Lactuca serriola

Rotate to landscape mode
Lactuca serriola L.

Flora Palaestina Ethnobotany

florapal.org

Prickly Lettuce
Prickly Lettuce
Previous Next

Asteraceae (Compositae)

  • Lactuca scariola L.
  • Prickly Lettuce
  • khasat ha-matzpen
  • חַסַּת הַמַּצְפֵּן
  • khas al-zait خس الزيت
  • khas barri خس بري
  • khas el-baqar خَس البقر
  • khas el-himar خس الحمار
  • lubbein لبين

Annual

  • Disturbed habitats
  • Nutrient-rich soils
  • ruderal
Click Flora of Israel Online to view distribution and other botanical details.
For distribution and other botanical details for this plant

Click to view:

Medicinal Complaints / Uses

   

Medicinal Complaints / Uses

Lactuca serriola L.

System/State Traditional
Complaint/Use		 Activity / Interpretation
Traditional
Preparation/
Administration		 Parts Used
Source
Dermatological

Antiseptic for skin lesions

Antiseptic

1. Use juice of the plant, as a salve
2. Decoct plant in water & use as a hot compress locally.

 Aerial parts Z
Dermatological

Skin fungi, acne & scabies

 Anti-acne, Anti-fungal, Scabicide

Apply milky juice of the plant to skin.

 Latex Z
Dermatological

Warts

 Anti-Infective

Grind leaves & aerial parts & apply as poultice to affected area.

Aerial parts B
Gastrointestinal

Haemorrhoids

 Anti-haemorrhoidal

Grind leaves & aerial parts & apply as poultice to affected area.

Aerial parts B
Mental health

Madness or black bile [/depression]

Anti-depressant, Anti-psychotic

Hang leaves on the patient as a good luck charm.

Leaf Z
Oral Health

Toothache

Analgesic

1.Cook raw leaves & rinse mouth out with the water.
2.Chew raw leaves.

Leaf Z
Ritual /Ceremonial

Against the evil eye

 Ritual

Hang leaves on the patient as a good luck charm.

Leaf Z

Notes

Cautions

Lactuca genus has some species which may contain sesquiterpenelactone which is allergenic. Contraindicated in benign prostatic hypertrophy (BPH) & glaucoma. Overdose can cause depressed respiration, dizziness, mydriasis, stupor, tachycardia, tinnitus & death. Grazing on immature wild lettuce by cattle & sheep etc. can cause sickness.

The authors of FLORAPALE, (Flora Palaestina Ethnobotanical) web site do not take responsibility for any adverse effects from the use of the plants described here. Always seek advice from a health professional before using a plant medicinally or for other purposes. See DISCLAIMER.

The authors of FLORAPALE, (Flora Palaestina Ethnobotanical) web site do not take responsibility for any adverse effects from the use of the plants described here. Always seek advice from a health professional before using a plant medicinally or for other purposes. See DISCLAIMER - https://florapal.org/disclaimer/