It is also found in the Punjab region of Pakistan and India and Australia where it grows in the wild.

In North America, it has been documented as introduced in California, Alabama, Iowa, and Washington, DC, and grows wild in other parts of the continent.

They discovered two chemicals responsible for the properties of L. virosa; lactucopicrin and lactucin.

Today the plant is un-scheduled by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), meaning it is legal to grow, purchase, and own without prescription or license.

"Wild Salad" has long been known in the world of "natural remedies" or "alternative treatments".

[10] A latex which is called lactucarium can be derived from the extract of the stem secretions of Lactuca virosa.