“According to the actual science, it is the lactucin and lactucopicrin, so-called phytochemicals or compounds found in plants, in lettuce that seem to be the ‘active ingredients,’ as they have a demonstrated analgesic (pain-relieving) effect similar to ibuprofen2, as well as a sedating effect. When dosed with the lactucin-containing extracts, mice fell asleep significantly sooner and slept significantly longer than the controls,” Stephenson told mbg after digging into the research. However, she adds, “that’s mice, not people.”