Lobelia to Stop Smoking

[Guest guest]

Hey Butch, you probably know about lobelia but thought I would share

this. Also, I read that peppermint oil helps? You would know much

better than I do.

 

I'm proud of you! Drink LOTS of water!

Michelle

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

Eclectic physicians, early North American doctors who used herbs as

their primary medicine, considered lobelia to be one of the most

important medicinal plants. It was used by Eclectics to treat coughs

and spasms in the lungs from varying causes, as well as spasms

elsewhere in the body, including the intestines and ureters

(passages from the kidney to the bladder). Lobelia was also

considered a useful pain reliever and in higher amounts was used to

induce vomiting in people who had been poisoned.

 

The alkaloid lobeline is responsible for most of lobelia's actions.

Lobeline has been used as a traditional herbal approach to help

people stop smoking. Results of human trials using lobeline for

smoking cessation have been mixed and generally negative.

Preliminary trials suggest lobeline may improve lung function,

perhaps by its abilities to reduce bronchial constriction and to

thin mucus so that it can be coughed out.

 

Eclectic physicians generally recommended using a tincture of

lobelia made partially or entirely with vinegar instead of alcohol.

A vinegar extract is known as an acetract. At most, 1 ml was given

three times per day. The absolute maximum amount to take should be

that which causes no, or minimal, nausea. Lobelia ointment has also

been used topically on the chest to relieve asthma and bronchitis.

People should apply such ointments liberally several times per day.

 

Lobelia frequently causes nausea and vomiting when the amount used

is too high. Generally, more than 1 ml of tincture or acetract taken

at one time will cause nausea and possibly vomiting and should be

avoided.

 

Although lobelia has a reputation for being toxic, a thorough review

of the medical literature was unable to find any well-documented

case of serious problems or death due to lobelia. This may be

because a toxic amount cannot be ingested without first causing

vomiting. Signs of lobelia poisoning may include weakness,

heartburn, weak pulse, difficulty breathing, and collapse.

 

Nevertheless, lobelia should not be used for more than one month

consecutively.