Plant Comparison
California Poppy vs Wild Lettuce
A side-by-side comparison of two medicinal plants — every documented constituent, action, use, safety note and cited source, assembled automatically from the Omnia Sana database.
At a glance
California Poppy and Wild Lettuce: they share 7 indicated uses (anxiety, back pain, headache, …); 3 pharmacological actions in common.
Evidence face-off — shared uses
| Condition | California Poppy | Wild Lettuce | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|
| Anxiety | 5/10 | 1/10 | Stronger for California Poppy |
| Back pain | 2/10 | 2/10 | Comparable evidence |
| Headache | 2/10 | 2/10 | Comparable evidence |
| Insomnia / sleeplessness | 2/10 | 2/10 | Comparable evidence |
| Nervous tension | 5/10 | 1/10 | Stronger for California Poppy |
| Pain (general) | 2/10 | 2/10 | Comparable evidence |
| Stress | 5/10 | 1/10 | Stronger for California Poppy |
Evidence scores (1–10) are computed from the tier of each cited source. “Comparable” means the two scores are within one point. Follow a score to its detailed sources.
Key Constituents
Bitter, centrally-active constituents responsible for the sedative and pain-relieving effects; isolated lactucin and lactucopicrin produced analgesia comparable to ibuprofen and sedation in rodent tests.
The historical medicinal preparation, concentrating the active lactones.
Pharmacological Actions
Anxiolytic for anxiety and nervous tension - also supported by a double-blind RCT of a fixed California poppy + hawthorn (Crataegus) + magnesium combination in mild-to-moderate anxiety
Mild analgesic / anodyne for pain (lactucin and lactucopicrin act on the central nervous system) - in mice these compounds produced analgesia comparable to ibuprofen
Calming for nervous tension and restlessness
Traditional & Indicated Uses
Anxiolytic for anxiety and nervous tension - also supported by a double-blind RCT of a fixed California poppy + hawthorn (Crataegus) + magnesium combination in mild-to-moderate anxiety
Mild sedative / sleep support for insomnia (positive allosteric modulation of GABA-A receptors)
Anxiolytic for anxiety and nervous tension - also supported by a double-blind RCT of a fixed California poppy + hawthorn (Crataegus) + magnesium combination in mild-to-moderate anxiety
Mild analgesic (traditional use for pain)
Antitussive for an irritable, dry cough (traditional)
Sedative for sleeplessness / insomnia - lactucin and lactucopicrin showed sedative activity in animal models
Calming for nervous tension and restlessness
Mild analgesic / anodyne for pain (lactucin and lactucopicrin act on the central nervous system) - in mice these compounds produced analgesia comparable to ibuprofen
Safety, Cautions & Contraindications
Has sedative activity: it can add to the effects of alcohol, sedatives and sleep medicines, so avoid combining and do not use before driving.
Alcoholic (ethanol) extracts inhibit or induce several cytochrome P450 enzymes (CYP3A4, 2C9, 2C19, 2D6) and activate the pregnane X receptor, so there is a risk of herb-drug interactions; the water-based tea appears safer in this respect. Avoid in pregnancy and breastfeeding.
Can be unsafe in large amounts or if harvested too early: overdose can cause sweating, fast heartbeat, dilated pupils, dizziness, ringing in the ears, vision changes, heavy sedation, breathing difficulty and, in extreme cases, death.
External Ids
Botanical Description
Herbaceous perennial (often grown as an annual) with delicate, finely divided, blue-green feathery foliage. Solitary, cup-shaped, four-petalled flowers in vivid orange to yellow arise on long stalks, opening in full sun and closing at night or in dull weather, followed by a long, slender, ridged seed capsule that splits explosively when ripe.[7]
Tall, bristly biennial herb with a milky latex throughout, and prickly-edged, often blue-green leaves that tend to twist to align edge-on with the sun ('compass plant' habit). Small, pale yellow, dandelion-like flower heads are borne in loose branched clusters atop a tall, spiny-stemmed flowering stalk.[11]
Habitat
Native to open grassland, coastal scrub and disturbed ground of California and neighbouring states; widely cultivated and naturalised elsewhere as a garden ornamental.[7]
Grows on dry waste ground, roadsides, hedgerows and disturbed soil; native to Europe, North Africa and Western Asia and naturalised in North America.
