This perennial flowerless plant is most commonly called horsetail but is also known as bottle brush, horse willow, Dutch rushes, toadpipe, Corn Horsetail, Atkuyrugu, Quyroughi, and Shavegrass. The value of this herb is found in the hollow, jointed stems. Its history goes back to the Roman physician Galen who recommended its use for kidney and bladder troubles, bleeding ulcers, arthritis, and tuberculosis. The Chinese still use it to treat dysentery, flu, swellings, and hemorrhoids, to cool a fever, and as a remedy for eye inflammations such as conjunctivitis and corneal disorders.
Lobelia’s official name is lobelia inflata but it is also known as Indian tobacco. It was a very common herb prescribed by early North American doctors. Its main use was in healing respiratory ailments such as asthma, pneumonia, bronchitis, and coughs. The plant stem, which has only a few branches, is smooth on top while the lower part is rough and hairy. The lower leaves, about two inches in length, have stalks, while the upper, smaller ones don’t. The leaves are pale green or yellow and have a sharp taste and an uninviting odor. The sparse flowers are pale violet-blue on the outside and pale yellow on the inside.
Lobelia consists of various alkaloids, a bitter glycoside (lobelacrin), a pungent volatile oil (lobelianin), resin, gum, chelidonic acid and fats. The alkaloid lobeline is its main ingredient and namesake. Others include lobelidine, lobelanine, nor-lobelaine, lobelanidine, nor-lobelanidine, and isolobenine, as well as fourteen pyridine alkaloids.
Though not addictive, lobeline works much like nicotine in its effect on the central nervous system. This is why it is a main ingredient of many treatments to help people quit smoking. Lobeline is a relaxant and is used to treat muscle and spastic colon problems. It also dilates the bronchiole tubes and this improves respiration.
Lobelia’s claim to fame is its success in treating respiratory problems like bronchitis and pneumonia. One thing it does is to stimulate the adrenal glands to release the hormone epinephrine. This causes the airways to relax. As we said, lobelia is a strong relaxant and clears obstructions in the breathing passages. It also relaxes the stomach, a common need for asthmatic children. In fact, many people have used it in place of inhalers to stop asthma attacks.
Here are some other treatments suggested with lobelia. Rub the extract on the gums of a teething baby. Rub lobelia tincture or extract on the shoulders of a restless child; this is an excellent way to help him get to sleep. Ingest it to remove congestion from the stomach, expel mucus, and to encourage the flow of oxygenated blood. To treat ringworm, bruises, and insect bites use a poultice of lobelia. Catnip and lobelia used as an enema help treat mumps in males. Lobelia also acts as a sedative ranking somewhere between veratrum and aconite.
Use lobelia to treat laryngitis in children and for barking coughs. Ellingwood recommended lobelia for the following pathologies: "spasmodic asthma, spasmodic croup, membranous croup, infantile convulsions, whooping cough, puerperal eclampsia, epilepsy, tetanus, hysterical paraxysms, diphtheria, hysterical convulsions, tonsillitis, pneumonia," among others.
In what form is it purchased? Lobelia is available as bulk herbs, in a liquid extract form, and as tinctures for internal use. For external use it is available in ointments, lotions, suppositories, and plasters. To make the awful tasting tea, mix ¼ to ½ teaspoon of the dried herb in eight ounces of water and let it steep for 30 to 40 minutes. Drink two ounces of this four times a day. If you prefer the tincture, take .6 to 2 ml of each day. This quantity is based on a 150 pound adult. For children adjust the dosage proportionately by weight.
Lobelia is a powerful herb and therefore cautions are in order. Taking too much will cause lobelia poisoning. Signs of this will include weak pulse, weakness, difficulty breathing, heartburn, and collapse. People with heart disease, high blood pressure, tobacco sensitivity, paralysis, and seizure disorder should not take lobelia without consulting a doctor. Lobelia is not recommended by some for th ose women who are pregnant or breastfeeding. If the system is highly toxic, lobelia can be a strong acting emetic, even in small doses. The nausea and vomiting that results, though not pleasant, will be beneficial to the patient.
Sage Leaves Benefit Problems With Fevers
Medicinal herb is a popular choice in providing medical solutions these days. Although many manufactured medicines are flourishing, still, most people go for what is natural. Most of these natural herbs have healing properties as well as benefits beyond healing. There are proven ways of making sage leaves an essential element in some culinary dishes and concoctions.
Burdock Herb Is Vitamin Rich And More
How many of us can recall times of walking through an open field, only to be annoyed by the burrs we collected on our socks or pant legs? Those burrs might well be the only unwanted part of the burdock plant. It grows wild in Asia, Europe, and North America. If you eat the root, it tastes sweet and feels gummy. The stalks taste like celery, and the leaves are bitter like dandelion.
Comfrey Herbs Help Those With Colitis
Comfrey has also been called boneset, nipbone, knitbone, and healing herb and for good reason. It has a long history of effectiveness as a healer plant, especially for being able to knit bones.
