The Wonders of Wild Lettuce

​The Wonder of Wild Lettuce
 
There are over 75 varieties of wild lettuce, of which two main varieties, Lactuca canadensis and Lactuna scariola, are generally harvested and are the predecessors of the wide variety of common garden lettuce. L. canadensis is a plant native to North America, while L. Sariola hailed from Europe and was introduced as an edible leafy green vegetable by early settlers.
 
Wild lettuce looks like its domestic cousins, with a rosette appearance when young. Young green leaves circle out from the main stem. The leaves are edible when they first appear in the early spring and taste like cultivated lettuce, only more so. The window to harvest wild lettuce for eating is short, only a week or two, and once the plant bolts, sending up the flowering stalk, the leaves become bitter and woody. At this point in wild lettuce’s growing cycle, it is harvested for its sap, usually in July and August. A mature L. canadensis can reach heights of four to nine feet, while L. scariola grows from two to seven feet tall.
 
All domestic and wild lettuces have a mild soothing effect on the nervous system, which is why salads are often served at the end of a meal. Lettuce has a milky substance called lactucarium, which is exuded from the leaves and stems when cut or torn. The health benefits of wild lettuce, when consumed as lettuce leaf, include promoting relaxation and sleep (sedative), improving memory and cognitive function (neuroprotective), relieving anxiety (anti-depressant), and supporting weight loss due to its high water content (diuretic).

Like its domestic cousins, wild lettuce leaf is high in Vitamins K, C, A, and potassium. The milky white sap containing lactucarium and sesquiterpene lactones can be collected and used for their medicinal properties. Older plants have higher sap concentrations, especially while the plant is just beginning to bloom. The sap turns brown as it dries and can be used internally. The leaves can be made into a tincture or brewed as a tea. As a caution, do not use Wild Lettuce medicinally unless you know what you are doing or have consulted with a certified Herbalist. You can benefit from all the goodness of wild lettuce by simply putting it in your salads, gently braising, or slightly boiling it, like spinach.

It's essential to confidently identify wild plants before ingesting or using them for medicine. Wild lettuce is often mistaken for young dandelions, which is fine as dandelions are safe to consume and used medicinally. Other common look-alikes to wild lettuce include sow thistle, dwarf dandelion, and false hawksbeard. Depending on your resources, some conclude that these look-alikes should not be consumed, while others have differing views. Always do your research and reference several sources of information. If you are not confident you can eat something you have foraged, then don’t—many wild plants can be quickly and safely identified.

Whenever you are foraging in the wild or in an urban setting, only take what you need, and respect private property and the rules or regulations for harvesting on public, municipal, or federal land. Take your time to learn how to identify and use wild foods confidently.

​https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7180447/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6049580/
https://naturalfoodseries.com/11-health-benefits-lettuce/
https://www.primalsurvivor.net/wild-lettuce/
https://www.eattheweeds.com/crepis-japonica-seasonal-potherb-2/
https://feralforaging.com/how-to-identify-wild-lettuce/
Stalking the Healthful Herbs by Euell Gibbons