Harvesting
The flowering aerial parts are cut in summer while in flower, and dried in a warm, shaded, airy place.[7]
The milky latex is traditionally collected by scoring the flowering stem and letting the exuded sap dry into lactucarium; the aerial parts (leaf and stem) are also cut and dried while the plant is flowering.[11]
Traditional Uses
California poppy has a Native American traditional reputation as a mild calming and pain-relieving remedy, used for insomnia, nervous tension and mild pain; unlike the related opium poppy it is non-addictive and its calming effects are now attributed to GABA-A receptor modulation, supporting its traditional anxiolytic and sedative use.[7]
Wild lettuce has a long folk history, reflected in the name 'opium lettuce', as a mild sedative and analgesic remedy for insomnia, nervous tension and pain, and as an antitussive for irritable dry cough, its dried latex (lactucarium) once used as a milder, non-addictive alternative to opium.[11]
Preparations
Dried flowering herb infused in hot water as a traditional calming, sleep-supporting tea.
Alcoholic extract of the dried flowering herb; note that alcoholic extracts (unlike the water-based tea) can affect drug-metabolising liver enzymes.
Concentrated extract, sometimes combined with hawthorn and magnesium, studied in a clinical trial for mild-to-moderate anxiety.
Dosage
The EU herbal monograph gives a single dose of 480-600 mg of the powdered herb and a daily dose of 960-1500 mg, in adults and elderly; for sleep, one single dose with dinner and another 30-60 minutes before bedtime. Not recommended under 18 years; consult a practitioner if symptoms persist beyond 2 weeks. Educational reference only, not a prescription.
Health Canada's NNHPD monograph gives 0.2-3 g of dried flowering herb top per day for adults 18 years and older, with infusion among the accepted methods of preparation. The EU herbal monograph covers the powdered herbal substance only and gives no infusion posology. Educational reference only, not a prescription.
Because of documented overdose toxicity (rapid heartbeat, heavy sedation, breathing difficulty), only conservative traditional herbal doses should be used and this herb should not be self-dosed at concentrated or extract strength without professional guidance. Educational reference only, not a prescription.
References
Drug Class Interactions
Lookalikes Review
References & Sources
- Rolland, A., Fleurentin, J., Lanhers, M.C., Younos, C. et al (1991) 'Behavioural effects of the American traditional plant Eschscholzia californica: sedative and anxiolytic properties', Planta Medica, 57(3), pp. 212-216. doi:10.1055/s-2006-960076 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.1055/s-2006-960076 - Rolland, A., Fleurentin, J., Lanhers, M.C., Misslin, R. and Mortier, F (2001) 'Neurophysiological effects of an extract of Eschscholzia californica Cham. (Papaveraceae)', Phytotherapy Research, 15(5), pp. 377-381. doi:10.1002/ptr.884 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.1002/ptr.884 - Kalyniukova, A., Ahmed, S., Ak, G., Saka, E. et al (2025) 'Comprehensive Metabolomic Profiling and Biological Activity Analysis of Eschscholzia californica Extracts Using LC-ESI-QTOF-MS', Food Science & Nutrition, 13(9), pp. e70885. doi:10.1002/fsn3.70885 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.1002/fsn3.70885 - Gafner, S., Dietz, B.M., McPhail, K.L., Scott, I.M., Glinski, J.A., Russell, F.E., McCollom, M.M., Budzinski, J.W., Foster, B.C., Bergeron, C., Rhyu, M.R. and Bolton, J.L (2006) 'Alkaloids from Eschscholzia californica and their capacity to inhibit binding of [3H]8-hydroxy-2-(di-N-propylamino)tetralin to 5-HT1A receptors in vitro', Journal of Natural Products, 69(3), pp. 