06/05/2026
Native Americans utilized Canadian wild lettuce (Lactuca canadensis) for both food and medicine. They consumed young leaves raw in salads or boiled older leaves like greens, and applied the milky sap topically to treat warts and poison ivy. An herbal infusion was also ingested to relieve pain, stimulate the body, and calm nerves. The lettuce is traditionally valued for its milky sap (lactucarium), which acts on the central nervous system to provide mild, opium-like calming effects. It is widely used as a natural remedy to relieve pain, reduce anxiety, and promote sleep.