Does wild lettuce (wild lettuce) provide natural pain relief?

Natural remedies, such as medicinal plants, have been used since ancient times to treat many symptoms, including pain. Wild lettuce is a plant known for its pain-relieving properties. Used by people interested in alternatives to conventional drugs.

Wild lettuce (Lactuca virosa) is native to many regions of the world, including North America, Europe, and the Middle East. This herb thrives in sunny locations, like along riverbanks and roadsides, and can grow up to six feet (1.8 meters) tall.
Wild lettuce has bright green leaves that grow from a purple-green stem. When scratched, the plant secretes a milky substance called lactucarium. When dried, the compound resembles opium, a pain reliever extracted from the unripe seeds of the poppy plant. Opium has been commonly used as a pain reliever and sedative since ancient times in the 19th century. The lactucarium in lettuce can provide the same effect as opium - but with fewer side effects.
Historically, doctors have used wild lettuce as a pain reliever and to treat ailments like whooping cough. Today, there are many different wild lettuce products, which contain extracts of the plant's seeds, leaves, and sap. These tinctures, powders, oils, and pills are marketed to treat a number of conditions, including anxiety, breathing problems, poor sleep, and joint pain.

Wild lettuce extract, or lactucarium, has long been used for pain relief. Lactucarium contains lactucin and lactucopicrin, substances that act on the central nervous system to produce analgesic and sedative effects. These compounds are considered Sesquiterpene lactones, a group of beneficial substances most concentrated in plants of the Asteraceae family - such as wild lettuce and chicory.
In fact, while many natural health companies and websites promote wild lettuce as a treatment for pain, scientific evidence is still lacking.
A handful of human studies have shown pain relief from wild lettuce. However, most animal studies suggest that compounds in wild lettuce extract may have impressive pain-relieving properties. For example, one study in rats demonstrated that at a dose of 7 to 13.5 mg per pound (15 and 30 mg per kg) of body weight, lactucin and lactucopicrin, combined, had similar analgesic effects. equivalent to 30 mg of ibuprofen.

Besides pain relief, wild lettuce is promoted as a natural treatment for various conditions, such as:
Anxiety Respiratory failure Cramps Arthritis Cancer Insomnia Circulation Poor Restlessness Urinary tract infection Antibacterial Although users can find information about the medicinal effects of wild lettuce on many medical websites, there is currently no scientific research to prove these effects. treatment effects mentioned above. Studies show that other types of Sesquiterpene lactones in the Asteraceae family are effective at reducing inflammation, which may aid certain conditions, such as asthma and arthritis. In addition, some sesquiterpenes provide antioxidant, antibacterial, and anti-tumor properties. However, there is little research on the specific compounds found in wild lettuce.

Studies indicate that wild lettuce can be harmful to human health. In one study, eight people who ate raw lettuce had symptoms that included:
Dizziness Sensitivity to light Sweating Auditory hallucinations Anxiety Urinary retention Heart complications Breathing problems Nausea Vomiting Studies Animal studies indicate that wild lettuce extract may have sedative properties, so if users are taking sedatives, wild lettuce supplements should be avoided. In addition, eating wild lettuce can cause hallucinations, which can be dangerous.
For those who want more natural alternatives to medication to treat pain and inflammation without the use of lettuce, users can consider products such as: CBD oil, also known as cannabidiol, is a compound found in the cannabis plant that has many beneficial health effects. Multiple studies reveal that CBD oil can help reduce inflammation, relieve chronic pain, reduce anxiety, benefit heart health, and improve sleep quality. At the same time, the addition of turmeric fish oil and omega-3 also reduced pain and inflammation with few side effects.

Reference article: Healthline.com