432-435. doi:10.1021/np058114h Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.1021/np058114h - Cahlikova, L., Macakova, K., Kunes, J., Kurfurst, M., Opletal, L., Cvacka, J., Chlebek, J. and Blunden, G (2010) 'Acetylcholinesterase and butyrylcholinesterase inhibitory compounds from Eschscholzia californica (Papaveraceae)', Natural Product Communications, 5(7), pp. 1035-1038. doi:10.1177/1934578x1000500710 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.1177/1934578x1000500710 - Singh, S., Jain, L., Pandey, M.B., Singh, U.P. and Pandey, V.B (2009) 'Antifungal activity of the alkaloids from Eschscholzia californica', Folia Microbiologica, 54(3), pp. 204-206. doi:10.1007/s12223-009-0032-7 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.1007/s12223-009-0032-7 - Fedurco, M., Gregorova, J., Sebrlova, K., Kantorova, J., Pes, O., Baur, R., Sigel, E. and Taborska, E (2015) 'Modulatory Effects of Eschscholzia californica Alkaloids on Recombinant GABAA Receptors', Biochemistry Research International. doi:10.1155/2015/617620 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.1155/2015/617620 - Cahlikova, L., Kucera, R., Hostalkova, A., Klimes, J. and Opletal, L (2012) 'Identification of pavinane alkaloids in the genera Argemone and Eschscholzia by GC-MS', Natural Product Communications, 7(10), pp. 1279-1281. doi:10.1177/1934578x1200701008 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.1177/1934578x1200701008 - Manda, V.K., Ibrahim, M.A., Dale, O.R., Kumarihamy, M., Cutler, S.J., Khan, I.A., Walker, L.A., Muhammad, I. and Khan, S.I (2016) 'Modulation of CYPs, P-gp, and PXR by Eschscholzia californica (California Poppy) and Its Alkaloids', Planta Medica. doi:10.1055/s-0042-103689 Traditional / reference
https://doi.org/10.1055/s-0042-103689 - Hanus, M., Lafon, J. and Mathieu, M (2004) 'Double-blind, randomised, placebo-controlled study to evaluate the efficacy and safety of a fixed combination containing two plant extracts (Crataegus oxyacantha and Eschscholtzia californica) and magnesium in mild-to-moderate anxiety disorders', Current Medical Research and Opinion, 20(1), pp. 63--71. doi:10.1185/030079903125002603 Randomized trial
https://doi.org/10.1185/030079903125002603 - European Medicines Agency (HMPC) (2015) 'European Union herbal monograph on Eschscholzia californica Cham., herba'. Available at: https://www.ema.europa.eu/en/documents/herbal-monograph/final-european-union-herbal-monograph-eschscholzia-californica-cham-herba_en.pdf Traditional / reference
https://www.ema.europa.eu/en/documents/herbal-monograph/final-european-union-herbal-monograph-eschscholzia-californica-cham-herba_en.pdf - Health Canada, Natural and Non-prescription Health Products Directorate (2026) 'Natural Health Product Monograph: California Poppy - Eschscholzia californica'. Available at: https://webprod.hc-sc.gc.ca/nhpid-bdipsn/dbImages/mono_california-poppy_english.pdf Traditional / reference
https://webprod.hc-sc.gc.ca/nhpid-bdipsn/dbImages/mono_california-poppy_english.pdf - Ghasemzadeh Rahbardar, M. and Hosseinzadeh, H (2024) 'Therapeutic potential of hypnotic herbal medicines: A comprehensive review', Phytotherapy Research, 38(6), pp. 3037-3059. doi:10.1002/ptr.8201 Meta-analysis / review
https://doi.org/10.1002/ptr.8201 - Block, K.I., Gyllenhaal, C. and Mead, M.N (2004) 'Safety and efficacy of herbal sedatives in cancer care', Integrative Cancer Therapies, 3(2), pp. 128-148. doi:10.1177/1534735404265003 Meta-analysis / review
https://doi.org/10.1177/1534735404265003
