What is Lobelia used for?
Traditional/Ethnobotanical uses American Indians smoked the leaves as tobacco and used them medicinally for respiratory ailments. Similar folk uses for asthma, chronic bronchitis, whooping cough, cholera, and many other conditions were recorded. Lobelia’s emetic properties were well known in the 19th century. Smoking cessation Lobelia inflata and its major alkaloid, lobeline, have been used in smoking cessation programs and have been proposed for treatment of other drug dependencies. Lobeline’s effects on respiratory physiology may be responsible for its initial use in smoking cessation. Stimulation of respiration and bronchoconstriction are observed with lobeline and nicotine. However, there is only modest evidence for efficacy.
