Dear RM Agents and Readers,

I know a bit about it, not everything and went and picked up this ditty you will find below. I do know if removing the medicinal milky substance (they call latex) if you use water to cook it down, just barely cover leaves, do not boil and often takes a slow simmer for a couple days. Sometimes you have to add a bit more water. It will turn a dark brown color.

Then I store it in amber glass wear that I've been saving for years:)

There are a couple different leaf shapes: the other one reminds me of a watermelon leaf except has prickly edges, sort of resembles.

I did buy some and do have many on my prosperity that come up yearly.

Many Blessings,
CrystalRiver

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posted 6 years ago Likes 2 Mark post as helpful send pies Quote Report post to moderator

I read, that wild lettuce is a strong pain reliever. I want to make my own tincture and want to know, when is the best time to harvest it? When it starts forming stalks or before? Or maybe when it blooms?
Zach Muller
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posted 6 years agoLikes 2 Mark post as helpful send pies Quote Report post to moderator
When the stalks form and it flowers is the traditional time to collect the latex i do believe. My plants are usually so full of latex at that point that it actually weeps out just from touching the leaves. Cut the top of the plant and collect the white material that flows out and you can continue making cuts down the stalk, collecting as it flows.

You can eat the greens fresh during its rosette phase and there will be effects, although i would consider it more of a food and less of a special medicine at that time.

Is your plant lactuca virosa?
Joy Oasis
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posted 6 years ago Likes 1 Mark post as helpful send pies Quote Report post to moderator
I am pretty sure. So are you saying I do not make tincture from the whole plant, just from the sap?
Fred Tyler
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posted 6 years ago Likes 7 Mark post as helpful send pies Quote Report post to moderator
I don't think you even need to make a tincture. The milky sap is already a concentrated source of the medicinals. It is also extremely bitter, so you might want to put it in some kind of capsule. The best time to harvest is when it is flowering as the plant has the highest concentration of pain relievers at that time. I think the traditional way to harvest is to cut off the flowers while blooming and collect the sap that forms on the ends of the stalks. The plant will continue to grow new flower buds which you can continue to harvest for several weeks.