Divination, lunar magick, sleep, protection, love spells, and male sex magick.
The whole plant is rich in a milky sap that flows freely from any wounds. This hardens and dries when in contact with the air.
The sap contains “lactucarium”, which is used in medicine for its anodyne, antispasmodic, digestive, diuretic, hypnotic, narcotic and sedative properties.
Lactucarium has the effects of a feeble opium, but without its tendency to cause digestive upsets, nor is it addictive.
It is taken internally in the treatment of insomnia, anxiety, neuroses, hyperactivity in children, dry coughs, whooping cough, rheumatic pain etc.
The plant should be used with caution, and never without the supervision of a skilled practitioner. Even normal doses can cause drowsiness whilst excess causes restlessness and overdoses can cause death through cardiac paralysis.
The sap has also been applied externally in the treatment of warts.
The seed is anodyne and galactogogue.
Lettuce has acquired a folk reputation as an anaphrodisiac, anodyne, carminative, diuretic, emollient, febrifuge, hypoglycaemic, hypnotic, narcotic, parasiticide and sedative.
