Today I’ll show you how to make a simple natural painkiller from a plant that grows in your backyard.
The plant is called Wild Lettuce (Lactuca virosa), also known as “poor man’s opium” or “Lettuce Opium”, and it has been around for centuries.
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The reason it’s referred to as opium lettuce, is due to the pain relieving and sedative effects that it has been known to produce through a white substance found in the stem and leaves.
This milky substance is called lactucarium. And, while it doesn’t contain any opiates, it has similar side effects when used – it acts directly on the central nervous system (CNS) to lessen the feeling of pain, just like morphine.
Even though it seems to be the best kept secret, it has a history of being used as an alternative to pain relief.
Back in the 19th century, wild lettuce was already being used by some as a substitute to opium. But, it was in the 70’s that it started to gain significant popularity by those wanting a more natural remedy.
Individuals were starting to use it for both pain relief, as well as recreational purpose.In the earlier days, people using wild lettuce prepared it a couple different ways.
One way was to cook the plant in a pan of water and sugar mix, until it reduced to a thick syrup-like consistency. While this was an effective form, it was quite bitter even with the sugar added.
The most common form however, was drying the stem and leaves to use as an herbal tea.The tea remains popular today. But, it’s also being dried for smoking, or vaporizing. If you don’t care to grow it yourself, it can also be purchased as a dried herb, extract, or resin substance..
The Health Benefits And Uses Of Wild LettuceAlthough this plant doesn’t literally contain opium, it possesses characteristics very similar to it. Below are the highlighted health benefits of this plant:1. PainThe pain relieving effects of wild lettuce are what it’s most known for. During the 19th century, doctors used wild lettuce in place of opium when supplies were low. The Polish also studied wild lettuce during this time, and discovered that the lettuce had no side effects, and didn’t make users dependent on it (unlike opium which is highly addictive). The results of their research were published in several 19th-century Polish journals.“The action of the substance was weaker than that of opium, but free of the side-effects, and medical practice showed that in some cases lactucarium produced better curative effects than opium.” 2. Anxiety and StressAs its name suggests, opium lettuce is a great way to “sedate” the body. It helps calm restlessness and anxiety, and can reduce an elevated response to stressful situations. It has even been said to help with restless legs syndrome.3. Sleep and InsomniaBecause of its relaxing effects, opium lettuce can be used for individuals who have trouble sleeping. It’s powerful sedative properties can help ease an individual out of a bout of insomnia.4. Migraines and HeadachesWhen taken in tincture form, wild lettuce can help reduce the frequency and severity of migraine headaches. This is likely due to the sedative effects, which relax blood vessels and ease inflammation.5. Lung SupportWild lettuce has been used for whooping cough and asthma. It contains expectorant properties that help ease bronchitis and asthma by helping break up phlegm from the respiratory tract.6. Mild DiureticWild lettuce can also help with increasing urine output to help treat urinary tract infections, and edema, where fluid builds up in body tissues and causes excessive swelling.7. Mild EuphoricWith opiate-like effects, wild lettuce can create feelings of euphoria, even though it contains no actual opiates. Of course, this isn’t for everyone, but the effects come along with all the other health benefits outlined above.
Making this simple Wild Lettuce painkiller is just one of the many long-forgotten secrets that helped our ancestors survive famines, wars, economic crises, diseases, droughts, and anything else life threw at them…
In “The Lost Ways”, Claude Davis unearths these secrets and shows you how our forefathers grew food, constructed shelters, gathered ammunition, handled bandits, preserved water and food for a long time without spoilage and many other skills that made them self-sufficient in any situation.
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A veteran survivalist, Claude Davis is best known for his website askaprepper.com. The idea for creating The Lost Ways came to him after he realized that the last people to have access to real survival knowledge were our grandfathers. After enlisting the help of a number of experts on survivalism and homesteading, he was able to put together a manual that was true to the ways our forefathers practiced.
His mission is to preserve the ways of our forefathers and pass on their knowledge to as many people as possible so that they can become 100% self-sufficient and able to handle any situation life throws at them.
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Disclaimer: The information is not intended to be used as, and should not be interpreted as professional advice. Individual results may vary. You should perform your own research and consult with a qualified professional. All images used are for illustrative purposes only.
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