ðɪ ˈeɪntʃənt ɡɹˈiːks ˈɔːlsoʊ bᵻlˈiːvd ɪts pˈʌndʒənt dʒˈuːs təbi ɐ ɹˈɛmədi ɐɡˈɛnst ˈaɪ ˈʌlsɚz ænd pˈaɪθɐɡˌoːɹiənz kˈɔːld ðə lˈɛɾɪs jˈuːnək bɪkˈʌz ɪt kˈɔːzd jˌʊɹɹᵻnˈeɪʃən ænd ɹᵻlˈækst sˈɛkʃuːəl dɪzˈaɪɚ.
The Ancient Greeks also believed its pungent juice to be a remedy against eye ulcers and Pythagoreans called the lettuce eunuch because it caused urination and relaxed sexual desire.