When a man looks around a bit, and exactly turns his head behind the bench where he often sits, it turns out. that the content grows behind your back. This is exactly what happened with this plant, which immediately caught my attention.

Compass lettuce, which is deceptively similar to the popular thistle, belongs to the asteraceae family. Only its unusual structure is interesting, its properties more.

This dicotyledonous perennial grows quite fast but dies just as quickly. It can often be found in fields, gardens and orchards. It is a weed and a nuisance to farmers and gardeners.

It grows to about 1.5 meters in height. It has very characteristic leaves covered with small spikes, while the color of the leaves differs from the classic green. They are dark green, almost grey. The brown-colored stem also has small thorns.

The plant blooms in June, producing bright yellow flowers, which over time turn into a fluffy ball resembling a dandelion.

What makes this plant stand out?

First of all, its healing properties. The beginnings of its use date back to antiquity, and the ingredient used in the treatment was the milk that secretes after damage.

Milk like opium

This substance has analgesic, hypnotic and narcotic properties similar to those of opium. However, there is a fundamental difference between opium and compass lettuce milk. Lettuce milk is not addictive and is used to treat opium addiction.

The plant also contains lutein, which is effective in the treatment of eyesight. The juice of the plant also contains a number of vitamins, metals and mineral salts.

For centuries, compost lettuce has been used in the kitchen to prepare salads, but this plant should not be overused. Excessive amounts may cause nausea and vomiting.