Last Updated on June 1, 2025 by Nico
Wild lettuce can help to improve sleep quality and manage pain. This wild lettuce tincture recipe uses only two ingredients and makes a great addition to your herbal medicine cabinet.
Wild lettuce (there are a number of Lactuca species like Lactuca virosa and Lactuca serriola) or prickly lettuce is common in North America and Europe. It grows in sunny wild areas like fields and along waterways. Wild lettuce plants have a green stem and have spindly, bright green leaves that have a slightly serrated edge. Like other lettuces, the plant produces a milky white substance when it is cut. It has been called “opium lettuce” because it has historically been used in herbal medicine for its sedative and pain-relieving properties.
Other medicinal plants that are good for making pain-relieving tinctures to make are mullein tincture and St. John’s Wort tincture.
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Benefits of wild lettuce
Pain relief – Wild lettuce contains lactucarium, a compound with pain relief properties similar to opium but without addictive potential. It acts on the central nervous system and can be effective in managing chronic pain, headaches, and joint pain.
Helps with sleep – The sedative properties of wild lettuce help with relaxation and can improve sleep quality. Compounds like lactucin and lactucopicrin interact with the brain’s neurotransmitters to ease anxiety and insomnia.
Anti-inflammatory – Wild lettuce helps with inflammation by reducing the activity of substances in the body that cause swelling and pain. This can help alleviate symptoms of inflammation like joint pain.
Reduce menstrual pain – The plant’s natural pain-relieving properties can also reduce muscle spasms and cramps. This can help ease menstrual cramping as well as the symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome.
Support respiratory health – Wild lettuce has traditionally been used to treat respiratory issues. It can soothe respiratory tract inflammation and reduce the frequency and severity of coughs.
A good source of antioxidants – Wild lettuce contains cleansing antioxidants that protect the body from oxidative stress.
Fresh or dried wild lettuce
Freshly foraged wild lettuce will have more nutritional benefits than dried leaves. If you’re foraging wild lettuce, know that the milky latex that the plant releases when it’s cut can trigger allergic reactions in people allergic to latex. This can lead to symptoms like skin rashes, itching, and more severe reactions like difficulty breathing.
If you don’t have access to fresh wild plants, you can use dried herbs (which is what I do!).
How to make DIY wild lettuce tincture
Tools
An airtight container with a plastic lid – I use a glass mason jar with parchment paper between the metal lid and tincture or extraction to prevent the alcohol from corroding the metal.
Small amber glass bottles with dropper tops – I use these
A fine mesh strainer, cheesecloth, or coffee filter – I like these unbleached ones
A small funnel
A knife, blender, or mortar and pestle – for chopping up fresh wild lettuce
Supplies
Fresh or dried wild lettuce – I used dried wild lettuce.
80-proof vodka (or 40% alcohol) – If you want to avoid alcohol, you can swap out the alcohol for store-bought apple cider vinegar or food-grade glycerin. I buy this bulk raw apple cider vinegar. If you’re using fresh wild lettuce, consider using a high-proof alcohol, which will be more effective at preventing spoilage from the water content in the plant.
For complete measurements, see the printable recipe card below.
Instructions
Remove the leaves from the stems of fresh wild lettuce. Wash and dry the leaves.
Use a knife, food processor, or mortor and pestle to break down the leaves into a paste. This is to maximise the surface area of the lettuce exposed to the alcohol and make the beneficial compounds more accessible when steeping.
Add the leaves to a clean glass jar. Fill the jar ⅓ of the way full with the dried wild lettuce leaves. If you’re using fresh wild lettuce, fill the jar about ¾ of the way full.
Completely cover the plant material with alcohol.
Add the lid and shake the jar to ensure everything is covered in alcohol.
Date and label the jar so you don’t forget what it is. Place it in a cool dark place and leave it sit for 6-8 weeks. Try to remember to shake it a few times a week to keep everything submerged in the alcohol.
After 6-8 weeks, strain it off using cheesecloth, a coffee filter, or a fine mesh strainer. I like to strain it off twice – I use a strainer for the first pass and then cheesecloth to make sure any smaller planet material is removed from the tincture.
