Lactuca Virosa lact.

Acrid Lettuce

This remedy acts principally upon the brain and circulatory system. Delirium tremens with sleeplessness, coldness, and tremor. Hydrothorax and ascites. Impotence. Sense of lightness and tightness affecting whole body, especially chest. Seems to be a true galactogogue. Marked action on extremities.

Stupefaction of sense. Great restlessness.

Dull, heavy, confused, dizzy. Heat of face and headache, with general coldness. Headache, with affections of respiratory organs.

Sensation of weight, of fullness; borborygmi; abundant emission of wind. Colic in early morning, abdomen tense, relieved somewhat by evacuation and passing of wind.

Difficult breathing. Suffocative breathing from dropsy of the chest. Constant tickling cough. Incessant, spasmodic cough, as if chest would fly to pieces. Squeezing sensation in lower chest.

Promotes catamenia. Increase of milk in breasts (Asafoet).

Restless; impossible to get to sleep. Deep, comatose sleep.

Lame hip down left side; worse walking. Coldness and numbness of feet and legs. Tremor of hands and arms. Cramps in shin bones, extending to toes and side of leg involving calves.

Antidotes: Acet ac; Coff.

Compare: Nabalus-Prenanthes Serpentaria-Rattlesnake root-White lettuce, similar to Lactuca, (chronic diarrhœa, worse after eating, nights and towards morning. Pain in abdomen and rectum; emaciation. Constipation and somnolence; susceptible to aura of others. Dyspepsia, with acid burning eructation. Craving for acid food. Leucorrhœa with throbbing in uterus); Lach; Kali carb; Spiranthes (galactagogue).

Tincture.

Anguish and internal uneasiness. Sadness with exaggerated fancies.

Vertigo with heaviness of the lower limbs. Giddiness with heaviness of the head, blackness before the eyes, and sensation as if the head were too large and expanded. Difficulty of thinking. Dulness of the head (early in the morning), dull pain in the whole head. Pain in a small spot on the vertex. Heaviness in the occiput with pressure (P.M.). Painful spot near the vertex, the pain increases on touching it.

Biting in the eyes. Dim-sightedness, sight as through mist or gauze. Muscæ volitantes. The lids are covered with mucus.

Heat of the face, with trembling of the lips, and sensation as if they were swollen. Twitching in the lips.

Tongue coated white. The tip of the tongue feels burnt. Increased flow of (acrid) saliva. Tenacious mucus in the throat (early in the morning).

Increased appetite and thirst. Bitter taste in throat, as from bile. Pain in the stomach, with retraction of the pit of the stomach, worse on pressing on the part. Tightness in the pit of the stomach, with anguish in the precordial region coldness in the stomach and œsophagus. Stitches in the pylorus. The pains in the stomach are relieved by sitting, bending, or by emission of fetid flatulence. Swelling of the liver with pressure or with tightness when pressing on it. Pinching in the umbilical region, increased by crossing the legs. Ascites, with induration of the liver and asthma.

Dry, hard, knotty, difficult stool, with burning at the arias. Hæmorrhoidal tumors around the anus, with tenesmus of the rectum.

Frequent micturition and increased secretion of urine, the urine is ; clear as ; water. Burning at the orifice of the urethra. Dragging pressing in the region of the bladder.

Swelling of the lymphatic vessels in the penis, with painful erections during the morning slumber.

Roughness in the throat after reading aloud. Cough from tickling in the throat, with a feeling of tightness in the chest. Spasmodic, dry, hollow racking cough, as if the chest would fly to pieces. Dry suffocative cough with sensation of coldness in the stomach. Difficult breathing with stitches in the left lobe of the lungs. Frequent desire to take a deep breath, constant desire for air, with oppression of the chest. Sensation as if the lower part of the chest were too tight. Great oppression of the chest at night, waking him from sleep, and obliging him to sit up with anxious suddenness, feels as if he would suffocate, and suddenly he finds himself on his feet in the room. Heaviness on the chest with tightness of breathing. Feeling of fulness in the chest, sensation as if a heavy weight were oppressing the chest, obliging one to loosen the clothing. Cannot bear anything to press on the chest, lest the breathing should become oppressed. Hydrothorax. Congestion of blood to the chest, with pressing and obliging one to breathe hurriedly. Feeling of coldness in the chest. Crampy, pressure in different parts of the chest. Stitches in the chest.

