You've probably experienced anxious feelings at times, such as when you've been exposed to a stressful or fearful situation. In fact, anxiety is a normal human response to stress and fear. However, persistent symptoms of anxiety without an easily identifiable cause may be an indication of anxiety disorder. While anxiety is often treated with psychotherapy or medication, certain natural remedies, such as wild lettuce, may also provide benefits. As with any dietary supplement, inform your doctor if you plan to use wild lettuce.
About Wild Lettuce
Wild lettuce, also known as Lactuca virosa, bitter lettuce or lettuce opium, is an herbal medication used by herbalists and alternative healers for a variety of purported benefits. In their book, "The Essential Guide to Herbal Safety," authors Simon Mills and Kerry Bone state that wild lettuce has sedative properties. Some believe that wild lettuce has psychoactive properties, although these claims are largely anecdotal. Mills and Borne point out that the presence of a psychoactive constituent in wild lettuce has been suggested but not confirmed. According to Hoag Memorial Hospital Presbyterian, wild lettuce is sometimes used to treat insomnia, restlessness and hyperactivity in children. Because of its sedative effects, wild lettuce may be useful for reducing symptoms of anxiety, although there is little scientific evidence to support this claim.
Anxiety Facts
Anxiety is a common mental health problem around the world. In fact, in the United States alone, an estimated 40 million American adults suffer from anxiety disorders each year, according to the National Institute of Mental Health. While there are several types of anxiety disorders, they share common symptoms, such as chronic worry, fear and tension, irritability, sleep problems, appetite changes, panic and unexplained aches and pains. Anxiety disorders need to be diagnosed by a qualified mental health professional. Treatment methods usually include some form of psychotherapy and, in some cases, medication. Some people wish to avoid the unpleasant side effects of medication and seek alternative and natural treatments. However, the benefits of many alternative remedies, such as wild lettuce, are largely anecdotal and not backed up by scientific research.
Clinical Evidence
There is a dearth of clinical evidence regarding wild lettuce's benefits for anxiety and anxiety disorders. Anecdotal evidence suggests that wild lettuce may help improve symptoms of insomnia, one of the key symptoms of anxiety disorders. However, a clinical review published in 2005 in the "Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine" states that while wild lettuce has been used for insomnia, its efficacy has not been evaluated. A few studies have evaluated the analgesic and sedative properties of lactucin and its derivatives, components found in wild lettuce. One study, published in the September 2006 issue of the "Journal of Ethnopharmacology," showed that lactucin and lactucopicrin produced pain-relieving and sedative-like effects in laboratory rats. However, due to the lack of clinical evidence evaluating wild lettuce's benefits for anxiety in humans, more research studies are needed.
Considerations
While wild lettuce may improve symptoms of anxiety, you should not use wild lettuce or any dietary supplement as a replacement for conventional medical care. According to Hoag Memorial Hospital Presbyterian, serious side effects, such as slow breathing, loss of consciousness and even death, can occur if you take too much wild lettuce. Other side effects may include hives, chest pain and breathing difficulties. As with any dietary supplement, inform your doctor if you plan to use wild lettuce, especially if you have a medical condition or take any prescription or over-the-counter medication or herbal supplements.
www.livestrong.com
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