People Are Drinking Lettuce And Hot Water To Help With Insomnia
Is it true or is it just a placebo?
By Tamara Jayne — 01 Jun 2021, 12:23 PM
If you're struggling to sleep, this natural remedy may just be the cure to knock you out
Several TikTok videos have been circulating showing people boiling water and adding lettuce to it, then drinking it like tea.
And apparently, it's been working, especially for those who battle with insomnia.
One video posted by @shapla_11 shows her mixing it with a peppermint tea bag, but she later advises to avoid this, as peppermint promotes alertness.
If you want, you can mix it with chamomile tea instead but even if you don't have that, romaine lettuce and hot water work well too.
But why are people claiming it works?
Lettuce, especially romaine lettuce, contains lactucarium, which is said to have a calming, sedative effect to induce sleep and help you relax.
Romaine lettuce, in particular, is said to have a higher lactucin content compared to other varieties.
Lactucin, a bitter substance and ingredient in lactucarium, can be found in some varieties of lettuce. Studies show that this substance has analgesic and sedative properties.
According to The Guardian, eating a salad with lettuce also promotes the same effect. But some people choose to drink it like tea instead, similar to chamomile tea, to get the best results.
All you need to do is steep romaine lettuce leaves into a cup of hot water for 10 minutes. You can also add a touch of honey if you'd like. It's said to kick in within 30 minutes to an hour.
Doctors have since debunked this by saying that it's all just a placebo effect, and there is no proper evidence to back it up.
