Opium Lettuce/ Spiny Lettuce/ Wild Lettuce ID and Uses

Let's focus on key identifiers so you will know if you have true Opium Lettuce (Lactuca virosa). What is it used for and what can you make with it? Forager and Educator, Rachel Goclawski of Cooking with Mrs G will walk you through the identification process and discuss medicinal uses.
Rachel Goclawski, state-certified in Mushrooming and Certified Educator is a Programming Partner with the Museum of Natural History, New England Botanic Garden and other non-profit orgs.
Subscribe to @Cooking with Mrs G Rachel Goclawski on KZbin for more instructional foraging and mushrooming videos!

[@ienekevanhouten4559]

Great clear video! I have been looking for this plant, usually it was just a thistle. However this year I was delighted to find two spindly specimens in my place, the spines are unmistakable! I bade it welcome and asked it to spread.

[@jaytan6563]

Thanks for this very detailed video. I managed to ID this plant in my backyard.

[@kimpozo3514]

Where can I buy wild lettuce seeds please? Can you mail me some please I have severe chronic pain

[@aaronkirkland212]

@@kimpozo3514 Chronic pain does not stop you from using google. I think you're bluffing.

[@kimpozo3514]

@@aaronkirkland212 are you serious? I have phone I use on Google cause I'm bedridden 24-7. I can't even move most days. I hope you get chronic pain so you know what I'm going through. I'll pray for your meanness

[@akbarrezai3297]

​@@kimpozo3514این گیاه در همه جا میروید کنار جاده‌ها وتالابها

[@Axon-bm2sx]

@@aaronkirkland212I have severe chronic pain as well and I’m 21. The seeds are $3 in today’s economy that really is pocket change. I just unboxed a resin extract I’m hoping it works. Modern medicines do not work on me I can’t metabolize them, so I’m trying this route

[@shable1436]

Your voice is awesome, I been getting recommended vids about this plant probably because I grow cannabis and google knows everything we do😂

[@spoolsandbobbins]

😳

[@alanwhite8266]

Thank You from Canada !! Seen this all over Ontario Excellent Video 🇨🇦🇺🇸🙏🏼God Bless You an your Family

[@watersfarmpreservationinc.1791]

I haven't seen this particular species at the Farm but you are more than welcome to look!

[@CookingwithMrsGRachelGoclawski]

Definitely, thanks!

[@OffGridInvestor]

There's a straight leaf version and a wavy leaf version. In my area of Australia we have PILES of the wavy leaf version

[@WilliamHollister]

Fascinating

[@tammyC1971]

Thank you for making this video. I’m now more confident in being able to ID this plant. Great work!

[@charlesdobbs4570]

Take a crock pot, stuff it in with about a gallon of water. Slow cook it down to a goop. I just jarred my first 23 wl. You can cut them or Top them and they will grow back. Then you get 2 harvest.

[@wisdomfox857]

How good is this pain killer i Is it better store pain killrt

[@charlesdobbs4570]

@@wisdomfox857 I've never bought any store bought. And EVERY medication effects Everyone differently. I have WL growing like a jungle on my yards. I let a couple of them seed and now it's Everywhere on my property. I would take anything that's natural over store bought. I guess you mean these WL tablets that are sold. Just go out and find some WL and make sure it's clean of any bugs, spiders, and eat away. Your question will be answered. You do want to try and get it early because the WL starts to toughen up the older it gets. I've just finished another batch. Looks like black tar. Good Luck. Be Safe.

[@OICUR12]

It's always shown three feet tall. Wish I knew what it looks like six inches tall. I know it has the spiny under leaf and I believe it has a solid not hollow stem but I'd like to see it at a young stage.

[@danielgreen3715]

The spines on the Stalk and underside of the Leaves must act as a defence mechanism to stop Bugs and Snails from climbing up it .strangely enough one will see a few spines on Opium Poppy Stalks too ! Very interesting video cheers

[@largefamilyreviews9]

thank you for this great informative video. my mom has dealt with pain for most of her life and the docs took her opiates away. i think this might be what shes lookin for.....at least physically

[@AbleMan.2178]

I went thru the same as your Mom. I tried red bali kratom (from a highly recommended distributor). It works VERY WELL for me, Much better that opiates as far as side effects go. If she tries it, less works better for pain while more is sedating. Best wishes for her getting the relief she needs.

