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Indian Tobacco (Lobelia)
Lobelia erinus
Ezekiel 47:12 "And by the river upon the bank thereof, on this side and on that side, shall grow all trees for meat, whose leaf shall not fade, neither shall the fruit thereof be consumed: it shall bring forth new fruit according to his months, because their waters they issued out of the sanctuary: and the fruit thereof shall be for meat, and the leaf thereof for medicine."
Nicknames: Indian Tobacco;[1] Lobelia;[1] Puke-weed;[1] Bladderpod;[1] | Fun fact: Lobelia was named after Matthias De L'Obel, a famous ethnobotanist.
Parts Used: Flower, seed, root;[1] Only harvest it after a portion of the capsules are inflated;[3]
Plant Family: Campanulaceae;[1] Genus: Lobelia;[1] Species: L. erinus;[1] [ It's an annual[3] ]
Ethnobotany: Like many other native plants, the Native Americans utilized this great gift from God to treat dozens of ailments successfully.[1] They used it for everything from fevers, to venereal diseases, to earaches, and even stiff and hurting neck pain.[1] It has been used to induce vomitting medically, which is where the slang name puke-weed comes from.[1] It produces high levels of manganese, Vitamin A, and Vitamin C.[1] It's known as a blood cleanser(similar to Echinacea), and used as a respiratory stimulant for bronchial and spasmodic asthma and bronchitis.[1] It can be applied topically to relax muscles and treat sprains, and backaches.[1] Native Americans also viewed it in a mystical way, as they believed that it would ward off storms.. They used it ceremonially.[1] I love the Native Americans, but I must warn you that those types of beliefs are idolatry and very dangerous. Idolic beliefs and practices lead to a curse[Exodus 20:4]. The plant is medicinal however, that I am not denying. It was also used as a Tobacco altnerative by the Native Americans as well.[3]
Natural Habitat: North America;[1] Mostly found in the Eastern US, Canada, and Russia's Kamchatka Peninsula.[1]
Mixes well with: Because the properties of Lobelia(Indian Tobacco) are in alignment with those of Mullein, I have found it to synergize well with it. Both are used for respiratory ailments, and I have a ton of experience using Mullein. It's known for its Mucilage content, which acts as a natural sore throat medicine, and is good for the stomach as well.[2]
OG Observations: Lobelia is stringly similar to Mullein in its use and pharmacology.
What is Phytochemistry? What are Phytochemicals? Phytochemistry is an important branch of science that proves once and for all that these herbal medicines really do work.[4] Phytochemist isolate complex pharmacological phytochemical constituents from organic dried plant material of ethnobotanicals from across the planet.[4] They then study those chemicals in order to determine their miraculous pharmacological properties(medicinal qualities).[4] Ethnobotany and Phytochemistry are two closely related fields, as is pharmacognosy, and pharmacology. Examples of commonly known phytochemicals include: CBD, THC, Morphine, Caffeine, DMT, Mescaline, Melatonin, Serotonin, Mitragynine.. etc.
Phytochemicals: Lobeline is its main phytochemical component, the source of its pharmacological actions.[1] It stimulates deeper breathing.[1] According to one source(and the data on this varies), it contains 14 alkaloids, and one called lobeline is the major and most important.[3] ( Maybe it was born with it... or maybe it's Lobeline.. ) It's a colorless crystal, that's slightly soluble in water, but extremely soluble in alcohol.[3] Keep these things in mind when preparing herbal medicine. It helps to understand the science behind your remedy. Combinations of tea, and tinctures work the best in my experience. Lobelia induces similar, but not as strong pharmacological effects, similar to those of the substance nicotine(on circulation, neuromuscular junctions, and the central nervous system).[3] It may be useful for trying to quit Tobacco.
Pharmacological / Medicinal Properties: Lobelia has emetic properties;[3] that were first discovered in the year 1785, by the year 1807 it was introduced into mainstream medicine.[3] An emetic is a drug that induces vomitting.[7] Pharmacological similarities between lobeline and nicotine have been observed by researchers.[5] The first documented use of the emetic properties of Lobelia(lobeline specifically) was published in the year 1785.[6] That's how long scientist have known about the reality of herbal medicine. To a Dr named Samuel Thomson, who was the founder of the Thomsonia system of medicine, Lobelia was the most important Emetic drug that was known.[6]
More Ethnobotanicals: Mullein, Cream Bush(Holodiscus discolor), Eriodictyon crassifolium, Coleus blumei(Salvia alternative), Cancer Bush(Sutherlandia frutescens), Anthocleista djalonensis
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Academic citations:
[2] Tosif, Mansuri M., et al. "A comprehensive review on plant-derived mucilage: characterization, functional properties, applications, and its utilization for nanocarrier fabrication." Polymers 13.7 (2021): 1066.
[4] Burrell, R. C. "Phytochemistry. What it is and how it has developed." Journal of Chemical Education 14.11 (1937): 520.
[5] Dwoskin, Linda P., and Peter A. Crooks. "A novel mechanism of action and potential use for lobeline as a treatment for psychostimulant abuse." Biochemical pharmacology 63.2 (2002): 89-98.
[6] Edmunds, Charles W. "On the action of lobeline." American Journal of Physiology-Legacy Content 11.2 (1904): 79-102.
[7] Merriam-Webster.com's Dictionary Definition Of Emetic;
[1] Swerdlow, Joel L. Nature’s Medicine : Plants That Heal. Washington, D.C., National Geographic Society, 2000.
[3] Robbers, James E, et al. Pharmacognosy and Pharmacobiotechnology. Baltimore, Williams & Wilkins, 1996.
Encyclopedia Sources:
Other resources:
M.A.P.S. Ethnobotanical Studies By Scholars
PubChem - pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov