Dr. Christopher said that Lobelia is one of the greatest herbs in the world. It is certainly one of the most disputed herbs in the world, yet those who use it consider it to be indispensable in their herbal repertoire, acting as a "thinking" agent which goes to whatever part of the body is ailing and treats it, often in conjunction with other herbs. Dr. Christopher considered that Lobelia would help correct the entire bodily system, as it is easily diffused and utilized. Its greatest aspect is that it removes obstructions and congestion within the body, especially the blood vessels. Over his years of practice, Dr. Christopher administered Lobelia many times, and there were numerous miraculous healings. Time after time, Lobelia helped all, from the very young to the very old, with only positive results. As for Lobelia being a poison, Dr. Christopher considered this one of the most ridiculous falsehoods ever foisted upon the public by orthodox allopaths. Dr. Christopher himself quickly swallowed as much as four tablespoons of honey-sweetened tincture of Lobelia at one time, mistaking it for apple cider vinegar. After vomiting profusely, he felt nothing but improvement, and suffered no damage whatever; only a good cleaning out!
Dr. Christopher said that Lobelia is a selective herb. Lobelia will cause a dead or extremely weakened fetus to abort, for example, but if the fetus is strong and healthy, it will cause the mother to strengthen and allow her to carry the child until the proper time of delivery. Lobelia selects which way it should go. It acts in this way in many instances.

For example, Dr. Christopher made up a simple but extremely effective formula for glands, of three parts mullein and one part Lobelia, to be taken as tea, in capsules, or to be used as a fomentation. This is used anywhere in the body that the glands are swollen and malfunctioning. Dr. Christopher liked to relate the cases of two small boys suffering from an enlarged gland on the side of the neck behind the ear. A nurse had called him in desperation to ask his advice on the first case. Usually the medical practice for this malady, besides antibiotics, which are usually ineffective, is just to wait for the child to grow out of it. The nurse accepted Dr. Christopher's advice to use the mullein and Lobelia fomentation. She asked, "Which way is the toxic accumulation going to come out of the body? Will it come out directly through the skin like a bursting boil or will it be routed through the bloodstream and be taken out through the bowel?" Dr. Christopher replied that he did not know; that it would be "decided" by the Lobelia.

If the bloodstream cannot handle the poison, it will be taken out through the skin; otherwise, the bloodstream will carry it out to be eliminated.

The second little boy had a similar swelling behind his ear. His mother called Dr. Christopher and asked him what to do; he gave exactly the same advice, the mullein and Lobelia fomentation. She applied the fomentation as described.

In the first case, the poison gathered up and burst, and it drained out straight through the neck. The boy cleared up and suffered no more from the problem. In the second case, the poison was absorbed by the body and the toxic material eliminated through the bowel.

In another case, this formula was applied as a fomentation to a small boy who had been playing by a trailer. It flipped up and split his scrotum so badly that the family doctor felt that the only solution would be castration. The fomentation was applied and the damage repaired; the boy grew up normal.

We have applied this fomentation to a young boy whose glands became so swollen that he had huge lumps at the back of his neck as well as almond-shaped lumps behind his ears. This had become such a chronic condition that we had little hope of improvement. We applied it to him last thing at night and in the morning, when he awoke, the swelling was absolutely and completely gone. We were so amazed that we decided that we must have this combination in the house at all times!

Dr. Christopher usually used Lobelia in the form of the acid tincture, which is made by soaking the herb or seed of Lobelia in apple-cider vinegar, one ounce of herb to one pint of vinegar. Incidentally, in recent years it has become all but impossible to obtain the seed, so most tinctures are usually made from the herb. Dr. Christopher was once called out on a case where an old man had a terrible case of lockjaw. The Doctor poured a small amount of the tincture into his mouth through is clenched teeth and within minutes he opened his jaws and was able to thank the Lord for relief. Lobelia solved the effect; when the man could speak, he described working out on his farm, where he stepped on a rusty spike left out in the field by someone years ago. It had penetrated through his boot and now blood poisoning had set in. Dr. Christopher then went to work on this cause. He used plantain ointment to draw out the poison, and other herbs to cleanse the bowel and the bloodstream of the poison.

Dr. Christopher used the tincture of Lobelia to clear people of asthma, although they had it many years. A couple of young fellows brought an old, old man into the Doctor at about two o'clock one morning in Evanston, Wyoming. The old man had asthma for 26 years. For 20 years of the 26, he had never been able to work. He had never laid in a bed for 20 years. They had to build a special chair so he could sit up at night with his feet stretched out. He had a doctor at the home an average of once a week, either to give him some drug orally to keep him alive, to give a shot, or to administer oxygen. Since the family couldn't locate the doctor that night, they came in desperation to Dr. Christopher. Since the Doctor did not want a naturopathic physician in town, most people had never heard of such a thing. The young fellows asked, "Do you treat human beings?" The Doctor said yes and to bring him in.

