Wild lettuce 20 grams: dried Lactuca virosa
Cut into a stem of this plant and a milky white latex seeps out, browning in the air and drying to a resinous lump. Apothecaries called that lactucarium. Nineteenth century physicians turned to it when opium could not be obtained, and the herb drew fresh attention in 1970s America. Among the compounds described in the species are lactucin and lactucopicrin, alongside flavonoids and coumarins; lactucin was isolated in 1911 by the Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain.
Botanically, Lactuca virosa sits in the daisy family and is a relative of garden lettuce. It is a biennial: a rosette of leaves in year one, then a stout, often purple flushed stem that can reach two metres in year two. Small yellow flower heads appear from July to September, followed by purple black seeds. The species grows coastally in Great Britain and is widespread across central and southern Europe, with introduced populations in North America, Australia and the Punjab. What ends up in the bag is cut aerial material: greyish green pieces of leaf mixed with reddish brown bits of stem.
Making an infusion
Use about half a teaspoon of cut herb per cup, pour over hot water, cover the cup and leave it for ten to fifteen minutes before straining. Covering matters, as part of the aroma otherwise leaves with the steam. The taste is markedly bitter, so honey, a mint leaf or a strip of lemon peel can soften it. Start with a small amount and be careful with quantities.
Storage and precautions
Keep the bag well sealed in a cool, dry and dark place, ideally in an airtight jar, and store it out of reach of children. Not suitable for anyone under 18. If you are pregnant, breastfeeding or taking medication, speak to your doctor first. This herb is sold as a botanical product, not as a medicine, and how you use it remains your own responsibility. The same category at Avalon Magic Plants also holds valerian root, Klip Dagga, Maconha Brava, Mulungu and Sinicuichi. Every order leaves the building in discreet packaging.
