Wild Lettuce, Lactuca canadensis, L. virosa and L. serriola

mustard seed powder (1 tablespoon) added to the bath water is also beneficial for arthritic pain. Sore Throats: Mustard Seed Tea made from the leaves of the white mustard plant has a beneficial effect on sore throats. The increased blood circulation and sulfur content help the throat to heal. Gargle Mustard Seed Tea several times daily, beginning at the first sign of throat irritation. Its action is similar to that of a cayenne gargle. Chilblains (Chill Burns): Chilblains benefit from the warming power of white mustard. Mix one-part white mustard seed powder and four parts ground flax seeds together to make a paste. Use this mixture as a poultice to get rid of chilblains. Recipes: Mustard Seed Tea. You need 1 teaspoon crushed mustard seeds and 1 cup boiling water. Pour the water over the mustard seeds and let it steep covered for 2 to 4 minutes. Yellow Mustard Poultice. You’ll need: one tablespoon ground white mustard seeds, 1/2 cup flour, 1 egg white, 8 ounces (250ml) of hot water. Mix the mustard and flour together, then add the egg white and water to form a loose paste. Apply immediately to the body over the affected area.

This member of the Daisy/Aster Family is very widespread. Its sap is well known for pain relief. Most Lactuca species of wild lettuce contain these pain-relieving lactones in their milky latex. It is also known as prickly lettuce and opium lettuce (although it does not actually contain opium). Identification: Wild lettuce grows to be 3 to 5 feet (0.9m to 1.5m) tall, usually on a single stem, and has a milky sap throughout the root, leaves, and stems. The central stem is light-green to reddish-green, occasionally with purple streaks. Its green alternating leaves sometimes have purple edges or a yellowish color. The lance-shaped leaves can grow up to 3 inches (7.5 cm) across and 10 inches (25 cm) long. Leaves are usually, but not always, lobed and look similar to a dandelion leaf. Some species have spines/prickly hairs along the midrib on the underside of the leaf and some have teeth on their leaf margins that are very prickly. The white milky sap turns tan after exposure to air. This is an important diagnostic feature. Wild lettuce blooms in the late summer to early autumn. Its flowers are small and are similar to dandelions with yellow or slightly reddish - orange petals. Flower heads are much smaller than those of dandelion - about 1/3 inch (0.8 cm) across with 12 to 25 rays – and they are well above the leaves on a tall stem, unlike dandelion, whose flowers are low to the ground. After 3 to 4 weeks, the flowers are replaced with dark brown, dry fruits with white hairs. The taproot is thick and deep. Edible Use: This slightly bitter lettuce is good to eat when the leaves are cooked like spinach. Boiling removes some of its bitterness. It can be eaten raw, but is usually too bitter for most people’s tastes. Medicinal Use: The white latex sap that runs through the plant contains sesquiterpene lactones,

Photo:http://extension.umass.edu/landscape/weeds/lactuca-canadensis