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Lobelia Inflata Treats Bronchitis And More

24th November, 2010 - Posted by health news - No Comments

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 is made up of chelidonic acid, pungent volatile oil (lobelianin), various alkaloids, a bitter glycoside (lobelacrin), a resin, fats, and gum. The alkaloid lobeline is its most important ingredient. Others include lobelanine, lobelidine, lobelanidine, nor-lobelaine, nor-lobelanidine, and isolobenine, and 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 claim to fame is its success in treating respiratory problems like bronchitis and pneumonia. One thing it does is to stimulate the adrenal glands to release the hormone epinephrine. This causes the airways to relax. As we said, lobelia is a strong relaxant and clears obstructions in the breathing passages. It also relaxes the stomach, a common need for asthmatic children. In fact, many people have used it in place of inhalers to stop asthma attacks.

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.

Use lobelia to treat laryngitis in children and for barking coughs. Ellingwood recommended lobelia for the following pathologies: “spasmodic asthma, spasmodic croup, membranous croup, infantile convulsions, whooping cough, puerperal eclampsia, epilepsy, tetanus, hysterical paraxysms, diphtheria, hysterical convulsions, tonsillitis, pneumonia,” among others.

Externally, lobelia is available in ointments, lotions, suppositories, and plasters. Internally, purchase a bulk herb, a liquid extract form, or tinctures. If you can stand the bad taste, you can make a tea by mixing ¼ to ½ teaspoon of the dried herb with eight ounces of water, then letting it steep for 30 to 40 minutes. Two ounces of this four times a day is sufficient. The tincture dose is .6 to 2 ml each day. These figures are based on a 150 pound adult. Decrease the quantity proportionately by weight for a child.

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.