Lobelia
Lobelia inflata.

This plant grows wild in most areas of the US and Canada, and is often known as Indian tobacco because of its taste. However, it is no way related to tobacco and does not contain nicotine or other poisonous properties. Lobelia flowers from July to November, the flowers being small and numerous, pale blue in this species. The proper time for gathering is from the last of July to the middle of October. The plant should be dried in the shade and then preserved in packages or covered vessels, especially if reduced to powder. (Picture taken June/99)

Medicinal Part: leaves and stems

Solvents: water

Uses:
Lobelia is a wonderful antispasmodic which relaxes the muscles and nerves. Dual in its activities, it is both a relaxant and a stimulant. In small doses it stimulates, in large doses it relaxes..
It is useful for asthma and bronchial spasms, whooping and other spasmodic coughs, muscle spasms and twitches, any pains and lockjaw. It can even lessen the strength of contractions during natural childbirth.
-Lobeline, contained within lobelia, is similar to nicotine, and lobelia is used in commercial smoking preparations to counteract the desire for tobacco. One could include it in a homemade herbal preparation for this, adding comfrey, coltsfoot and mullein.
-A few drops of tincture placed in the ear relieves earaches..
-This herb is most frequently used in combination with other herbs for its relaxing, antispasmodic and pain-relieving properties. - such as coltsfoot, scull cap and blue cohosh.

Dose:
Infuse 1 ounce of herb to 1 pint boiling water, makes an ordinary infusion - to be administered in tablespoonfuls every hour or half hour. -Again combine with herbs such as scullcap or coltsfoot. A weak infusion can be given in teaspoonful doses every 10 min. will thoroughly relax the muscular system and prove a great aid in reducing fractures and dislocations, especially if a cloth soaked in the warm infusion is applied over the seat of the difficulty.


Precaution: Excessive doses can cause severe depression.