Synopsis

Source of validity: Traditional
Rating (out of 5): 1

Lactucarium, often referred to as "lettuce opium," is the milky latex derived from the wild lettuce plant (Lactuca virosa). Its use as a remedy for cough, especially spastic or dry coughs, is primarily rooted in traditional herbal medicine practices from the 19th and early 20th centuries. Historical records indicate its use as a mild sedative, expectorant, and antitussive by herbalists in Europe and North America. The substance was sometimes included in pharmacopoeias of that era as a substitute for opium, especially in children, due to its reputed safety and gentle action.

However, modern scientific studies regarding the efficacy of lactucarium for cough are essentially lacking. While a few older pharmacological texts suggest that compounds within lactucarium, such as lactucin and lactucopicrin, may possess mild sedative or analgesic effects, there is scant empirical evidence to support its effectiveness specifically for cough suppression. Its historical use is largely anecdotal, and it has largely fallen out of favor in contemporary herbal and medical practice. Therefore, while the use of lactucarium for spastic cough is documented in traditional sources, there is minimal scientific validation for its efficacy or safety for this indication.

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