Wild lettuce (Lactuca virosa) is a plant whose leaves and flowering tops appear in traditional herbal practices. It contains bitter compounds called lactucins that promote a mild calming effect.
People use wild lettuce for occasional sleeplessness or nervous tension. You can find it as a dried herb, a tincture, or an extract in capsules. Its effects stay gentle, so most people take it in the evening or before bed.
Many prefer to take it about 30 minutes before sleep. Some use it during the day for stress relief, though drowsiness can set in.
Caution: Wild lettuce can make you drowsy. Do not drive or operate machinery until you know how it hits you. It can interact with sedatives or alcohol. Pregnant or nursing women should avoid it.