Fwd: HerbalLegacy.com Newsletter September 2004

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HerbalLegacy.com

Newsletter September 2004

Lobelia by B. Wolsey

Dr. considered Lobelia to be one of the greatest herbs in the world, and he used in over 20 of his herbal formulas. Lobelia is known as the “thinking herb” because it will go to the part of the body that is ailing, often taking constituents of other herbs with it. One of the greatest aspects of Lobelia is that it removes obstructions and congestion within the body, especially the blood vessels. It will also help the body eliminate toxins, choosing the best elimination channel. Dr. used Lobelia prolifically throughout his practice, and with great success. Lobelia is also known as Emetic Weed, Indian Tobacco, Asthma Weed, Pukeweed and Bladderpod.

Lobelia has an unfair reputation as being a dangerous herb or a poison, because it is an emetic. Dr. once accidentally swallowed four tablespoons of Lobelia, mistaking it for Apple Cider Vinegar. After vomiting profusely, he felt fine, and suffered no damage whatsoever. Dr. was once taken to court for killing a man with Lobelia—the man who was supposedly dead showed up to give witness against him! The case was thrown out. No deaths have ever been proven to have been caused by the use of Lobelia. This hasn’t stopped the Lobelia bashing, however.

In the 1980’s the Federal Food and Drug Administration tried to ban the use of Lobelia, because of the alkaloid lobeline. The FDA based their decision upon written sources in a poisonous plant book, because they didn’t have any actual case files of damage. Lobelia is still legal to use, and is not considered toxic by the FDA. Scientific tests have been done to determine a toxic amount of Lobelia. It has been determined that it would take four pounds of Lobelia being injected into the body to kill a person. No person is going to intake four pounds of Lobelia in one sitting. They would start vomiting before they made it to one pound! Dr. never had to use more than three teaspoons of Lobelia with a patient.

Lobelia is an expectorant, a diaphoretic, an anti-asthmatic, an anti-spasmodic and an emetic. It has been used in combination with Mullein for an excellent glandular formula. Lobelia is also rich in Vitamin A, Vitamin C and Manganese. The American Indians used Lobelia as a cure for syphilis, as a diaphoretic, and to expel worms.

When combined with False Unicorn, Lobelia is used to prevent miscarriages. Dr. had multiple successes in stopping miscarriages. Some of Dr. ’s students used the False Unicorn/Lobelia to help a woman who was miscarrying. Because the bleeding didn’t stop, they took her to a hospital. When they got her to the hospital, her body expelled the fetus. The doctor was amazed, because the fetus had been dead for several weeks. He explained that in this type of situation, they usually have to surgically remove particles of the placenta, but this woman’s uterus was clean.

One of the more common, current uses of Lobelia is for smoking cessation. The alkaloid lobeline mimics the effects of nicotine. Lobelia eases muscle tension, and calms the nerves. So does nicotine. However, no one has become addicted to Lobelia. And unlike tobacco, Lobelia is actually good for your lungs.

Lobelia has also been used as a painkiller. One of Dr. ’s students smashed his hand with a hammer. He soaked the hand in Lobelia tincture, and the pain subsided in minutes! Dr. stressed that Lobelia should be used to relieve pain only if the pain is acute, and not for minor pain relief. Lobelia can be applied externally or internally to relieve pain.

Dr. ’s Formulas that contain Lobelia:

Adrenal Formula, Anti-Spasmodic, Black Ointment, Bladder Formula, Kid-E-Dry, Complete Tissue & Bone, Ear & Nerve, False Unicorn & Lobelia, Glandular System, Heavy Mineral Bugleweed Combination, Herbal Calcium Formula, Kid-E-Calc, Herbal Iron Formula, Herbal Tooth & Gum Powder, Joint Formula, Lower Bowel, Lung & Bronchial, Lymphatic, Master Gland, Memory Plus, Mind Trac, Kid-E-Trac, Nerve, Prenatal Formula, Relax-Eze, Sinus Plus, Slumber, Smoke-Out, Stop-Ache, Super Garlic Immune Formula