Have you ever heard of Indian tobacco? It is an old name for lobelia herb (officially lobelia inflata). The herb was commonly prescribed by early North American doctors for healing respiratory ailments such as bronchitis, pneumonia, asthma, and coughs. The plant stem has only a few branches. It is smooth on top but rough and hairy down low. The lower leaves are about two inches long. They have stalks, but the upper, smaller ones do not. The pale green or yellowish leaves don’t taste or smell particularly good and the sparse flowers are pale violet-blue.

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.

Lobeline works much like nicotine in its effect on the central nervous system but without the addictive properties. In fact, it is a main ingredient of many quit smoking treatments. Lobeline acts as a relaxant overall and is used to treat spastic colon and muscle problems.  It also dilates the bronchioles, thereby increasing respiration and helping the lungs.

Lobelia’s target problems deal with the respiratory system, problems like bronchitis and pneumonia. It stimulates the adrenal glands to release epinephrine, causing the airways to relax. Lobelia’s strong relaxant  qualities help to clear obstructions. It relaxes the stomach, a common need in asthmatic children. In fact, many use lobelia to stop asthma attacks instead of an inhaler.

Here are some other treatments suggested with lobelia. Rub the extract on the gums of a teething baby. Rub lobelia tincture or extract on the shoulders of a restless child; this is an excellent way to help him get to sleep. Ingest it to remove congestion from the stomach, expel mucus, and to encourage the flow of oxygenated blood. To treat ringworm, bruises, and insect bites use a poultice of lobelia. Catnip and lobelia used as an enema help treat mumps in males. Lobelia also acts as a sedative ranking 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 herbs, 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 a powerful herb and therefore cautions are in order. Taking too much will cause lobelia poisoning. Signs of this will include weak pulse, weakness, difficulty breathing, heartburn, and collapse. People with heart disease, high blood pressure, tobacco sensitivity, paralysis, and seizure disorder should not take lobelia without consulting a doctor. Lobelia is not recommended by some for th ose women who are pregnant or breastfeeding. If the system is highly toxic, lobelia can be a strong acting emetic, even in small doses. The nausea and vomiting that results, though not pleasant, will be beneficial to the patient.

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Lobelia Herb Helps Those With Pneumonia

Tags: heart disease, volatile oil, asthma attacks

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