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Herbs: Lobelia herb - cut

Common Names: Lobelia, indian tobacco, pukeweed, emetic week, asthma weed, gagroot, vomitwort, eyebright
Latin Name: Lobelia inflata

Excerpts from The ABC Herbal

There is one nervine herb in particular that has proven very beneficial for asthmatic children. That herb is lobelia. While there are many who criticize Lobelia, saying it is potentially harmful, we have found it to be a most beneficial and harmless remedy.

Lobelia is a strong relaxant and deobstruent (meaning it opens obstructions). It relaxes the stomach (a common problem in asthmatic children) and dilates the bronchial passages. Many people have used it to stop asthma attacks in place of inhalants.

Excerpts from The How to Herb Book

• One of the most potent single herbs, a powerful relaxant. The relaxing effects of lobelia can be felt all over the whole body; they work very quickly and have a good influence of the body. Small doses of lobelia act as a relaxant and large does act as an emetic. Note: some people who are very sensitive or very weakened become very relaxed and sleepy by lobelia. Lobelia can be balanced by taking it with Cayenne. There are no harmful effects. Lobelia is a marvelous herb; it is the rare person who is so sensitive to it.

• Relieves spasms. Keep tincture on hand for use in convulsions. Can be rubbed on the body or drops can be put in the mouth and the body will immediately absorb it.

• Rubbing lobelia tincture or extract on the shoulders of a restless child is an excellent way to help him go to sleep.

• Reduces palpitations of the heart.

• Especially good for croup and respiratory problems.

• Extract is good to rub on gums of teething baby.

• Helps remove obstructions and congestion throughout the body, including the blood vessels. Expels mucus.

• Sometimes used as a emetic to remove congestion from stomach.

• Encourages the flow of oxygenized blood.

• Poultice for ringworm, bruises and insect bites, etc.

• Catnip and lobelia enemas are good for mumps in males.

Has been used in the following:

Excerpts from Practical Herbalism

Few herbs native to the Americas have had such an impact on the field of botanical medicine as Lobelia. Central to the Thomsonian healing system that swept America in the early 1800’s, the “Emetic Weed” was claimed to have been “discovered” by Samuel Thomson, himself. While there is little doubt that the plant was in use by the Penobscot Indians and other eastern tribes well before Thomson’s time, it is also true that it had never before been applied to so many conditions and uses as Thomson outlines. It was highly valued for its power as an emetic – a key form of therapy in those days – as well as a dependable anti-spasmodic and near panacea for respiratory complaints.

The broad range of uses for lobelia as prescribed by the Eclectics is barely touched upon in this partial description by King:

"Perhaps the most important use for this drug will be in the treatment of respiratory affections. For this class of diseases no remedy is more highly valued by physicians of our school. Lobelia is an admirable pectoral remedy. As a nauseant expectorant it has no equal. When an emetic is desired in pulmonary complaints it is one of the most efficient that can be employed. It has come to be the first of remedies for spasmodic asthma, and is not without utility in whooping cough. It improves innervations and the circulation, and is one of the best remedies to employ in congestive conditions. It is frequently indicated in pleurisy and pleuro-pneumonia. As a sedative it ranks between veratrum and aconite. Acute pneumonia, with, tendency to congestion, the breathing being oppressed, is quickly relieved by Lobelia. All chronic forms of sore throat, especially when ulcerated, are benefited by it. Chronic pneumonia, bronchitis, and laryngitis, are all conditions in which Lobelia will be of great service. In asthenic laryngitis of children it is exceedingly useful. It is a remedy of great value in chronic catarrh, dry, hard, or barking coughs, colds, and all forms of irritation of the respiratory tract, with oppression. It relaxes the tissues, favors expectoration when a large quantity of mucous is secreted and there is want of power to remove it. The indications for this drug are the full, oppressed, or small, feeble pulse, praecordial oppression with difficult respiration, oppression anywhere in the chest, with accumulation of the bronchial secretions, cough with loud mucous rattles within the chest."

Ellingwood recommended Lobelia for the following pathologies:

"spasmodic asthma, whooping cough, spasmodic croup, membranous croup, infantile convulsions, puerperal eclampsia, epilepsy, tetanus, hysterical paraxysms, hysterical convulsions, rigid os uteri, diphtheria, tonsillitis, pneumonia," among others.

So much has been written about Lobelia in the two centuries of its recognized life in domestic medicine that the interested student might focus on the dedicated study for some months. One of the better contemporary summaries available may be found in Dr. John Christopher’s “School of Natural Healing.” Lobelia is the only herb in this substantial tome to which he dedicates an entire chapter.

Indicated Usages - Internal:

Indicated Usages - External:

Special Considerations:

Lobelia can be an aggressive emetic, even in relatively small doses if the system is highly toxic. While the resulting nausea and vomiting can be alarming, it has and will always be proven to be beneficial to the patient.

Notes:

Lobeline, a primary active alkaloid in Lobelia is chemically and physiologically similar to nicotine, without nicotine’s addictive properties. It has been used in “Stop Smoking” formulas for many years, as it reduces the cravings associated with nicotine withdrawal. It may even be smoked – alone or in combination with Mullein – to help repair the damage to lung tissues.

Excerpts from Nutritional Herbology

Lobelia has traditionally been used as an antispasmodic, antiasthmatic, diaphoretic, expectorant, emetic and sedative. It has been utilized in the treatment of asthma, whooping cough, bruises, ulcers, inflammations, sprains, ringworm, swelling, insect bites and poison ivy symptoms.

Lobelia has been utilized as a respiratory stimulant, an antiasthmatic, expectorant (in cases of laryngitis and bronchitis), a spasmolytic and an emetic. Lobelia is used topically in the treatment of myositis and rheumatic nodules. It is used in emergency situations to revive patients who have taken an overdose of a narcotic, as lobelia’s action is much like that of nicotine.

Lobeline salts are commonly used as a tobacco substitute in many over-the-counter stop smoking preparations. Lobelia and its extracts are used as ingredients in cough preparations and in counter-irritant preparations. In large doses it acts as a purgative and a diuretic.

From Our Reading and/or Experience...

• We use it tea and tincture combinations. Of course, it can be used in many other types of remedies. For instance, it can easily be ground up, and used in capsules.
• We have found Lobelia to be one of the most fast acting herbs that delivers noticeable results.
• Lobelia can be used to benefit anyone: men, women (including before, during or after pregnancy, and nursing), children and animals.
• It can be used as often as you would like, and in any way you choose.
• As is the case with most herbs, Lobelia should be stored in a dark, dry, and cool place.

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