Tonight, I am reminded of the efficacy of lobelia. The genus Lobelia comprises a substantial number of species from a variety of habitats in a range of colors….The species most commonly used in herbalism is Lobelia inflata (Indian tobacco) which is native to eastern North America. (Wikipedia, 2023, 2024).

As one of its common names suggests, puke weed is an emetic that can cause nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and other concerning symptoms when ingested. For that reason, there is only a very limited set of conditions where lobelia should be consumed internally and only with the guidance of a skilled herbalist.  

Around 1800, Samuel Thomson, an uneducated ‘root doctor’ from New Hampshire, introduced lobelia as a powerful antispasmodic and antiasthmatic.  Thomson taught that some herbs act primarily through the nervous system, making a strong impression noticed by the senses (Wood, 2017). This nervine effect is what I sought when unmitigated pain was gripping my body for the past several days. 

I traveled to Chicago last week, and despite the joy of seeing family, making new friends, sightseeing, and attending an enriching professional conference, I was plagued by severe sciatica complicated by a chronic muscular and ligament disorder in my left leg.  Walking and standing are very difficult for me, and Chicago is a pedestrian city. Whether you drive a car or use the robust public transit system, there are significant distances to traverse by foot to reach one’s destinations within The Loop and any other surrounding wards.

Fortunately, I can ride my bicycle without pain, and I brought it along to use as a mobility aid while navigating outdoor spaces. Conversely, the indoor spaces of conference centers and museums are equally spacious and physically demanding as the streets are. After suffering through many painful tours, I resorted to a wheelchair on the  last day when I visited the Art Institute. It was a good decision that made the museum experience much more enjoyable.

However, the toll on my body of the prior days carried over after returning home. Despite having a deep tissue massage, taking my calcium, magnesium, b-complex, and turmeric supplements, I was still feeling a deep ache all along my spine, from neck to tailbone, with sharp stabbing sensations across my left hip, down the back of my thigh, wrapping around my knee, and extending across my shin and ankle. Tylenol and ibuprofen didn’t touch this. CBD didn’t help. But after an abrupt awakening at 2:00 a.m. by a strong zinger, I turned to my friend, lobelia.  In this case, an alcohol-based tincture by Nature’s Sunshine Products, which I keep on hand in my herbal medicine chest.

Taken externally, lobelia does not cause any of the adverse side effects that have given it a poor reputation in some circles. I often use it as a chest rub during respiratory illnesses. This time, I put it on my spine, tailbone, hip, and along the path of pain in my leg.  Within minutes, the pain subsided completely, and I felt deeply relaxed for the first time since the trip.

Thompson saw lobelia as an equalizer for disturbances of the life force, producing equilibrium. Lobelia travels the nerves very quickly. It is especially effective for muscle spasms in which torsion in one muscle spreads to another until the entire body is bent out of shape.  Lobelia ‘equalizes the charge on the muscles.’  It relaxes the entire edifice of torqued muscles so that the whole organism can resolve itself back into place.  In severe cases of some duration, the remedy must be used for a while until the entire frame gets relaxed.  This produces an overall feeling of prostration, which, however, is followed by unkinking and unwinding (Cheryl’s Herbs, 2024).  

Whether physically or mentally, the trip to Chicago had a role in winding up my system last week.  The long walking distances, heavy traffic, and constant noise played their parts, and my body reacted with tension. I am thankful for lobelia as an effective tool to undo my bodily tightness and restore inner peace.

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References

Cheryl’s Herbs. (2024). Herbal information sheet: Lobelia (lobelia inflata) [web page]. Retrieved on August 20, 2024 from  https://cherylsherbs.com/blogs/herb-profile-directory/herbal-information-sheet-lobelia?srsltid=AfmBOor3rfy_dgUcaRP3GUbUfteWTj85liT4-1u7t7CLrD3uL-XUdb1Z

Wikipedia. (2023) Lobelia inflata. Retrieved on August 20, 2024 from https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lobelia_inflata

Wikipedia. (2024). Lobelia. Retrieved on August 20, 2024 from https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lobelia

Wood, M. (2017). The Book of Herbal Wisdom: Using Plants as Medicines. North Atlantic Books.