Meet Prickly Wild Lettuce: What’s the real deal on this “Wild Opium Lettuce”? Learn to ID & Harvest
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- Опубликовано: 3 окт 2024
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Meet Prickly Wild Lettuce in Bloom: The So-Called “Opium Lettuce” scientific name: Lactuca serriola.
I often get asked wild lettuce questions. Right now prickly wild lettuce blooms, the so-called “wild opium lettuce”, scientifically named Lactuca serriola. We’ve created a new video lesson about this bitter wild food and herbal medicine that supports our nerves.
If you've been with us for a while you may recall we've made videos about another wild lettuce species aka Lactuca canadensis. I encourage you to view those too. You can find them here on our RUclips channel.
So what does opium have to do with prickly wild lettuce? Read on.
Culinary Uses
All parts can be eaten, if not too bitter or tough. Typically early spring or late fall basal leaf is what I find palatable. Can be eaten raw or cooked.
Qualities:
Bitter lettuce flavor; think escarole and radicchio .
Therapeutics:
Relaxant, nerve tonic (nervine) feeds / restores and calms the nervous system. Offers mild pain support. Gently sedating. Nope, it is nothing like opium though.
I am assuming from the bitterness that it is stronger than Lactuca canadensis, yet milder than L. biennis or L. virosa (the most typically used medicinal of this genus).
For therapeutic use, it is probably best made into, and consumed as a tincture.
Prickly wild lettuce has little to do with opium chemically speaking. It is not addictive or narcotic but can offer mild pain relief and help us relax.
Harvest
Gather prickly wild lettuce basal leaves in early spring to mid spring and again in the fall. Gather all aerial parts when tender (stem, aerial leaf, flower bud, and flower). I have eaten this species in early spring without feeling drowsy from it. I like to put the leaves of the basal rosette or young shoots into soup and salad. For stronger therapeutic properties, perhaps you'll want to harvest it at its most bitter.
Habitat
Look for it in anthropogenic sites, roadsides, disturbed areas, fields and gardens; in full sun to part shade; in most soil types with good drainage & adequate moisture.
A native of Eurasia, prickly wild lettuce now grows in many parts of the world and is widely distributed throughout the USA-hardiness zones 3-10.
Hoping you are staying cool in this late summer heat, and loving up the blooming grandness of the landscape.
In gratitude,
Dina
#PricklyWildLettuce #LactucaSerriola #Nervine #Foraging #WildFood #HerbalMedicineMaking #ForagingandFeasting #InTheWildKitchen #WildFoodHealthBoosters #DinaFalconi #OnlineForagingCourse #OnlineCourse #Botanizing #PlantIdentification
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Your presentations are the best
Thank you!!!
Agreed
Thanks for the video Dina!
I have degenerative and herniated discs in my cervical and lumbar spine, this plant was a lifesaver especially since I really hate taking pharmaceuticals. I can say firsthand that it absolutely is not like opiates, very very mild in comparison, but it helps a lot. I take it in conjunction with kratom..... It really helps my spinal stenosis and sciatica.
Informative and to the point, thank you for sharing, the community appreciates you😊
Thank you for your comment! Good to hear your experience. Do you know what species of Lactuca you are using? And in what form? Thanks!
@@DinaFalconi Virosa and Seriolla, lol probably spelled those wrong, using them mainly as dried and powered in capsules.....but I made the extract/concentrate(evaporated from a tea) that I use if im having a particularly bad day.
Thanks for the details.
I’m suffering the same as you, I’ve only just find out about this but am eager to try it. At the moment walking on the bad days is simply horrific! Plus it’ll be very useful for my eldest son’s insomnia too.
The best ID I have seen.
Thank you! Please enjoy the rest of the videos on the channel!
I just discovered your channel today and I loooove your videos they are so informative and enjoyable and it feels like i am really there in the middle of nature with you learning about all the beautiful plants (and Your voice and the way you talk ... It's just so calming and heartwarming) 💛🌻🌿
Thank you! I really appreciate your comment!
Thank you dear, I love both your indepth, detail sense and broadness - I mean in terms of plant wisdom and your way of communicating it :) Love
Thank you for watching and appreciating!
I enjoy you videos. Each one is very informative with the right details for identification…including the film quality. Bringing us in close so we can really see every part of the plant. Thank you for sharing.
Thank you for your comment. Really appreciate the feedback.
Thank you Dina you are one of the best presentations
Hello Marilyn, thank you for appreciating my work!
Thanks for video. I always enjoy wild medical plant videos.
I come to find your video channel my way of the lost wave book. Wild edibles.
Glad you've enjoyed the video. Not sue what you mean here: "I come to find your video channel my way of the lost wave book. Wild edibles."
I have been trying to find out if I have the prickly lettuce and your video has just confirmed it thank you very much and carry on the good work
Glad!
And I forgot to say it was the only one that I found describing the plant in total as I was getting confused with what people were saying. Thanks again
@@straight2thepointrac Good to know! I appreciate the feedback!
Another wonderful video Dina. THANK YOU for sharing your knowledge. :)
Thank you, Michele! Enjoy.
This is the most precise, detailed and efficient video in identifying wild lettuce. THANK YOU!
Most welcome!
Excellent straight to the point presentation of exactly the information I needed 👌
Thanks, I appreciate the feedback!
