Annual herbaceous plant, 0.5-1m. high; rarely branched. Leaves alternate, sessile; the lower deeply lobed; the upper occasionally entire; margins toothed.
Compositae
Lactuca indica L.
Local names:
English name:
Indian lettuce.
Description:
Annual herbaceous plant, 0.5-1m. high; rarely branched. Leaves alternate, sessile; the lower deeply lobed; the upper occasionally entire; margins toothed. Inflorescence in terminal head; flowers yellow. Achene small, tipped with a tuft of hairs. All parts of the plant contain a milky juice.
Flowering period:
June - August.
Distribution:
Grows wild in waste places.
Parts used:
The whole plant, except for the roots. It is collected at the beginning of summer, before flowering. The roots are removed and the aerial parts dried in the sun or in dryers.
Therapeutic uses:
The entire plant, and especially the leaves, is employed as a depurative and demulcent The leaves are used in treating mastitis, galactophoritis, furunculosis and abscesses. They are also effective for gastralgia and dyspepsia. The usual dose is 8 to 20g per day in the form of a decoction, extract or syrup. A mixture with some other plants is used externally in the form of a poultice of pounded fresh leaves.