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The Benefits of Lobelia

By Andrea Lewis

Lobelia flowers


Herbs Playlist

Lobelia -- praised and revered by some, feared and despised by others -- has a long and controversial history.

Lobelia, also known as Indian tobacco and puke-weed, was very popular with several Native American tribes; they ranked it high in their materia medica, and set such store by it that it was an article of trade among them. Several tribes reported to have used it are the Penobscot, Cherokee, Iroquois, Shoshone and Crow.

The Cherokee mashed the roots of lobelia and used them as a poultice for body aches. The Iroquois also used the root, to treat venereal diseases, ulcers, and leg sores. The Crow used the plant in religious ceremonies.

As an expectorant, Lobelia was considered an acceptable runner-up to extract of gumwood, which was their favored expectorant. The Shoshones are one tribe known to have used Lobelia tea as an emetic. They used the "puke weed" to induce vomiting as a therapeutic modality.

My own personal experience with Lobelia has always been a positive one. I've used Lobelia for more than twelve years, mostly to treat cramps -- usually menstrual cramps, but occasionally leg cramps and muscle spasms, caused by too much exercise.

As a natural muscle relaxant, Lobelia has often been employed throughout history in midwifery, to relax the pelvic muscles in preparation for childbirth. Today, Lobelia is commonly used to calm the nerves and act as a natural sedative, mild laxative and powerful antispasmodic.

Lobelia may even enhance hormone production, but that has yet to be proven. Lobelia has proven to be helpful for angina pectoris, bronchial asthma, cramps, dysmenorrhea, epilepsy, hyperactivity, inflammation, spastic bowel, swelling and ulcers. Lobelia's muscle-relaxing properties help ease muscle tension and inflammation, making Lobelia useful for back problems, muscle pulls, sprains and tension headaches.

Now, for the bad news:
People who suffer from hypertension (high blood pressure) should not use Lobelia. Also, pregnant and nursing women, due to Lobelia's chemical similarity to nicotine; which means people who are sensitive to nicotine should also avoid Lobelia. It should not be used in “nervous prostration”, shock, paralysis, or poisoning with a depressing substance due to lobeline’s (an alkaloid in Lobelia) depressant effect on preganaglionic nicotine receptors.

If you have a history of irregular heartbeat, which I have, you should not use high doses of Lobelia, as it will relax the heart muscle -- this means no "Lobelia puke" therapy. If you suffer from most forms of asthma, dyspnea from enlarged or fatty heart, and/or valvular incompetence of the heart, you should avoid Lobelia altogether. Furthermore it should not be employed as an emetic in the very young or elderly, due to the depressant effect of lobeline.

Lobelia is considered toxic because of its strong emetic, expectorant, and sedative effects and "too dangerous for use by laymen." Common folks, those who have no formal experience with herbs, are advised to avoid the plant and to only take professionally prepared preparations under the guidance of a qualified practitioner i.e. medical herbalist or a naturopathic practitioner.

If you don't know what you're doing and have an "if a little is good a lot will be better" attitude toward herbal remedies, using Lobelia without supervision is dangerous for YOU. Lobeline, like nicotine, acts as a stimulant in small dosages, but as a nerve depressant and powerful acro-narcotic poison in excessive doses, hence the danger of experimentation. (Continued on page 2)

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