Lobelia for Physical & Emotional Addictions

Lobelia for Physical & Emotional Addictions

The plant that came through to support us with this particular full moon is Lobelia. Lobelia, Lobelia inflata, is also known as “Indian Tobacco”. Energetically it teaches us to create boundaries with other people and entities. It’s a good plant for those of us who have difficulty saying no.  It gives us inner strength among feelings of weakness, and sharpens the third eye by enhancing our physic abilities to see clearly and navigate through the waters of emotion.

The first two words that pop into my head when Lobelia shows up is Nicotine and Emetic. On a physical level, Lobelia hits the same receptor sites in the brain as tobacco does. Researchers now think that lobeline, a constituent found in Lobelia, may actually reduce the effects of nicotine in the body, particularly the release of dopamine. Dopamine is a brain chemical that plays a number of important roles in the brain. It is also involved in drug addiction, so researchers think that lobeline may have some potential in treating addiction.

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As an herbal remedy, Lobelia has a long history of use for respiratory conditions such as asthma, bronchitis, pneumonia, and cough. Historically, Native Americans smoked lobelia as a treatment for asthma. It helps to clear mucous from the respiratory tract.  It is considered a “low-dose botanical” meaning that one needs to use only a small amount for the plant to be effective. It can cause one to throw-up if taken in too large a dose, especially in tincture form. To learn more about the medicinal uses of this plant, click here.