[@kratombutterfly9959]

Thank you! I have dome seeds for nrxt year, but s few plants in odd places im going to test out. I drink kratom tea, kava and thc. They've controlled my pain enough so i dont need any meds anymore. Its so freeing. ☕🍃❤️🙏

[@janetspell1396]

How can one o order Keaton, if you don’t mind me asking? I’m a chronic pain patient and need help with my pain. It’s so hard now getting help from doctors.

[@kratombutterfly9959]

@janetspell1396 American kratom dot org has a list of vendors that test. You can also join me on twitter, we do a podcast talking about how it's helped us heal. Thursdays at 3pm est. Keep me posted! 🙏

[@karrieanndavis6011]

Same here I love the kratom extract it helps me so much I use extract in evening and drink kratom powder in the daytime such a blessing it helps my pain so much that I don't need opiate pain medication anymore

[@stacis2520]

Thank you for the detailed video!!

[@divine9520]

Gosh I wish I knew this before I hacked them all down in my backyard 😢

[@gryan1015]

It will regrow I have some in my backyard that I just found out it was wild lettuce

[@The10lfunk4]

They’ll grow back, any wild plant will grow 10x stronger this is what we should be consuming

[@joanchambers3861]

Thank you for useful information on this wild lettuce

[@fezzypepper8525]

Thank you Rachael. Fezzy in Maine

[@hermanhale9258]

A couple of these are growing in my yard in a patch that I planted with various seeds last fall, but nothing really grew. I didn't know what it was for a long time, and then I decided it was lettuce - but what kind? I thought these grew from lettuce seeds I had planted, but really they do look odd. Ahahaha.

[@piotrg2096]

Dzien dobry! Thanks for the video, will try it

[@mattsnow7492]

Do you have to cut of the lil thorns before you extract the medicine

[@Blue-fog-street]

I recently squeezed a small glob from my first plant, within seconds after licking it from my finger I had an ice feeling run down my spine, my arms my legs and I felt like I just had a complete body lube😊 it lasted most the day.

[@Blue-fog-street]

I have now tried tinctures and the other stuff (extracts?) and it falls way short of raw latex! Not gonna do what I need done, I had such high hopes.

[@porkchop4401]

Thank you for this

[@jimmykerlin9287]

So just dry it and chop it up?

[@yaroo423]

How long it takes wild lettuce mature

[@mirian593]

Thank you ❤

[@rosalindgahan8574]

Hi I have a bay leaf tree and there are so many new baby shoots soft and fresh any recommendations I can do with the baby leaves while tender and soft

[@gianlucafontana597]

good job, is ot possibile to drink a tea every day to sleep?

[@simplekindness8165]

Just saw some along the road, can young leaves be eaten in salads?

[@johnharper3404]

we have whats called woodland lettuce in pa is this the same it does produce a white milky latex stuff. Leafs a little bit diff.

[@charlesdavis9937]

I've tried it. It didn't help. Tylenol worked better for my pain.

[@MGTOW-si9kl]

The purple flowers are Chicory

[@junkettarp8942]

Its a good medicine.

[@1953streeky]

Can we smoke it along with friends and rock music?

[@tgun69]

Do you have a link to purchase your tea?

[@JH-mb8gg]

Hi there. I planted this last year, barely grew about 4in tall, I have asked several places and cant seem to get a response. Can you just use it right off the plant? Or how does one make the most effective use of it? One place said ferment in vodka to make a tincture, but I dont know what type, how long...etc? Any guidance for the best use and directions would be greatly appreciated from a newby

[@pure_2xXS]

98% ethanol (alcohol) and you gonna hitting so the ethanol vaporizer

[@angeliquewagner1281]

What plant has the yellow? I have two of those

[@Ruca._]

I hear it’s bad for people with glaucoma , not sure if that’s true.

[@kimberlypascua8020]

Are there blue flowers growing out of this plant too? (I'm looking for somehing (Edit:) similar to this.) The leaves and the stems looked like it but the blue flowers are missing. Just wondering if anybody encountered anything like it while researching this (similar-looking)plant. Thank you for the replies.

[@Tyharo]

With blue flowers? Maybe chicory?

[@frankielove31]

How does this compare with actual opium for an addict needing maintenance?

