Lobelia from Herbs That Work

Therapeutic Properties: Alterative, Antispasmodic, Anti-venomous, Astringent, Cathartic, Counter-irritant, Diaphoretic, Diuretic, Emetic, Emmenagogue, Expectorant, Maturating, Nauseant, Nervine, Relaxant, Respiratory Stimulant, Sedative, Stimulant (in small doses)

Important Notes:

Lobelia is one of the truly great herbs. Some herbalists call it the “thinking herb”, because it seems to know exactly where to go and what to do. It is an herb that the people in the know will always have close by. In fact, if I could only have 10 herbs to use for the rest of my experience, one would be Lobelia. Herbalists that know Lobelia praise it like no other herb. It is highly effective for many uses. Dr. Christopher wrote: “Lobelia is one of the greatest herbs ever given to the world. We concur with Dr. Thomson that ‘there is no vegetable which the earth produces more harmless in its effect on the human system, and none more powerful in removing disease and promoting health than lobelia.’ Lobelia is a general corrector of the whole system, as it is easily diffused and able to influence the entire body . . .. Lobelia’s wonderful healing effects are due to the herb’s great ability to remove obstruction and congestion within the body, especially the blood vessels . . . Over years of practice, lobelia has been administered many times, and there have been numerous miraculous healings. Time after time, lobelia has helped the very young to the very old, with only positive results. As for lobelia being a poison: this is one of the most ridiculous falsehoods ever foisted upon the public by orthodox allopaths. This myth has been promulgated by allopath’s to dissuade potential patients from using this God-given herb and being healed. The author has quickly swallowed as much as four tablespoons of honey-sweetened tincture of lobelia at one time, mistaking it for apple cider vinegar. After retching and vomiting profusely from the emetic properties of the herb, he felt nothing but improvement, and suffered no damage whatsoever; only a good cleaning out! “Lobelia is a selective herb. When a fetus is dead, or in an extremely weakened condition, lobelia will cause it to abort. However, if the fetus is well and healthy, and the mother is weak, it will cause the mother to heal and strengthen, enabling her to carry the child until the proper time of deliver. Lobelia accurately and intelligently selects which way it is to go. It is truly a “thinking: herb.”

Various writings claim that Lobelia is a poison and this lie has continued for over 400 years, and, without one spick of evidence! It is a prime example of what people in power can do to a highly beneficial product if it competes with medical profits. To stop exceptionally skilled doctors, filing malpractice charges is their first step. If that fails they use heavier measures. To stop herbs, they simply discredit the herb by claiming that it’s harmful. Lobelia was the first herb they hoped to stop. Then there was Chaparral, Comfrey, Kava Kava, and Saint John’s Wort, etc.

If you ever hear an herbalist or doctor state that Lobelia is a poison, you known one thing for certain. That person never did any deep research and never used it. Their herbal experience has been probably confined to books, not experience. I’ve used it for years. Decades ago I eat an omelet that had ham in it. I attempted to purge my stomach by using strong Lobelia liquid extract as an emetic (to make one vomit). I first took 3 eyedroppers full, but with no effect. So I continued to take more and more. I have a high tolerance to the nausea effect of Lobelia and within 40 minutes I had taken an entire ounce of potent Lobelia liquid extract. Nothing uncomfortable occurred and less than an hour I felt completely renewed and revitalized from that awful breakfast. If Lobelia was a poison I would have been dead for certain. “Throughout all the prosecutions, there has never been a single instance of harm resulting form the use of Lobelia.”

Jethro Kloss, author of Back To Eden, one of the all time best selling books on herbs, wrote: “Lobelia is the most powerful relaxant known among the herbs that have no harmful effect. Lobelia acts differently upon different people, but it will not harm anyone.” . . .

From The Model Botanic Guide to health: “Lobelia Inflata is one of the most valuable herbs used in the botanic practice. Much has been written as to whether this herb is a poison or not. Practical experience – which is far better than theory – has proved that it is as harmless as milk (more so), and instead of being a poison, it is an antidote to poison.

Dr. H. Nowell discussed his experienced with a woman, 7 month, pregnant, forty years of age who suffering from asthma obtained a cough that would not cease. Her medical doctors had told her that her cough could not be stopped without stopping her. The patient was unable to lie in bed, and would tear at the throat, fighting for breath, and both she and her husband begged of their doctor to stop the cough. They were told that nothing could be done until after the child was born. Dr. Nowell was called in and he instructed her husband to give her a teaspoonful of Lobelia tincture when the spasm came on, and if necessary a second teaspoonful ten minutes later. Upon the first dose the patient brought up long, thick masses of phlegm from the lungs the size of a man’s fist. No further dose was taken and the patient has never had a trace of asthma or any chest trouble since.

Dr. Nowell poured a teaspoonful of the antispasmodic tincture, full strength, between the clenched teeth of a case of lockjaw and before a second teaspoonful could be poured from the bottle the locked jaws had relaxed and the patient asked, “My God! What have you done?”

Jethro Kloss wrote: “We have given just a drop or two on the tip of the finger, thrusting the finger into the mouth of a baby in convulsions, and in less time than it takes to write this statement the convulsions have ceased.

Know this: The above-mentioned doctors were highly experienced herbalists. Most of them had spent their entire careers treating people with herbs. They truly had the experience.

Lobelia will allay and regulate violent pains in the loins during labor, which are due to the rigidity of the passages.

Lobelia will make the pulse fuller and slower in cases of inflammation and fever.
Using Lobelia as an emetic may also stop an asthmatic attack, especially if used with Cayenne Pepper.

Precautions: Not recommended for people with high blood pressure or for those prone to faintness. However, there are some herbalists who claim that when Cayenne Pepper is used along with Lobelia that these potential problems are eliminated. Lobelia is often used as an emetic because its action in the throat can easily cause vomiting, which is sometimes a very desirable therapy to help eliminate toxicity or other undesirable elements from the stomach. Cleansing reactions from large dosages may include temporary: Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, burning in the urinary passages, feelings of anxiety, dizziness, headache, shivering, respiratory difficulties, skin sensations, sweating, bradycardia (slowing down of heartbeat), cardiac arrhythmias, drowsiness, and muscle twitching’s.

Drug Interactions: None known.

Pregnancy and Lactation: No problems reported.