Title: Lactucarium
Additional Names: Lettuce opium
Literature References: Dried milky juice or latex of several species of lettuce, primarily Lactuca virosa L., Asteraceae (wild lettuce); garden lettuce, L. sativa L., and related species, L. serriola and L. sagittata have also been used. Thought to possess sleep-inducing and pyschotropic properties. Constit. Lactucin, lactucopicrin, lactucerol, lactucic acid. Brief description: V. E. Tyler in The Honest Herbal (Pharmaceutical Products Press, New York, 3rd ed., 1993) pp 193-195.
Properties: Similar to opium in odor, taste and appearance. |