Another “weed” I have been pulling up. Have some growing out from under deck, with the jewel weed, which is why the prickly lettuce is still there. Not a fan of too bitter, but will have to try when in basal rosette form, this one about to flower so will end up being food for the birds when it goes to seed. They have been feasting this year with all the things I am letting go to seed.
Thanks for your comment! Happy birds.
Thank you for your thoroughness
Welcome!
Beautiful explanation ❤
So glad!
Dina, can you advise about dosage???
How much to use or start with?
And any warnings here???
Hello Heba, not sure how you plan on taking it. But in general, tincture dosage is 20-50 drops 3x a day. But so much to know, to really answer. How is the tincture being made? Who is taking it? Warnings: go slowly and see how you respond.
do you know if anyone has cooked with it? i have a beautiful one growing in my greenhouse and am wondering if i can put some in my stew and if it might help this old man tend his orchard with less pain 🙂
Yes, you can definitely cook with it. See how bitter your specimen. The bitterness would be the limiting factor. So add as much as your taste buds would enjoy.
Very helpful, thanks!
Welcome!
Excellent!
Thanks!
Hi Dina
I was picking leaves to dry for tea and I picked them off the stem - my plant is really abundant and I left a lot of leaves and just left the stem leaking some latex - then I felt bad ? Should I have just chopped the whole stem off ? I’m a learner obviously-
Hello Gina, you can harvest the leaves, or the leaves and stems if you like. Here is more info I wrote accompanying the video (found in the text below the video): Gather prickly wild lettuce basal leaves in early spring to mid spring and again in the fall. Gather all aerial parts when tender (stem, aerial leaf, flower bud, and flower). I have eaten this species in early spring without feeling drowsy from it. I like to put the leaves of the basal rosette or young shoots into soup and salad. For stronger therapeutic properties, perhaps you'll want to harvest it at its most bitter.
I appreciate the time you've taken to reply, I read everything and will take a look at those links. It is summer here, my plant is super bitter but I will pick the leaves around the rosette for salad, yes thanks for that tip, I also have dried leaves for a tea (will experiment with that) and already tinctured atm experimenting with dosage and effects if any on my mother who suffers chronic pain, using what I have been told to do by herbalist here - dosing using intuition ( also dosing myself tho I dont fancy a drowsy state) I dont want to over do it on my mother as i have heard stories. very appreciative for the info!
Where in the world are you?@@ginajonson8796
My first video here. I love it
So glad! Enjoy the rest of the videos on the channel!
Thankyou
Welcome
I only have one spot this grows in my garden lol
Ha, good to know.
What does it look like in rossete form
Here are a couple of basal rosette images: extension.umass.edu/weed-herbarium/weeds/lactuca-serriola
Brilliant, Tk you....hopefully I will come across some
Welcome, and hoping you find some!
@@DinaFalconi in Scottish Highlands...😊
Throw some leaves in a smoothie
Thanks, wondering, are you adding prickly lettuce to smoothies? If yes, what is your recipe?
I pick young rosettes and put in my smoothies. I've been doing it for a couple of days and so far I'm getting good pain killing results. I need something desperately as I'm not even walking much anymore. Getting out of bed I need help to support my legs. So. Looking to nature is my best option now as general paracetamol etc isn't cutting it anymore.
My sound is on...videos are playing...then all the sudden the audio stopped. I wonder why.
Hello Lynne, just checked this video and no issues with the sound on my end. I wonder if it's your WIFI connection....? Keep us posted.
ist nicht der lactuca virosa der opiumlattich?
Thanks, L. virosa is one of the species referred to in this way.
So does it still have a strong of a medicinal effect as regular wild lettuce? Does anyone know?
Thanks, Rick56, for your question. Can you say more about what species of lettuce you are referring to? And what medicinal effects are you wondering about?
@@DinaFalconi I was wondering if prickly lettuce has the same medicinal effect as wild lettuce?
Prickly wild lettuce (Lactuca serriola) and wild lettuce (Lactuca canadensis) are both referred to as wild lettuce. Still they both have nerve supportive qualities. The L canadensis is more food like and less bitter, and the L. serriola is more bitter, less food like and more medicinal. Hope this helps.
@@DinaFalconithank you was looking for information on what plant was more medicinal for my back pain.
Is _L. serriola_ the specie that's native to Europe?
Yes, native to Europe.
@@DinaFalconi TY. I hope it can grow during cooler months in the tropics. Gonna ask family in Italy to find me some seeds.
@@TaLeng2023 Sounds good.... it grows in USA-hardiness zones 3-10, not sure where you want to grow it...?
@@DinaFalconi I wanna grow it in SEA, specifically the Philippines. 😅
@@TaLeng2023 I see, let us know how it does there!
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Thanks!
how do you use the root?
Good question, I don't use the root.....
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Thanks!
ballerina
Thanks!
I use Indian pipe for pain....wild lettuce for sleep. Wild lettuce isn't like taking a hydrocodone 10 mil. Pill. Don't believe that. It's not even close to morphine my opinion. Great for sleep.zzzzz.
I'm in pain management doesn't show up in a urine test. Not looking for that substance.
Yes, thanks for your comment!
How did you prepare your Indian pipe for use, I did mine in 80proof vodka(tincture)
👍👍👍
Thanks, @RxLo10!
Thanks!