Upper. Painful twitching in the hands. Trembling of the hands. Lower. Sensation in the legs as if the circulation were suspended, particularly when sitting. Cold feet.

Irresistible drowsiness, in the day time. Lethargic sleep.

Sharp, cramp-like twitchings in the neighborhood of the joints. Indescribable feeling of lightness of the body. Bruised feeling in all the limbs.

Pulse slow, contracted, small. Frequent coldness over the back and head, with heat in the face. Chilliness in a warm room, with coldness of the hands and feet. Dry heat of the upper part of the body, with icy coldness of the feet. Profuse perspiration.

Œdematous swelling of the whole body with asthmatic complaints.

Wants to sit erect. Amelioration when taking exercise in the open air.

Lactuca virosa. Poisonous Lettuce. Opium Lettuce. Also, Lactuca sativa. Garden Lettuce. N. O. Compositæ (Genus, Cicoraceæ). Tincture of fresh flowering plant (Specimens of both L. vir. and L. sat. might be included in the tincture. Tincture of impissated juice," Lactucarium" or Lettuce Opium. (The symptoms in the Schema marked "(s)" were produced by Paris Lacucarium prepared from Lactuca sativa. American Lactucarium is prepared from L. elongata.)

Angina pectoris. Anus, affections of. Ascites. Asthma. Constipation. Cough. Diarrhœa. Globus hystericus. Gonorrhœa. Heartburn. Hysteria. Lactation. Levitation. Liver, affections of. Muscæ volitantes. Noises in ears. Pylorus, pain in. Sleep, excessive. Smell, illusions of. Spinal cord, pains in. Spleen, affections of. Whooping-cough. Yawning.