Use a funnel to add the tincture to your dropper bottle. Date and label the bottle so you don’t mix it up with your other tinctures.
Store it in a cool, dark place away from direct sunlight with your other plant-based medicines. That’s it, enjoy!
How much wild lettuce tincture to take?
I like to take 1 dropper full per day 2-3 times a day to help with pain like headaches or to help me go back to sleep at night. You can start by making small batches and taking a smaller amount.
How long does wild lettuce tincture last?
Like many homemade alcohol-based herbal tinctures, this tincture has a long shelf life if stored away from direct sunlight and the plant material is well strained off. I like to use the tincture within 1-2 years.
How to consume wild lettuce tincture
Directly – Add the dosage under your tongue. Hold it there for 30 seconds and then swallow. I like to use this method when I take it in the middle of the night.
Diluted in water or another drink – Simply add the dosage to a drink like water or juice to dilute the flavour.
In homemade salad dressings – Add the dosage to homemade salad dressings for added nutrients.
How to make this without alcohol
You can simply swap the alcohol for store-bought apple cider vinegar or food-grade glycerin. Vinegar and glycerin aren’t as good as alcohol at extracting the beneficial compounds or preserving them. I like to consume vinegar-based extracts within about 6 months and glycerin-based extracts within a year.
Disclaimer – There have been few animal studies on the benefits and potential of wild lettuce. Wild lettuce tincture can cause dizziness and nausea, can cause a reaction in people with latex allergies, and raw wild lettuce should not be consumed in large amounts. I’m not a medical professional and do not intend to offer medical or health advice in any content I create. I offer information for educational purposes and, as always, get your physician’s advice or the advice of your healthcare provider before trying new herbal remedies. There are always possible unintended consequences of trying a new herbal remedy such as an allergic reaction, interaction with an existing medical condition, or unexpected side effects like interactions with other medication.
What to read next
4 Tinctures for Pain That Take the Discomfort Away
Valerian Root Tincture (A Herbal Sleep Tincture)
How To Make Mullein Tincture (Easy Medicinal Recipe)
How To Make St. John’s Wort Tincture (Herbal Medicine)
How To Make Ginger Tincture (DIY Herbal Recipe)
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How To Make DIY Wild Lettuce Tincture (For Pain and Sleep)
Ingredients
Equipment
Method
- Remove the leaves from the stems of fresh wild lettuce. Wash and dry the leaves.
- Use a knife, food processor, or mortor and pestle to break down the leaves into a paste. This is to maximise the surface area of the lettuce exposed to the alcohol and make the beneficial compounds more accessible when steeping.
- Add the leaves to a clean glass jar. Fill the jar ⅓ of the way full with the dried wild lettuce leaves. If you’re using fresh wild lettuce, fill the jar about ¾ of the way full.
- Completely cover the plant material with alcohol.
- Add the lid and shake the jar to ensure everything is covered in alcohol.
- Date and label the jar so you don’t forget what it is. Place it in a cool dark place and leave it sit for 6-8 weeks. Try to remember to shake it a few times a week to keep everything submerged in the alcohol.
- After 6-8 weeks, strain it off using cheesecloth, a coffee filter, or a fine mesh strainer. I like to strain it off twice – I use a strainer for the first pass and then cheesecloth to make sure any smaller planet material is removed from the tincture.
- Use a funnel to add the tincture to your dropper bottle. Date and label the bottle so you don’t mix it up with your other tinctures.
- Store it in a cool, dark place away from direct sunlight with your other plant-based medicines. That’s it, enjoy!
I love that you are so detailed with your instructions for tinctures. Thank you. I have made some tenures in the past, but didn’t know whether the dried leaves or the fresh leaves which one was best. Thanks for helping me out. I’ll let you know how it turns out.
So good to hear, let me know how yours turns out!
Sounds easy, have two plants in my yard away from road salt, etc. Will make a batch soon. Have been wanting to try it for years! Thanks for the instructions
That’s great! Let me know how it goes. I need to make up another batch soon as well!