Lactucarium

Evidence: Mixed
Botanical

Useful mainly for people seeking a traditional mild sedative or sleep aid.

Quick decision guide

May help most

people seeking a traditional mild sedative or sleep aid

Common dosing range

Not established; traditional preparations vary widely

When to expect effects

Hours (if at all)

Watch out for

Essentially no modern clinical evidence; large doses have caused nausea and, historically, toxicity

What is it

Lactucarium is the dried milky latex of wild lettuce (Lactuca virosa), historically nicknamed "lettuce opium" for its reputed calming and mildly sedative effect. It contains sesquiterpene lactones such as lactucin and lactucopicrin and has been used traditionally as a sleep aid and mild pain reliever.

Is it worth it for you?

Use this as a quick fit check, not a diagnosis.

Worth considering if…

You are experimenting with traditional calming herbs and accept unproven status
You want a non-habit-forming alternative to try

Probably skip if…

You want evidence-based treatment for insomnia or pain
You are pregnant, breastfeeding, or taking sedatives
You expect a reliable or dose-predictable effect

Evidence at a glance

GoalEvidenceEffectBest fitTime
mild sedation and sleepMixedUnclearadults seeking a traditional calming herbHours

Evidence for 1 use

AI-assisted evidence assessment — talk to your doctor before relying on any single supplement.

mild sedation and sleep

Mechanism only
Mixed

Wild lettuce latex contains sesquiterpene lactones that show sedative and analgesic activity in animal models, and it has a long folk history as a sleep aid. There are essentially no controlled human trials, so any calming effect in people remains unproven.

Effect size: Unclear
Time to effect: Hours
Best fit: adults seeking a traditional calming herb

Bottom line: A traditional sedative with animal-level rationale but no real human evidence.

SourceWesołowska et al., 2006 — PubMed

How to take it

Typical dose
No established dose; follow conservative product directions
Timing
Before bed for sleep use
With food
Either
How long to try
Short-term trial only

What to track

  • sleep onset and quality
  • next-day grogginess
  • nausea

Safety

Common side effects

nausea, drowsiness, dizziness at higher doses

Serious risks

  • historical reports of toxicity with large doses

Who should avoid it

  • pregnant or breastfeeding women
  • people taking sedatives or CNS depressants
  • those with prostate enlargement (anticholinergic concern noted traditionally)

Pregnancy & breastfeeding

Avoid in pregnancy and breastfeeding due to lack of safety data.

Interactions

sedatives and CNS depressantsModerate

Possible additive drowsiness

alcoholModerate

May compound sedation

Choosing a product

Look for

  • clear species identification (Lactuca virosa)
  • stated preparation and concentration

Be skeptical of

  • "natural opium" or opioid-like potency claims
  • guaranteed sleep or pain relief

References by claim

mild sedation and sleep

  • Wesołowska et al., 2006 — PubMed (2006) link

Track Lactucarium with Pilora

Set up dose reminders, check interactions, and join the community in the Pilora iPhone app.

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Evidence-based·Last reviewed May 30, 2026·Evidence current as of May 30, 2026·How we grade evidence

Disclaimer: These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA. This page is educational, not a substitute for personalized medical advice. Evidence grades are AI-assisted assessments — talk to your doctor before starting any new supplement, especially if you’re pregnant, breastfeeding, on medications, or managing a chronic condition.