- Ullah, M.I., Anwar, R., Kamran, S., Gul, B. et al (2022) 'Evaluation of the Anxiolytic and Anti-Epileptogenic Potential of Lactuca serriola Seed Using Pentylenetetrazol-Induced Kindling in Mice and Metabolic Profiling of Its Bioactive Extract', Antioxidants (Basel), 11(11), pp. 2232. doi:10.3390/antiox11112232 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.3390/antiox11112232 - Lee, M., Park, J., Cho, W., Jun, Y. et al (2024) 'Lactuca L. Extract Enhances Sleep Duration Through Upregulation of Adenosine A1 Receptor and GABA-A Receptor Subunits in Pentobarbital-Injected Mice', Journal of Medicinal Food, 27(7), pp. 661-668. doi:10.1089/jmf.2023.K.0250 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.1089/jmf.2023.K.0250 - Paulsen, E. and Andersen, K.E (2015) 'Lettuce contact allergy', Contact Dermatitis, 74(2), pp. 67-75. doi:10.1111/cod.12458 Traditional / reference
https://doi.org/10.1111/cod.12458 - Wesolowska, A., Nikiforuk, A., Michalska, K., Kisiel, W. and Chojnacka-Wojcik, E (2006) 'Analgesic and sedative activities of lactucin and some lactucin-like guaianolides in mice', Journal of Ethnopharmacology, 107(2), pp. 254--258. doi:10.1016/j.jep.2006.03.003 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jep.2006.03.003 - Gumprecht, T (1815) 'On the use of the Lactuca Virosa, in Hooping-Cough', Medico-Chirurgical Transactions, 6, pp. 608-617. doi:10.1177/095952871500600125 Traditional / reference
https://doi.org/10.1177/095952871500600125 - Trojanowska, A (2005) 'Lettuce, Lactuca sp., as a medicinal plant in Polish publications of the 19th century', Kwartalnik Historii Nauki i Techniki, 50(3-4), pp. 123-134. Traditional / reference
https://scholar.google.com/scholar?q=Lettuce%2C%20Lactuca%20sp.%2C%20as%20a%20medicinal%20plant%20in%20Polish%20publications%20of%20the%2019th%20century - Spadari, M., Pommier, P., Canioni, D., Arditti, J., David, J.M. and Valli, M (2003) 'Abuse of Lactuca virosa', Presse Medicale, 32(15), pp. 702-703. Preclinical
https://scholar.google.com/scholar?q=Abuse%20of%20Lactuca%20virosa - Lo Faro, A.F., Di Trana, A., La Maida, N., Tagliabracci, A., Giorgetti, R. and Busardo, F.P (2019) 'Biomedical analysis of New Psychoactive Substances (NPS) of natural origin', Journal of Pharmaceutical and Biomedical Analysis, 179, pp. 112945. doi:10.1016/j.jpba.2019.112945 Meta-analysis / review
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpba.2019.112945 - Besharat, S., Besharat, M. and Jabbari, A (2009) 'Wild lettuce (Lactuca virosa) toxicity', BMJ Case Reports, 2009, pp. bcr0620080134. doi:10.1136/bcr.06.2008.0134 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.1136/bcr.06.2008.0134 - Stojakowska, A., Malarz, J. and Kisiel, W (1994) 'Sesquiterpene Lactones in Tissue Culture of Lactuca virosa', Planta Medica, 60(1), pp. 93-94. doi:10.1055/s-2006-959419 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.1055/s-2006-959419 - Herbal Reality (n.d.) 'Wild Lettuce (Lactuca virosa): Benefits, Uses, Safety'. Available at: https://www.herbalreality.com/herb/wild-lettuce/ Traditional / reference
https://www.herbalreality.com/herb/wild-lettuce/ - RxList (n.d.) 'Wild Lettuce: Health Benefits, Side Effects, Uses, Dose & Precautions'. Available at: https://www.rxlist.com/supplements/wild_lettuce.htm Traditional / reference
https://www.rxlist.com/supplements/wild_lettuce.htm - Ghasemzadeh Rahbardar, M. and Hosseinzadeh, H (2024) 'Therapeutic potential of hypnotic herbal medicines: A comprehensive review', Phytotherapy Research, 38(6), pp. 3037-3059. doi:10.1002/ptr.8201 Meta-analysis / review
https://doi.org/10.1002/ptr.8201 - Block, K.I., Gyllenhaal, C. and Mead, M.N (2004) 'Safety and efficacy of herbal sedatives in cancer care', Integrative Cancer Therapies, 3(2), pp. 128-148. doi:10.1177/1534735404265003 Meta-analysis / review
https://doi.org/10.1177/1534735404265003
Generated automatically from the Omnia Sana plant database and its cited sources. For educational purposes only — not medical advice. Always consult a qualified practitioner before using medicinal plants.