Lobelia’s official name is Lobelia but it is also known as Indian tobacco. It was a very common herb prescribed by early North American doctors. Its main use was in healing respiratory ailments such as asthma, pneumonia, bronchitis, and coughs. The plant stem, which has only a few branches, is smooth on top while the lower part is rough and hairy. The lower leaves, about two inches in length, have stalks, while the upper, smaller ones don’t. The leaves are pale green or yellow and have a sharp taste and an uninviting odor. The sparse flowers are pale violet-blue on the outside and pale yellow on the inside.
Lobelia consists of a bitter glycoside (lobelacrin), resin, gum, various alkaloids, a pungent volatile oil (lobelianin), chelidonic acid and fats. Lobeline is its most important ingredient. Others include nor-lobelanidine, lobelidine, nor-lobelaine, lobelanine, lobelanidine, and isolobenine. It also contains fourteen pyridine alkaloids.
Though not addictive, lobeline works much like nicotine in its effect on the central nervous system. This is why it is a main ingredient of many treatments to help people quit smoking. Lobeline is a relaxant and is used to treat muscle and spastic colon problems. It also dilates the bronchiole tubes and this improves respiration.
Lobelia’s main use is in treating respiratory problems like bronchitis and pneumonia. It stimulates the adrenal glands to release the hormone epinephrine, which causes the airways to relax. Lobelia is a strong relaxant and clears obstructions. It relaxes the stomach (a common problem in asthmatic children) as it dilates the bronchial passages. In fact, many people have used it to stop asthma attacks in place of inhalants.
Other practical ways to use lobelia’s qualities include these. Rub lobelia tincture or extract on the shoulders of a restless child; this is an excellent way to help him go to sleep. Rub the extract on the gums of a teething baby. Take it internally to expel mucus, remove congestion from the stomach, and to encourage the flow of oxygenized blood. A poultice can be applied for ringworm, bruises, and insect bites. Catnip and lobelia enemas are good for treating mumps in males. As a sedative it is said to rank somewhere between veratrum and aconite.
Lobelia is also useful in treating laryngitis in children and to get rid of barking coughs. Ellingwood recommended lobelia for the following problems: “spasmodic asthma, membranous croup, whooping cough, spasmodic croup, infantile convulsions, puerperal eclampsia, epilepsy, tetanus, hysterical paraxysms, diphtheria, hysterical convulsions, tonsillitis, pneumonia,” and several others.
In what form is it purchased? Lobelia is available as bulk herb, in a liquid extract form, and as tinctures for internal use. For external use it is available in ointments, lotions, suppositories, and plasters. To make the awful tasting tea, mix ¼ to ½ teaspoon of the dried herb in eight ounces of water and let it steep for 30 to 40 minutes. Drink two ounces of this four times a day. If you prefer the tincture, take .6 to 2 ml of each day. This quantity is based on a 150 pound adult. For children adjust the dosage proportionately by weight.
Lobelia is considered a potentially toxic herb. Special care is advised when using it. Signs of lobelia poisoning may include weakness, heartburn, weak pulse, difficulty breathing, and collapse. People with high blood pressure, heart disease, tobacco sensitivity, paralysis, and seizure disorder should not take lobelia. Lobelia is not recommended for women who are pregnant or breastfeeding. Lobelia can be an aggressive emetic, even in relatively small doses if the system is highly toxic. The resulting nausea and vomiting, though unpleasant, will be beneficial to the patient.
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