Why is drying the leaves or processing the latex common in the preparation of wild lettuce?
Answer
To stabilize the extract and remove fibrous bulk
Fresh, raw wild lettuce is noted for its intense bitterness and potential to irritate the stomach lining when consumed directly. Herbalists often dry the leaves or process the harvested latex into a resin or tincture to better isolate and access the beneficial compounds, such as the lactucarium, while avoiding the ingestion of large amounts of raw, fibrous plant material.
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