- Region
- North America
- Origin
- North America
- Other names
- Lobelia
North America · Herb · № 307
Lobelia inflata
Herb · North America
Indian tobacco
Lobelia inflata
Traditionally attributed effects: relaxing, expectorant, induces sweating, emetic, antispasmodic, anti-asthmatic.
Safety notes
Poisonous or risky: only under expert supervision. No dosage is given here on purpose. Restricted in some countries, only under professional guidance. Not with high blood pressure or in pregnancy. Traditional use is no proof of effectiveness; if you are pregnant, breastfeeding, taking medication or have a medical condition, consult a doctor or pharmacist.
Cautions by tradition (4)
- Herbal medicine worldwide: Restricted in some countries, only under professional guidance.
- Western herbalism: Not with high blood pressure or in pregnancy. Poisonous or risky: only under expert supervision. No dosage is given here on purpose.
- Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) medicine: Poisonous: vomiting, heart rhythm disorders.
- Cherokee (Tsalagi) medicine: Poisonous in larger amounts; do not take it.
Preparation
Poisonous or risky: only under expert supervision. No dosage is given here on purpose.
Use in traditions
Indigenous peoples of eastern North America smoked the leaves for asthma and used the plant as an emetic. Around 1800 Samuel Thomson made lobelia the core of his popular healing system; he was even prosecuted for it. Eclectic physicians used it as an antispasmodic for asthma.
Applications
Use by tradition
How different herbal traditions describe this herb. Amounts are traditional guidelines checked for obvious errors; they are not medical advice. For poisonous plants no dosage is given on purpose.
Herbal medicine worldwide
Attributed effects
Relaxing, expectorant, induces sweating, emetic, antispasmodic, anti-asthmatic.
Preparation and amount
Aerial parts.
Caution: Restricted in some countries, only under professional guidance.
Western herbalism
Attributed effects
Emetic, expectorant, induces sweating, anti-asthmatic; relaxes the whole body (stomach, bile and airway cramps), improves circulation (cold hands/feet), for asthma, earache.
Preparation and amount
Traditionally used forms: tea, tincture, compress.
Caution: Not with high blood pressure or in pregnancy. Poisonous or risky: only under expert supervision. No dosage is given here on purpose.
Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) medicine
Attributed effects
As an emetic for sickness from witchcraft and to be rid of a craving for drink or tobacco; the wash on sores.
Preparation and amount
Do not use it yourself. The tradition leaves the plant in water overnight and drinks it as an emetic; the root as a wash.
Caution: Poisonous: vomiting, heart rhythm disorders.
Cherokee (Tsalagi) medicine
Attributed effects
The plant for asthma, croup and a sore throat, as an emetic, the leaves rubbed on aches and a stiff neck, and on bites, stings and boils; smoked to break the tobacco habit.
Preparation and amount
Do not prepare it yourself.
Caution: Poisonous in larger amounts; do not take it.
- Ways to prepare herbs
- Tea (infusion)TinctureCompress, poultice and paste