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Lobelia inflata L. - Campanulaceae - Indian tobacco, asthma weed, Indianertabak, Lobelie
Annual herb, up to 50cm tall, native to eastern North America; leaves soft; flowers small, pale blue.
„Lobelia (Lobelia inflata), also called Indian tobacco, has a long history of use as an herbal remedy for respiratory conditions such as asthma, bronchitis, pneumonia, and cough. Historically, Native Americans smoked lobelia as a treatment for asthma. In the 19th century, American physicians prescribed lobelia to induce vomiting in order remove toxins from the body. Because of this, it earned the name „puke weed.“ Today, lobelia is sometimes suggested to help clear mucus from the respiratory tract, including the throat, lungs, and bronchial tubes. Although few studies have evaluated the safety and effectiveness of lobelia, some herbalists today use lobelia as part of a comprehensive treatment plan for asthma…
Scientists think an active ingredient in the lobelia plant, lobeline, has similar effects to nicotine. For this reason, lobeline was once used as a nicotine substitute in many antismoking products and preparations designed to break the smoking habit. In 1993, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) prohibited the sale of smoking products containing lobeline. The FDA reported that such products were not effective in helping people quit or reduce smoking.“ http://umm.edu/health/medical/altmed/herb/lobelia
The above-ground parts (stems and leaves, Lobeliae herba) are traditionally used as respiratory stimulant and cough treatment. Extracts are included in preparations for the symptomatic treatment of asthma, bronchitis and pertussis. Several piperidine alkaloids (up to 0.5%) are present, of which lobeline (mixed agonist-antagonist at nicotinic acetylcholine receptors) is the major component.
[Medicinal Plants of the World. Ben-Erik Van Wyk and Michael Wink, Pretoria 2004, 194]