The leaves of garden lettuce, Lactuca sativa , when too old and going to seed, have a bitter taste, and the stalk then contains a milky juice which is intensely bitter. This juice contains Lactucin , and is common to all lettuces, but is especially virulent in L. vir ., from which (as well as well as from Lact. sat .) Lactucarium , or "Lettuce Opium," is prepared. It has a soporific action, and is used "instead of Opium to allay cough, quiet nervousness, and induce sleep in cases where, from idiosyncrasy, Opium is not borne" (Brunton). This use of lettuces has been known from very remote times, and has not been added to by old-school observers. The sleep-provoking powers of Lactuca are recognised by sensitive persons who eat ordinary garden lettuce in salad. Homœopathic provings and records of poisonings have produced an extensive array of symptoms. A simple reading of the symptoms will show what a powerful agent we possess in Lactuca , though the homœopathic uses have not been as extensive as the proving seems to warrant. As an instance of poisoning I take this from C. D. P . A man, 25, ate Lact. v . in a salad, 7 p.m. Went to bed at 9. Was waked at 11 with sharp colicky pains, soon followed by nausea and vomiting, which lasted all night. Fell asleep at 5 a.m., but in the morning was astonished to find himself unable to distinguish objects clearly. A boy of 10 who ate of the same meal became affected with lively delirium at midnight, and it lasted till morning; he jumped about on the bed, played all sorts of pranks, and nobody could quiet him. He had no colic or vomiting. His pupils were dilated till the iris was a mere rim. Trying to read he mistook M for P and O for V. In his delirium he had hallucinations, saw on his bed a soldier, an inkstand, &c. Both these patients and another had liquid stools. The dilated pupils persisted some time. One of the keynote symptoms of Lact. v . is an indescribable sensation of tightness, affecting the whole body more or less, but especially the chest: must yawn and stretch to relieve the squeezing of the lower chest. This develops into asthma and angina pectoris. There is tightness in the liver region, and enlargements of the liver have been removed by Lact. v . when that symptom was present. Squeezing in left breast. Feeling as if a hundredweight on chest. On the other hand there is also a feeling of relaxation in the chest. There is intolerance of touch and pressure. Lact. v. has cured a spasmodic cough in frequent paroxysms with feeling of suffocation. Attacks came suddenly without any apparent cause, and were induced by a violent tickling in pharynx and roof of mouth ( N. A. J. of H ., May, 1890). Whooping-cough, paroxysms preceded by anxiety. There is both constipation and diarrhœa, and many concomitant anal symptoms. Hering gives "Painful gonorrhœa in females" as an indication; and one of the symptoms of the male urethra is suggestive. "Sensation as of a drop continually passing along the urethra when seated." Urine has smell of violets. Lctu . has cured hypertrophy of ovaries in a woman of fifty, consequent on an abortion twenty-five years before. The tumour was excessively large, and the patient could get no rest for the pain of the pressure. The rectum was contracted, and fæces evacuated with great pain. "Fatigue during stool," and also "sleepiness during stool" are peculiar and may prove characteristic. Ebullitions rising up from abdomen suggest globus hystericus. In addition to the sense of tightness there is a sense of lightness no less pronounced. Extraordinary lightness of body, more pronounced in open air. Feels as if swimming, in bed. Dreams of swimming in the, air, or of walking above the ground. The head feels light; also empty. Sensation as if head too large; as if brain loose. Sensation as if looking through gauze. "Pain in spinal marrow even to cauda equina and streaming along coccyx" should prove a leading symptom in some spinal cases. Other sensations are: As if chest would fly to pieces; as if circulation in legs was suspended. Coldness of stomach, throat, chest, feet. Right arm is much affected by Lact. v. Sitting up > chest symptoms. Bending > pain in stomach. Crossing legs > pinching in umbilical region. Touch < . Sneezing < . Symptoms are > in open air; < in warm room. Yawning and stretching > pressure in chest.

Continue in Clarke 26 more passages →

Poisonous Lettuce. Compositæ.
A plant native to Europe ; has a strong, disagreeable smell, like that of opium, and a bitterish, acrid taste.
Provings by German provers, collected by Seidel. See Jour. f. Hom. Arzneien, vol. 2.
CLINICAL AUTHORITIES.
- Cough , Neidhard, Raue's Rec., 1870, p. 373 ; Whooping cough , A. R., Rück. Kl. Erf., vol. 5, p. 723 ; Catarrh of chest , Meyer, Rück. Kl. Erf., vol. 5, p. 686 ; Hydrothorax , Neidhard, Raue's Rec., 1870, p. 372.

Anguish and internal uneasiness.
Sadness with exaggerated fancies.
Difficulty of thinking.

Vertigo with heaviness of head and lower limbs, blackness before eyes and sensation as if head was too large and expanded.

Aching, pressing pain in forehead ; sensation as if brain was loose.
Painful spot near vertex, < on touching it.
Heaviness in occiput with pressure.
Dull pain in whole head, early in morning.
Trembling and pulsation in head during rest.
Head is very painfully shattered by slight cough, so that a whirring and pressing remain a long time afterward.
Headaches : with affections of respiratory organs ; nervous.

Musca volitantes ; dim-sightedness, as through mist or gauze.
Pupils very much dilated.
Biting in eyes.
Lids covered with mucus.

Heat of face, with trembling of lips, and sensation as if they were swollen.

Twitching in lips.

Tongue coated white ; tip of tongue feels burnt.

Increased flow of acrid saliva.

Bitter taste in throat, as from bile.
Tenacious mucus in throat early in morning.

