out the leaves for pain relief?

If so, have you used it before (store bought) and does it work for you?

Thanks.

 

No
Google "prickly lettuce"

 

I was checking the website for the farmer almanac for weather predictions and came with something called wild lettuce that is apparently a non-opiate pain reliever.
Does anyone here have any experience or knowledge of this plant.

 

I know of it. I have a square bed in the backyard where I have cultivated it, but have not tried it for pain relief yet. I have a lot more studying to do before I try to self medicate in that way.

 

I was getting some off of Amazon for a while. It works if you have mild to moderate pain. I have chronic pain, moderate to major and it helps up to a certain point. I like it.

I bought some seeds off of Amazon to start growing my own next spring. There are several youtube videos about it. Interesting info.

 

Wild Lettuce

Also known as Prickly Lettuce, I have identified lots of it growing in road ditches locally. I should grab some seeds. Taller plant than I was led to believe in the plant identifier websites. Most mature plants seem to be in the four and a half to six foot range. Bright yellow 4" flower much like a 'Black-eyed Susan'. Some mature stems are dingy reddish colored. Seems like it is possible to see it in the wild most areas of the U.S.

Incidentally, I have yet to see one of those sites where there is a ruler in the picture to help ID plants.

 

Also known as Prickly Lettuce, I have identified lots of it growing in road ditches locally. I should grab some seeds. Taller plant than I was led to believe in the plant identifier websites. Most mature plants seem to be in the four and a half to six foot range. Bright yellow 4" flower much like a 'Black-eyed Susan'. Some mature stems are dingy reddish colored. Seems like it is possible to see it in the wild most areas of the U.S.

Incidentally, I have yet to see one of those sites where there is a ruler in the picture to help ID plants.

Are you sure you have the right plant? Around here the flowers tend to be around 1 1/2" and look more like a dandelion flower.

 

Back in the 80's I knew a guy who said he extracted some sort of opiate out of the hearts of Endive and Escarole lettuce. Weird how some things stick with you, haven't heard about it since. Probably something totally different, just jarred my memory.

 

LOL, my high school science teacher in 79 or 80 taught us how to make "lettucine" a sticky substance with opiate like qualities. Ah, the things you remember from school.

 

Please share.

 

Fool-proof positive identification: grow your own.


https://strictlymedicinalseeds.com/product/lettuce-wild-lactuca-virosa-packet-of-50-seeds-organic/

Lettuce, Wild (Wild Lettuce) (Lactuca virosa), packet of 50 seeds, organic
$3.95

Family: Aster (Asteracea)

Hardy to Zones 5 to 9, readily grown as a spring-planted annual

(Lettuce Opium, Wild Lettuce, Bitter Lettuce) Overwintering annual or biennial. Native to Central and Southern Europe. Young plants of giant wild lettuce are a good ingredient for heroic salads. I eat the leaves freely in the early spring. This is the most cold hardy of all lettuces, in the right circumstances producing very reasonable salads midwinter, which is before the plant goes tough and bitter. Lactuca virosa is a preferred wild species from Europe–highest latex content, nutrient dense, good winter salad, bright purple-black seeds, much less spiny than the weedy types (e.g Lactuca spinosa), which we do not carry.

Traditional usage (TWM): Sedative, pain-relieving, antispasmodic, digestive bitter, euphoric used to treat insomnia, restlessness, bodily pain, painful menses, digestive woes. Source of lactucarium, the white latex that contains alkaloids (Lactulin) and sesquiterpene lactones. Sow in spring or fall, in pots or directly in beds outdoors. Barely cover seed with soil and tamp securely, then keep evenly moist until germination, which takes 10 to 20 days. Very warm soil temperatures retard or disallow germination. Transplant or thin to 6 inches apart. Flowers yellow to 6 feet.