[@funnycatvideos5490]

Doesn't touch it just grow opium poppies And smoked the latex after it dries

[@ryanwhiteman767]

Did you try the lettuce to compare it?

[@J_Chap]

I take 500mg of Wild Lettuce 2X a day, once in the morning and once at night. How do I dose the tincture to get 500mg? I want to learn how to make my own tincture, but, I need to be able to get the dosing correct. I have Ankylosing spondylitis and it helps me with pain. I have partial seizures and after taking it for about 10 years my EEG came back normal. It also helps me sleep better. My son takes it for insomnia, but, he takes 2,400mg at bed time. (His insomnia is so bad he also takes 4,500mg of Ashwagandha with it). If I take even half of that much it makes me jittery feeling and keeps me from sleeping, so, I have to be able to get the dosing correct.

[@Shimpy1]

I understand completely your pain! I have that also plus Crohn’s disease, fibromyalgia & being tested for psoriatic arthritis.. I am searching for herbal remedies

[@georgecarlin2656]

4:10 why? Because it can mess up with the other medication?

[@beahaven1642]

Probably because if you're already taking RXs with a sedative effect and you add this which also has a sedative effect... you could get too sedated 🤷‍♀️

[@MrUberguber]

@@beahaven1642 No such thing as too sedated

[@minnieivey8636]

Can you buy seeds for this? If so where please???❤

[@pencilpusher7274]

On EBay

[@michelleasunnydays140]

i let everything grow here this year to see what will grow. i didnt use the weed eater or hack down or pull any weeds. ive got wild lettuce prickly lettuce wild spinach and burdock

[@fafafarmlife]

Thật là tuyệt ❤❤❤❤❤❤

[@CrowSpirit1977]

Do it help with Erectile Dysfunction?

[@roberttolman5946]

Natural viagra recipe... Watermelon, especially the white part, lemon and pomegranate juice! Thank me later! 😉

[@roberttolman5946]

Blend to make a juice.

[@devono7230]

Has anyone here seen this in Victoria Australia?

[@Mydiiiiiicccckkkkkkkk]

Yeah man it's everywhere

[@devono7230]

@@Mydiiiiiicccckkkkkkkk cool. I’ll look out for it

[@Arya-kg9dc]

👌👀❤

[@ManaBDew]

Always remember laughter does good like a medicine but, a broken spirit dries the bone. 💊 ❤🙏🏻😇 🥖 🍷🩸✝️.

[@barbaralemere572]

That's Proverbs 17:22...just read it this morning😀

[@mikyahl8749]

I've eaten it raw mixed with salad leaves

[@GulfportHooligan]

Can you send me some

[@maromaro6108]

pusu ti na čelo 😘

[@BrendaFerrell-gw8zm]

I heard just cut it up and add Vodka

[@PatriotMAGA-F.J.B.]

The roots are the most potent you dry them out like Jen sang and God forbid if you have a latex allergy stay far far away from this planet

[@doricetimko5403]

Thank you for the warning. Latex and I do not get along

[@handysandyllc3771]

Ty.. I'm highly allergic to latex

[@mogyory2763]

Good to know. I have family with latex allergy.

[@slingblade0085]

THANK YOU MAM👍👍.... FINALLY.....a video thats understandable 👀👀💯.... FANTASTIC video....GREAT INFORMATION 💯💯....THANK YOU😎

[@osovagabundo1]

You can get the same latex for pain from romaine and a few other lettuces that you let fully mature to seed. Leave 4-5 inches at the bottom and it will regrow.

[@ivanrowe2880]

Interesting, very interesting thanks for sharing

[@imaxdigital7052]

I don't think that's true.

[@osovagabundo1]

@@imaxdigital7052 I changed it. Only a few other lettuces have it

[@christinehaslam9480]

Hi.. Awesome vid... Once dried, what's the best way to tincture it? Thanks😃

[@joxyjoxyjoxy1]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/bYrapJyJl7ijb8k Just watched this this morning.

[@tylerdouglas480]

Blend mix with everclear let sit for a couple days then strain and cook of by letting the alcohol evaporate.itll like like opium or thc oil then either eat t or mix it with more alcohol and put in dropper

[@alanstrong55]

If I smokes it in a corncob pipe, would I have floated out in space for 2 hours?