Tightness in pit of stomach, followed by true precordial anxiety.
Feeling of warmth in stomach, accompanied by nausea, rising into throat, and flat taste at root of tongue, changing to icy coldness of stomach and throat.
Pit of stomach retracted ; pain in stomach, < from pressure, > by sitting, bending, or emitting fetid flatus.
Icy coldness in stomach and œsophagus.
Stitches in pylorus.

Swelling of liver with pressure, or with tightness when pressing on it.

Pinching in umbilical region, < crossing legs.
Fulness in abdomen, especially right side, impedes respiration ; > by discharge of flatus.
Ascites, with induration of liver, and asthma.

Dry, hard, knotty, difficult stool, with burning at anus.
Hemorrhoidal tumors, with tenesmus of rectum.

Dragging, pressing in region of bladder.
Frequent micturition and increased secretion of urine, urine clear as water.
Burning at orifice of urethra.

Swelling of lymphatics on penis, painful erections during morning sleep.

Hypertrophy of ovaries in a woman, æt. 50, consequent upon an abortion twenty-five years previously ; abdomen as large as that of a woman with twins at ninth month ; could get no rest day or night, tumor causing pain by pressure in all positions ; rectum contracted, evacuates feces with great pain.
Excessive swelling of abdomen, feet and eyelids. θ Dropsy of uterus.
Painful gonorrhœa in females.

Frequent desire for air and a deep breath ; oppression of chest.
She feared to take a deep breath on account of tightness in lower part of chest ; there was then felt a slight shock.
Difficult breathing, with stitches in left lung.
Wakes suddenly and must bounce out of bed upon his feet. θ Suffocation.

Cough from tickling in throat ; tightness in chest.
Dry cough in short paroxysms, shaking chest and occiput.
Dry, suffocative cough, with coldness in stomach.
Spasmodic, dry, hollow, racking cough, as if chest would fly to pieces.
Incessant spasmodic cough, which threatens to burst chest ; always caused by peculiar tickling in fauces, which, in turn, seems to be produced by sensation of suffocation in throat.
A woman past climacteric years, tickling cough, with oppression of middle and right side of chest, pain in posterior part of region of liver.
Whooping cough, paroxysms preceded by anxiety.
Dry, spasmodic cough, from tickling in larynx, with dyspnœa and oppression of chest, as if it would burst ; < in morning, > sitting up ; before attacks, great anxiety.

Pinching, dull, sticking pain, which becomes seated in upper part of left side of chest, with tightness of whole chest.
Pleuritic stitches from middle of sternum toward right side.
Dull sticking from left chest to scapula.
Pain catches him in his lungs, back and front, and across top of sacrum.
Several sharp stitches beneath short ribs of left side.
Cramping, pressing pains in various parts of chest.
Feeling of coldness in chest.
Fulness in chest, as of a heavy weight ; loosens clothing.
Cannot bear anything to bear on chest, lest breathing should become oppressed.
Sensation as if lower part of chest was too tight.
Great oppression of chest at night, waking him from sleep and obliging him to sit up with anxious suddenness ; feels as if he would suffocate, and suddenly he finds himself on his feet.
Congestion of blood to chest, with pressing, obliging one to breathe hurriedly.
Irritation to cough caused by constant tickling in throat, cough short, taking away breath, patient almost in despair. θ Catarrh of chest.
Hydrothorax with anasarca ; unable to lie down or sleep, could not express ideas for want of words, inclined to weep ; fluids choke him ; violent palpitation.

Tightness and oppression of chest on waking from sleep ; feels as if suffocating, must get out of bed. θ Angina pectoris.
Pulse slow, contracted and small.

Pain as if in spinal marrow, extending through coccyx. θ Coccygodinia.

Painful twitching or trembling of hands.

Sensation in legs as if circulation was suspended, particularly when sitting.
Cold feet.

Sharp, cramplike twitchings in neighborhood of joints.

