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 lobeliaas 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.
My bicycle, leaning on the Adler Planetarium path.
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.
My bicycle, leaning at the entrance to Navy Pier.
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.
My bicycle, leaning on the Chevron statue.
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.
Pleasant words are as an honeycomb, sweet to the soul and health to the bones ~Proverbs 16:24
In 2012 I had a bicycling accident that resulted in compound dislocations and fractures of my tibia and fibula requiring an open reduction internal fixation (ORIF) surgery the same day. Fortunately, the injury was not extremely painful, and quality orthopedic care was accessible.
Content Warning: photos of dislocated and fractured limb and post surgical scars.
While sorting through Mom’s papers this week, I came across the program that she wrote up for my recovery. Here is what she recommended, and what I felt to be helpful in healing quickly and completely. I have an acquaintance who is a long-time orthopedic nurse that came to the hospital to see me while I was recovering. She’s one of those people who is always razzing others, and she was sure to point out that I should expect my leg to look like a stump for the rest of my life. But with the help of Mom’s healing recommendations and diligent physio-therapy, the inflammation completely dissipated, bones healed, and definition returned to normal within three months, and I have not had any episodes of pain, swelling, or aches in the area since it healed.
Nutritional Helps
Increase daily calories: inflammatory processes put increased metabolic demand on your body and more nutrients are needed to act as substrates to rebuild tissues. The severity of injury dictates the increased energy needs: “long bone fractures…may increase your basal metabolic rate by 15-20% over the course of several weeks. If your basal metabolic rate is 2,000 calories a day, that’s an extra 300-400 calories…” (Schlag, 2014).
Increase protein: both animal and plant-based proteins are beneficial. Feskanich, et al. (2004) found that consuming fish at least once a week was associated with a 33% reduction in the risk of hip fracture and Papadimitropoulos, et al. (2002) found dietary protein intake to hold an important role in growth, development, and maintenance of bone.
Increase green vegetables: which are high in absorbable calcium and vitamin k1, both of which are known for their roles in bone health and repair (Sim, et al., 2020).
Consume raw local honey: which decreases inflammation, helps form new collagen, reduces swelling, and is clinically proven to promote healing when applied directly to wounds. Additionally, consuming honey increases the absorption of calcium, improves bone density, and provides pain relief (Ooi, et al., 2014, Tashkandi, 2021). Mom’s notes quote Proverbs 16:24 “Pleasant words are as an honeycomb, sweet to the soul and health to the bones.”
Things to Avoid
Avoid alcohol: Some people point to the barley in beer providing silicon to help bone healing, however, consuming two or more alcoholic drinks per day can have a negative impact on bone health by impairing the body’s ability to produce new bone cells known as osteoblasts. Alcohol can delay healing, increase the risk of complications, and interfere with pain medication, making it more difficult to control pain. (Cathy, 2022).
Avoid smoking: Hernigou and Schuind (2019) report that smokers have an increased risk of fracture and experience more complications with delayed bone healing, even if they have already stopped smoking, because some adverse effects persist for a prolonged period.
Avoid pain medications: Coluzzi, et al. (2020) describe negative affects on bone remodeling and bone healing in animals exposed to opioids like morphine and fentanyl. Try to use other methods of pain relief such as alternating ice and heat, reducing inflammatory foods, ointments, relaxing baths, massage, and essential oils of lavender, frankincense, or cbd lotion. If opioids are necessary, keep their use to a minimum and rely on other methods between doses. For myself, my mood was negatively impacted by the post-surgical use of opioids, and I opted to forego them after the third day.
Vitamin Supplements
Chelated calcium and magnesium citrate: this will help with bone healing but also improves problems with teeth, muscle spasms, tendonitis and nervousness. Take three capsules once or twice per day for the first six weeks after injury, then reduce to one per day or a directed on the package.
Increase Vitamins C and D3: in a systematic review of eleven animal studies Barrios-Garay, et al, (2022) report that vitamin C (ascorbic acid) seems to accelerate bone regeneration without adverse events as measured by bone healing time, bone gain (mm) and bone density. 75-90 mg per day is recommended during recovery. Smokers should consume an additional 35 mg per day because of the increased oxidative stresses (Hart, et al. 2015). Aeschlimann (2011) and Gatt, et al. (2022) reported that while vitamin D3 is important for prevention of bone fractures, it does not consistently improve measures of bone healing in humans. The benefit of vitamin D3 supplementation following a fracture lies in prevention of further fractures. A wide variety of doses were used in the study populations including large single doses at the time of fracture, and daily doses between 700 to 1000 IU. None of the dosing methods were more effective for bone healing or growth.
Green Supplements
Barley Juice Powder: contains silica, an important trace mineral that has been shown to affect connective tissue such as collagen and the growth and mineralization of bone (Goldschmidt, n.d.). Two capsules, three times per day or one-two “shots” of fresh juice per day.
Nature’s Sunshine Products Ultimate GreenZone® Powder: a whole-food blend of grains, greens, and super foods featuring quinoa, amaranth, spirulina, chia, spinach, broccoli, kale, parsley, and horsetail. These super foods contain 25-30 times the calcium of milk per serving. Mix it with juice once a day. (See footnotes for navigational instructions at NSP website.)
