Laudanum has a rich history dating back to the 16th century, where it was widely used as a go-to remedy for pain relief, coughs, insomnia, and various ailments. Made from opium dissolved in alcohol, it became a staple in both European and early American medicine cabinets. The benefits of laudanum, when used responsibly, include powerful pain relief, relaxation, and sedation, making it highly effective in treating a range of conditions.
Laudanum was gradually phased out of the market and ultimately outlawed for purchase in the early 20th century. In the United States today, it’s classified as a controlled substance and is no longer legally available for sale. While you can’t buy laudanum, it is legal to make your own at home for personal use. This offers the opportunity to reclaim this traditional remedy while maintaining control over its potency and ingredients. I wouldn’t feel comfortable buying anything labeled “Laudanum” or containing opiates from strangers, due to the potency of the ingredients and the risks involved. It’s important to know exactly what’s going into it and to control the strength for personal use, which is why I prefer making my own. Safety when gathering powerful remedies for your apothecary is important.
I (Kitty) have personally used this laudanum to relieve debilitating migraines on three occasions (December 2023, May 2024, and September 2024) that would have otherwise sent me to the ER. I don’t use it casually, but when needed, I’m grateful to have it in my Apothecary cabinet.
Ingredients
- 16 oz mason jar
- 2 oz dried Poppy Heads with Seeds
- I haven’t tried the “slice green poppy heads for pure opium latex” process yet. If you do, I don’t have personal knowledge of how much dried latex grain to use. Obviously way less than 2 oz. I would start with .5 oz.
- 1 TSP dried cloves*
- 1 TSP dried Rosemary*
- 1 TSP Pine Sap**
- 1 TSP Wild Lettuce powder
- 1 TSP Willow Bark
- 1 TSP Kava powder
- 1 TSP Star Anise
- 1 slice Candied orange (this is just a dried orange slice)
- 80 proof or higher Vodka
Instruction
Add all the ingredients to a jar, then fill it to the top with vodka. Cover the jar and place it in a cabinet to steep for a minimum of 2 weeks if you need it quickly, but longer steeping is better—around 4 months is ideal for the first use. When ready, I skim off the top of the jar to fill my dropper bottle, leaving the remaining mixture to continue steeping indefinitely. Thanks to the vodka base, this tincture doesn’t have an expiration date, so you can let it mature over time for even better potency.
Common Dosage
- 5ml (1 TSP) 3-4x per day
- 1/4 grain every 3-4 hours. = 4ml | .125 FL OZ | 14 drops
- A single 1 oz brown dropper bottle will be 2 days of treatment at full
strength = 15ml per day.
Migraine Treatment – will block pain receptors
- 1 oz shot – (1/2 typical 2oz shot glass)
- Another full 1 oz shot, 2 hours later
- These 2 doses is generally enough to cut pain for one full day
- 1 full oz again next morning if needed (for that migraine hangover, or to
prevent resurgence)
I only needed three 1 oz doses over two days to completely treat a severe migraine—I’m talking about the kind that makes you want to hide from the world. This laudanum has been the best solution I’ve ever used, far more effective than prescription meds and definitely beats a trip to the ER.
How to take
You can add the laudanum to a cup of tea that has cooled to a drinkable temperature. Add honey to taste for a smoother experience. However, for the most effective relief, it’s best taken directly under the tongue and held there as long as you can handle for faster bloodstream absorption—though be prepared for the spicy flavor if you choose this method!
This base for this recipe was found in Kitty’s 1876 Cyclopedia under “opium”.
* Cloves and Rosemary provide the Benzoic Acid called for in Cyclopedia Recipe.
** Pine sap provides the natural camphor called for in the Cyclopedia recipe. I gather mine in winter when the sap is frozen, then store it in a small glass vial in the freezer. The frozen chips are much easier to handle than the sticky, glue-like sap you get during summer temperatures! This also makes it more manageable for use when you’re ready to add it to your preparation.