Rest : trembling and pulsating in head.
Sitting : pains in stomach > ; oppression of chest > ; as if circulation in legs was suspended.
Bending : pains in stomach >.
Crossing legs, pinching in umbilical region <.
Unable to lie down : hydrothorax with anasarca.
Must sit up in bed : oppression of chest.
In all positions : painfulness of tumor.

Irresistible drowsiness, in daytime.
Sleep restless or lethargic.

Morning : dull pain in whole head ; tenacious mucus in throat ; during sleep, painful erections ; oppression of chest <.
Day : irresistible drowsiness.
Night : great oppression of chest.
Day or night : no rest, hypertrophy of ovaries.

Warm room : chilliness.

Slight shivering.
Frequent coldness over back and head, with heat in face.
Chilliness in a warm room, with coldness of hands and feet.
Dry heat of upper part of body, with icy coldness of feet.
Profuse perspiration.

Right : fulness in abdomen < ; oppression of side of chest ; stitches toward side from sternum.
Left : stitches in lung ; pinching pain in upper part of side of chest ; dull sticking from chest to scapula ; sharp stitches beneath short ribs.

As if head was too large and expanded ; as if brain was loose ; as if looking through mist or gauze ; as if lips were swollen ; tip of tongue as if burnt ; as if chest would fly to pieces ; as of a heavy weight in chest ; as if lower part of chest was too tight ; as if he would suffocate ; pain as if in spinal marrow, extending through coccyx ; as if circulation in legs was suspended.
Pain : in stomach ; in posterior part of region of liver ; in lungs, back and front, and across top of sacrum.
Painful spot : near vertex.
Head is very painfully shattered by slight cough, so that a whirring and pressure remain a long time afterward.
Anxiety : in precordial region.
Sharp stitches : beneath short ribs of left side.
Stitches : in pylorus ; in left lung ; from middle of sternum toward right side.
Pinching : in umbilical region.
Sharp, cramplike twitching : in neighborhood of joints.
Cramping, pressive pains : in various parts of chest.
Dragging, pressing : in region of bladder.
Pinching, dull sticking pain : upper part of left chest.
Dull sticking : from left chest to scapula.
Aching pressing pain : in forehead.
Dull pain : in whole head.
Painful twitching and trembling : of hands.
Biting : in eyes.
Burning : at anus ; at orifice of urethra.
Heat : of face.
Dry heat : of upper part of body.
Warmth : in stomach.
Pressure : on occiput.
Heaviness : of head and lower limbs ; of occiput.
Oppression : of chest.
Tightness : in pit of stomach ; of liver ; in lower chest.
Fulness : in abdomen ; in chest.
Tickling : in throat ; in fauces.
Trembling : of lips.
Trembling and pulsating : in head.
Twitching : of lips.
Coldness : of stomach and throat ; in chest ; of feet.

Dropsical swellings ; hydrothorax ; ascites, with induration of liver and asthma.

Touch : < painful spot on vertex.
Cannot bear anything on chest : difficulty of breathing.
Pressure : pain in stomach ; tightness of liver ; pain in tumor >.

Woman, past climaxis ; cough.
A man, æt. 22 ; asthma with hydrothorax (relieved).
Man, æt. 26 ; phthisical, after intermittent, hydrothorax.
Man, had for years suffered from blood dyscrasia and affection of brain ; hydrothorax.
Woman, æt. 30 ; hysterical, spasmodic cough.
Woman, æt. 50 ; hypertrophy of ovaries after miscarriage (improved).
Woman, æt. 59 ; hydrothorax (relieved).
A woman, æt. 60 ; hydrothorax.
A man, æt. 61 ; asthma with general œdema after taking cold.

Compare : Opium (drowsiness), Laches., Kali carb., Kali iod . (heart symptoms).

A tincture of the fresh plant of Lactuca virosa, L., is used.

It has been found useful for incessant spasmodic cough, with great irritation of the larynx; the cough threatens to burst the chest, is associated with a sense of suffocation, and is followed by copious expectoration. ▶ It is to be compared with Dros.