Lactuca serriola or wild prickly lettuce is widely known for its pain reducing abilities.
Very young plants are able to be eaten as a veggie, but quickly become bitter with age as they fill with a sticky sap called lactucarium.
Lactucarium was traditionally harvested by cutting the top flower buds off where a white glob would form eventually darkening and drying in the sun. This is was then gathered and the next inch of stem cut repeating the process until the plant no longer produces. This dried lactucarium is then eaten, smoked, or made into a tincture.
Wild lettuce requires light to germinate so surface sowing is a must!