50 seeds/pkt., Certified Organically Grown

Lettuce, Wild (Lactuca virosa), packet of 50 seeds, organic

---

https://pfaf.org/user/Plant.aspx?LatinName=Lactuca+virosa



There are other kinds of wild lettuces that grow wild in America. Lactuca serriola (prickly lettuce) has properties similar to the L. virosa mentioned above.

https://commonsensehome.com/prickly-wild-lettuce/


This site is an excellent resource for learning more about how to prepare and use this plant:
https://www.primalsurvivor.net/wild-lettuce/

 

Knowledge isn't illegal. At least not yet.

 

From injury to disease, pain is a very common ailment or symptom that can take down the toughest of the tough. It’s so prevalent that we are seeing a major epidemic with opiate dependency. Unfortunately, with so many needing to find relief, it’s leading to a large portion of our population becoming often just masking the problem, rather than fixing the cause.
Unfortunately, it’s getting so widespread that the medical field view many of those in real need as “seekers”. So, instead of getting relief from tangible pain, people are being turned away. As a result, they are finding it illegally, and pain clinics and rehabs are popping up all over, trying to combat the addiction.
Wild Lettuce as a Healthy Alternative

Wild Lettuce
Lactuca Virosa is the scientific term for it, and many people have used it in place of addictive prescription pain medicine. It’s a leafy and tall plant, with small yellow buds, and could be grown right out your door. More commonly found in North America and Englandit’s a cousin to the lettuce we typically see at the grocery store. It’s also referred to as bitter lettuce, or more appropriately for the purpose discussed here, opium lettuce.
The reason it’s referred to as opium lettuce, is due to the pain relieving and sedative effects that it has been known to produce through a white substance found in the stem and leaves.

This milky substance is called lactucarium. And, while it doesn’t contain any opiates, it has similar side effects when used – it acts directly on the central nervous system (CNS) to lessen the feeling of pain, just like morphine.
Even though it seems to be the best kept secret, it has a history of being used as an alternative to pain relief.
Historical Use
Back in the 19th century, wild lettuce was already being used by some as a substitute to opium. But, it was in the 70’s that it started to gain significant popularity by those wanting a more natural remedy. Individuals were starting to use it for both pain relief, as well as recreational purpose.
In the earlier days, people using wild lettuce prepared it a couple different ways. One way was to cook the plant in a pan of water and sugar mix, until it reduced to a thick syrup-like consistency. While this was an effective form, it was quite bitter even with the sugar added. The most common form however, was drying the stem and leaves to use as an herbal tea.
The tea remains popular today. But, it’s also being dried for smoking, or vaporizing. If you don’t care to grow it yourself, it can also be purchased as a dried herb, extract, or resin substance.
Other Benefits
Here are the more popular reasons people are gravitating towards this natural pain killer and medicinal plant:

• Migraines – People who use it for this purpose claim that they experience fewer migraines than they did prior to starting the herb.
• Insomnia – A frequent use of wild lettuce is by people who have trouble sleeping. It produces a relaxed and euphoric feeling, helping a person fall asleep easier, without the addictive qualities of commonly prescribed sleeping aids.
• Anxiety – Wild lettuce can act as a mild sedative, allowing people with anxiety to find a reprieve from the stress it causes.
• Asthma and Cough – Wild lettuce has antitussive properties, which alleviates or suppresses a cough. Also, asthmatic patients who have used opiates notice more episodes if they go through opiate withdrawal. So, the use of wild lettuce instead of prescription opiates, could be a better option for them.

In addition to the above benefits, wild lettuce produces a euphoric state, similar to opiates, even though it does not contain any actual opiate… so it’s perfectly legal.

 

Does it grow in the Rockies?

 

No

 

You are aware that morphine is a natural painkiller that grows in your backyard also right? With maybe a little more svientific evidence behind it.

 

Grew up in Vallejo Ca, the field by my house had tons of those weeds we always called them “milk weed”. I knew it had some good uses back then, but never tried it.

 

Wonder if it will grow in ne new Mexico/se Colorado.