Indian Tobacco

See also : Ban Bian Lian
Other Names : Lobelia inflata, Lobelia, pukeweed, Indian tobacco, gagroot, asthma weed, vomitwort, bladderpod, rapuntium inflatum, Bladderpod, Emetic Herb, Gagroot, Herbe à Asthme, Lobélie, Lobélie Brûlante, Lobélie Enflée, Lobélie Gonflée, Tabac Indien, Vomit Wort, Wild Tobacco.
Lobelia is found in drier areas of America and Canada. The above ground parts are used to make medicine.

Special Precautions of Lobelia

• It is vital to note that this herb can have risks that outweigh its benefits and has been known to cause vomiting, dizziness, hypothermia, convulsions and even death.
• Lobelia is considered UNSAFE for most people when taken by mouth. Side effects include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, cough, dizziness, tremors, and more serious effects.
• Overdose may cause many serious toxic effects including sweating, convulsions, fast heartbeat, very low blood pressure, collapse, coma, and possibly death. Taking 0.6-1 gram of the leaf is said to be toxic, and 4 grams may be fatal.
• Not enough is known about the safety of applying lobelia to the skin.
• Pregnancy and breast-feeding: It’s UNSAFE for anyone to take lobelia by mouth. The particular concern during pregnancy is that it can cause serious vomiting. Don’t take lobelia if you are pregnant or breast-feeding.
• Stomach or intestinal problems including ulcers, Crohn's disease, inflammatory bowel disease, infections, and others: Lobelia can irritate the GI tract.
• Heart disease: Lobelia seems to affect the heart. Larger doses cause more of an effect.
• Lithium interacts with LOBELIA

The benefits of Lobelia are

• Lobelia inflata was used in the 19th century as a medicinal herb to induce vomiting as a mean to remove harmful toxins from the body, which explains one of its name "puke weed."
• Lobeline is a piperidine alkaloid found in lobelia and gives rise to the therapeutic claims surrounding this herb. It is thought to stimulate the respiratory center of the brain resulting in deeper and stronger breathing. At a non toxic dose, lobelia is thought to be of value as an herbal remedy for treating bronchitis and whooping cough. Lobelia inflata is a bronchodilator and antispasmodic which explains its popularity as a medicinal herb for asthma, spasmodic croup and pneumonia.
• Lobelia is often considered an herb that is useful for tobacco withdrawal and as an herbal remedy to quit smoking. While there is no information that consolidates this view, historically, lobelia has been used as an alternative to tobacco. Lobeline is also believed to have a similar chemical action to nicotine and this too could give reasoning behind its use in tobacco withdrawal.