[@nameissturdy1390]

Please let us know if you see any ufo’s while you’re up there if you do load that corn cob pipe!

[@richardbellefeuille9263]

what do you do with the white stuff when extracted or distilled thank you for your knowledge and yes Praise the most High God

[@andrewsiasparks]

People go threw the lengthy process of making black tar fo-herion 😂

[@OffGridInvestor]

That's what I first thought when I saw the resin. Some claim you can get high but it's really just a slight painkiller to good painkiller at best. Easiest method instead of all the alcohol soaking blah blah is just a really strong tea from the leaves dried in the shade.

[@slappy8941]

Through and threw are different words with different meanings, and it's "faux".

[@andrewsiasparks]

@@slappy8941 oh good, the grammar nazzi made it.

[@Crackhouts]

@@andrewsiasparks Nazi.

[@martynbrown9341]

@@andrewsiasparks Only 1 Z in Nazi Andi 😂

[@shantaharper9646]

Can u just eat the leaves and stalk

[@OffGridInvestor]

Hell no. Very sappy. Dry them OUT OF the light, like dry them in the shade or at least in a cotton bag (not plastic) to keep direct light off them. Then make like a really strong tea if you don't want to go thru all the alcohol soaking and boil down drama. It'll help with pain a bit

[@roberts3677]

If you can ingest it and it doesn't get you high. There's no reason to think that smoking it will get you high either. Thank you for the video.

[@kirill2525]

you can eat raw weed and u wont get high. it has to be heated to activate

[@roberttolman5946]

I've smoked the sap before and it did relax me and I fell asleep. Had vivid dreams.

[@BritanyNicoleDalton]

One day you will think more on getting the more healing properties municipal properties from this plant instead of getting high. It's a life saver ❤❤❤

[@jennifermartinez8316]

But you can eat cannabis flowers without any psychoactive effects because some compounds cannot be broken down for use by our bodies without preparation

[@markhreibcekjr9228]

Salvia is worthless as edible vegetation.... But burnt with higher heath our flame torch and inhaled, its absolutely one of the most intense and powerful psychedelics you can find.

[@standingbear998]

what is it? first it is not opium

[@MissJack5789]

It's a herb that is a natural painkiller

[@phillipmerritt1428]

Indirectly, I was dead to you, five lost weight book 📖. I enjoyed video. I will follow the change. I enjoy information on wild plants specially herbal medicine. Thank you for the time you put into this video. I hope you’ve got a lot more in store.

[@maureenspessard521]

Is this the same for the prickly lettuce?? I'm having a hard time getting the answers I want from the internet. 😅

[@nadiawer5207]

How do you grow and/or find seeds for this?

[@Looneyintheboonies]

The yellow flowers will eventually go to seed. But maybe that's not what you were asking. Here, we call it 7-top. Look up "Wild lettuce seeds" or "7-top seeds". ⁰

[@chris2pher44]

Once you dry it and crush it up can you say make a cup through coffee maker? How much you use?

[@richardtibbetts574]

How high do you want to get?

[@damonmelendez856]

@@richardtibbetts574 how much for insomnia, and will a person be groggy the next day?

[@jerryv4717]

​@@richardtibbetts574 beyond the trees all the way to mars

[@raybeadlejr6838]

Where can you buy the stuff?

[@Earth2Flo-v6f]

Amazon or eBay , you can also look up dr Patrick jones, he sells dried herbs.

[@chrisclemons9943]

Can you buy the seeds and grow it

[@deborahcrain3739]

Can you eat out raw

[@Yourallmonkeys]

This is a great drug it gets me so high I smoke it and my sex drive is through the roof. Hell my goats hide

[@furbabydaddy814]

😂🐏🎱

[@stephenharbisonsr.4557]

🐏😂I might try mixing it with my medical Marijuana.

[@OffGridInvestor]

@@stephenharbisonsr.4557 i have heard that people used to get onto this in order to get themselves off heavy marijuana use. Now you're gonna picture a hippy with a ton of this in a hydroponics system.

[@WayneBennett-vj4gu]

Ye can you please tell me what you have to do with this to feel high or sleep well please.

[@Yourallmonkeys]

@@WayneBennett-vj4gu I just smoke 2 joints of wild lettuce and I'm fucked up for a week