Green supplements can also help with nervousness, hepatitis, and liver problems.
For Pain
Nature’s Sunshine Products Joint Health Ayurvedic Formula: authentic Ayurvedic formula, developed with herbs direct from India, and true to the Ayurvedic philosophy of restoring balance to the body. This formula contains herbs traditionally used to support joints and the structural system. Recommended to take two capsules with meals, three times a day (See footnotes for navigational instructions at NSP website.)
For Nerves and Relaxation
Blue Vervain Liquid Tincture: serves as a gentle help for debility and weakness. Traditionally used as a nervine (nervous system tonic) and is effective at easing bodily nervous tension such as stiffness in the back, shoulders, neck, etc., with a slight sedative effect. Helps the body release pent up energy and relax (Carpenter and Carpenter, 2015). Take a few drops under the tongue once per day.
Here are two pictures of my ankle after the cast was removed:
Six weeks post-op, day of cast removal, medial ankleSix weeks post-op, day of cast removal, lateral ankle
And here it is three months after the cast came off:
Three months post-op, medial ankleThree months post-op, lateral ankle
One of the best pieces of advice from Mom and a point of pride that she expressed about my healing journey from injury and surgery, was to keep a positive outlook. The timing of this injury could not have been better in regards to my life-status. Stress was lower than it had been at other times, social supports were in place, and I had recently adopted a beautiful Newfoundland puppy from our local shelter, who was such a dear girl to have join our family. Despite the events, I was able to focus on healing with joy and laughter. Mom always said that our hurt and sickly body parts can sense the way that we feel and talk about them. If we continually refer to our “gimp leg”, or that “bad knee”, it becomes a part of who we are and how that body part responds. By keeping our words as pleasant as honey, we encourage the subtle energies around those issues to respond with kindness in return. Instead of complaining about the bone break and surgical recovery, I found ways to talk about it with positivity by saying things like “my ankle is really growing stronger day by day“, or “it hurts at times but I can feel the bones and tissues knitting themselves back together just like they should.”
Daisy: RIP 2011-2021
Footnotes:
After clicking the product links for Nature’s Sunshine Products listed in this post, navigate to the “favorites” link in the banner to find the specific products.
How to order Nature’s Sunshine Products listed in this post
Citations
Barrios-Garay, K., Toledano-Serrabona, J., Gay-Escoda, C., & Sánchez-Garcés, M. Á. (2022). Clinical effect of vitamin C supplementation on bone healing: A systematic review. Medicina oral, patologia oral y cirugia bucal, 27(3), e205–e215. https://doi.org/10.4317/medoral.24944
Coluzzi, F., Scerpa, M. S., & Centanni, M. (2020). The Effect of Opiates on Bone Formation and Bone Healing. Current osteoporosis reports, 18(3), 325–335. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11914-020-00585-4
Eschle, D., & Aeschlimann, A. G. (2011). Is supplementation of vitamin d beneficial for fracture healing? A short review of the literature. Geriatric orthopaedic surgery & rehabilitation, 2(3), 90–93. https://doi.org/10.1177/2151458511408568
Feskanich D., Willett W., & Colditz G. (2003). Calcium, vitamin D, milk consumption, and hip fractures: A prospective study among postmenopausal women. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 77(2):504–511. [PubMed] [Google Scholar] [Ref list]
Hart, A., Cota, A., Makhdom, A., & Harvey, E. J. (2015). The Role of Vitamin C in Orthopedic Trauma and Bone Health. American journal of orthopedics (Belle Mead, N.J.), 44(7), 306–311. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26161758/
Hernigou, J., & Schuind, F. (2019). Tobacco and bone fractures: A review of the facts and issues that every orthopaedic surgeon should know. Bone & joint research, 8(6), 255–265. https://doi.org/10.1302/2046-3758.86.BJR-2018-0344.R1
Ooi F. K., Hung L., & He Y. (2014). Tibial bone mineral density, geometry and mechanical properties in response to high impact exercise and honey supplementation in rats. Asian Journal of Exercise and Sports Science, 11(2):11–24. [Google Scholar]
Papadimitropoulos E., Wells G., & Shea B., et al. (2002). VIII: meta-analysis of the efficacy of vitamin D treatment in preventing osteoporosis in postmenopausal women. Endocrine Reviews, 23(4):560–569. doi: 10.1210/er.2001-8002. [PubMed] [CrossRef] [Google Scholar] [Ref list]
Sim, M., Lewis, J.R., Prince, R.L., Levinger, I., Brennan-Speranza, T.C., Palmer, C., Bondonno, C.P., Bondonno, N.P., Devine, A., Ward, N.C., Byrnes, E., Schultz, C.J., Woodman, R., Croft, K., Hodgson, J.M., & Blekkenhorst, L.C. (2020). The effects of vitamin K-rich green leafy vegetables on bone metabolism: A 4-week randomised controlled trial in middle-aged and older individuals. Bone Reports, Volume 12, 100274. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bonr.2020.100274.
Nancy's Sunshine, LLC 