Lobelia inflata is an herb found in the southeastern part of Canada and the eastern half of the United States, with the exception of Florida. The said herb is known to be very effective in treating various ailments. Several studies have already proven the herbal plant’s efficacy in treating diseases like asthma, bronchitis, congestion, whooping cough and different types of allergies.
The lobelia plant has delicate, little flowers that are light blue with a hint of yellow in color. Although the flowers of the lobelia plant does have some medicinal qualities, the seeds are the ones most commonly used for making herbal remedies. This is due to the fact that the lobelia plant’s seeds are a potent source of lobeline, a piperidine alkaloid.
The lobelia plant was named after the 17th century botanist named Mathias l’Obel, whose contributions in the field of botany is still highly regarded up to this day. Lobelia is sometimes referred to in different names, for instance, some people call it Indian Tobacco because it contains chemicals that are similar to nicotine, and also because Native Americans used to smoke it in lieu of actual tobacco. There are other, not-so-flattering terms used to describe the lobelia plant; names like asthma weed, pukeweek, gagroot, vomitwort, and bladderpod.
Health Benefits
- Helps smokers quit
- Used for treating asthma
- Used for treating bronchitis
- Can be used for sore throat relief
- Used as an expectorant for treating whooping cough
- Decoctions of the lobelia plant can actually be used as treatment for sprains, muscle pain, and skin bruising
Because lobeline has a similar chemical composition as nicotine, medical professionals believe that it can make for an excellent smoking cessation supplement. Whenever the person feels the urge to smoke, he can use lobelia (preferably in tea form) to ease his cravings. After a while of taking lobelia supplements, it can actually make tobacco feel weird and unpalatable, thus making it easier to quit the habit.
Another benefit of lobelia is that it can ease the effects of panic and anxiety attacks. Small and frequent doses of lobelia can produce a calming effect on the patient, and it can even be used during panic attacks as well.
Lobelia is one of the many medicinal herbs that have more than a dozen uses. Touted as one of the most effective natural remedies out there. If you want to try out lobelia for yourself, consult your physician first to make sure that it is safe for you to use the herb and so you can get advice on proper dosage.
