Lobelia in Herbal Medicine: Properties of the Lobelia

Scientific name

Lobelia inflata

Family

Campanulaceae

Origin

North America

Synonyms

Indian tobacco

Used Parts

Drug given by the leaves

Chemical constituents

Alkaloids (lobelia, lobelanin, lobelanidine, norlobelanin, lelobanidine);
Chelidonic acid;
Glycosides.

Lobelia in Herbal Medicine: Properties of the Lobelia

Lobelia and its extracts were used as respiratory analectics and bronchodilators in the treatment of bronchial asthma, in respiratory paralysis from poisoning and in pertussis; today it is scarcely used since it is a medicinal plant with a very low therapeutic index.

Biological activity

As mentioned, thanks to its stimulating activity exercised at the level of the center of the breath, lobelia was used in the treatment of various respiratory diseases, such as bronchial asthma, pertussis and respiratory paralysis.

The respiratory stimulating action is attributable to the alkaloids contained in the plant.

Moreover, it seems that lobelia is able to exert effects similar to those exercised by nicotine and, for this reason, it was also used as a remedy coadjuvant in detoxification from the use of tobacco.

However, the plant is considered toxic and has a rather narrow therapeutic index; for this reason, its use has not obtained official approval for any type of therapeutic indication and, indeed, it has been forbidden to use it both inside food supplements and in cosmetic products.

Lobelia in folk medicine and homeopathy

In folk medicine, lobelia was used as a remedy for diseases of the respiratory tract (such as coughs, bronchitis and asthma) and as a remedy for disorders such as muscle spasms, menstrual cramps and anxiety states.

Lobelia is also used in homeopathic medicine, where it can be found in the form of granules and oral drops.

In this context the plant is used in case of asthma, dyspnea, gravid nausea and vomiting, gastric hyperacidity and hypersalivation, as well as being used as an adjunct remedy in the process of cessation of tobacco use.

The dose of homeopathic remedy to be taken can vary from individual to individual, also depending on the type of disorder that needs to be treated and according to the type of preparation and homeopathic dilution that you want to use.

Side effects

After taking lobelia, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, dry mouth, dizziness, headache, paraesthesia, arrhythmias, drowsiness, convulsive phenomena and respiratory depression may occur.

Contraindications

Avoid use in case of hypersensitivity to one or more components and in case of heart disease, high blood pressure, confusion, pregnancy and lactation.