As the man sat down, the Doctor gave him a cup of elderleaf tea to drink gradually. He told him how he had suffered from the asthma. He had been quite independent, but lately they had had to mortgage their home in order to go on with the doctoring. After he had sipped the elderberry tea for about ten minutes, the Doctor gave him a teaspoonful of the tincture of Lobelia. He waited ten minutes--being sure to be very accurate about this--and gave him a second teaspoonful of the tincture. After another ten minutes he gave him the third. In 40 years of practice, the Doctor commented, he never had to use the tincture of Lobelia more than three teaspoonsful to a patient. He explained that this was so because each time he was called it was at a crisis, at the climax of the disease, the right time for clearing the disease. They just sat around and chatted. The Doctor had buckets and pans around and, all of a sudden, the man started to heave. This was a little after two o'clock in the morning and he heaved on until five o'clock, for three full hours. At the finish it was dry heaves, but he brought up everything he had eaten for days, plus nearly a cup of phlegm and pus from his lungs and bronchi from yellow to green. After he was done, the Doctor told his son to take him home. "Should I bring him back tomorrow," he asked. "No," answered the Doctor, "It's a do-it-yourself-kit; it's all finished."

They took him in and started to walk him to his chair, but the man said, "No, boys, I'm sleeping in the bed tonight." But, Dad, it'll kill you!" they pleaded. "No, I'm the boss--take me to bed." They were afraid to stretch him out in case he should choke up and die. This was at five o'clock in the morning. He slept through until five o'clock the next morning--which is 24 hours--then slept on past noon--30 hours he slept! When he woke up, for the first time in over 20 years he took a deep breath of air. He could take it without choking or coughing, and he said, "I'm healed." The boys were quite pleased about this. Twenty years later, one of them touched Dr. Christopher on the shoulder in Salt Lake City. He said, "My name's Workman; remember me?" Dr. Christopher said, "No." "We brought our pap into you in Evanston, Wyoming at two o'clock one morning. The Doctor then remembered him. He asked, "What happened to your dad?" The young man answered, "He never had an asthma attack from that day to this, and he went to work as a gardener and never missed a day's work since that time. The family thanks you very much."

Dr. Christopher reiterated that his program will only work if a person is at a crisis, at a climax, where they think they are going to die in a few minutes. If a person has a slight asthmatic condition, this would not do them any good.

Lobelia is also an important herb in the anti-miscarriage formula. It will do such wonders as seal up a tear in the bag of waters in an instance of a threatened miscarriage. It will also help to expel, without complication, a fetus that is already dead. One lady who was about five-and-one-half months along in her pregnancy began to show signs of bleeding, as if a miscarriage was about to occur. Some women who were assisting her gave her one-half cup of the tea every half hour, while the pregnant woman remained in bed. The woman noticed that the bleeding had not subsided after several hours, so they packed her off to the hospital. No sooner had she arrived in the emergency room and was about to be examined by the doctor, when she expelled a fetus that had been dead for several weeks, unbeknown to her. The doctor was amazed, and questioned the attendants about the events leading to this spontaneous abortion. The woman told him about the false unicorn and Lobelia formula. The doctor commented, "Never in all my years of practice have I seen a dead fetus evacuated from the womb in such a clean manner. Usually we have to surgically remove particles of the placenta which adhere to the uterine walls. The herbs you have used are miraculous. I wish I could use them in my practice--but my hands are tied."

Dr. Christopher was lecturing in a large city when a young man came up to the podium to shake his hand; he nearly shook the Doctor's hand off! He said he had been trying to catch up with the Doctor for a long while. His mother had told him that one night, when the weather was 50 below zero, the Doctor had traveled 40 miles to their home. The mother was aborting, ready to lose her baby. The Doctor had given her some herbs and saved the baby--and the young man was that baby! He was about 25 years old. He said, "I enjoy life. I love you, sir, and I had to thank you."

Dr. Christopher loved to quote Priddy Meeks, who was one of the early herbalists in the Mormon Church. In the 1800's, there was even then the conflict between the orthodox doctors and the herbal practitioners, and most of the early brethren, including Willard Richards, who was with the Prophet at his martyrdom, were herbal doctors. Priddy Meeks was a self-educated Thomsonian physician (we will discuss the history of the Thomsonian system below). He saved the lives of people who were given up to die by local doctors. Meeks was appointed by Joseph Smith to be in charge of the Health Department at Nauvoo, Illinois. He left one of the most thorough diaries extant about the uses of herbs in early America. The following stories are excerpts from his journal. It should be noted that a "Thomsonian course of medicine" is what Dr. Christopher administered to the asthmatic old man. In many cases, peppermint tea or cayenne is used instead of the elderberry tea. Please note we have retained spelling and usage of the times.

"One widow woman who had the dyspepsia was so bad that she was given up to die by the doctor who had attended her for near a year, and said she could not be cured. She sent for me to come to see her, which I did. She told me to try and cure her if possible. To do my best anyway and if I killed her it would only be death anyhow, for she knew she could not live long if she did not get help. So I went home to prepare for doctoring her, and Doctor Vandeventer, who had given her out, hearing I was going to undertake her case, come to see me. 'Mr. Meeks,' says he, 'you had better not undertake that woman s case. That complaint cannot be cured, and you will fail and you will lose practice by it. The remedy for that complaint is not known. Search has been made for it as far as ships have sailed on the ocean, and human feet have trod the soil, and the remedy is not found yet.'

"I paid the woman five visits and made a sound woman of her. And what did I do? Nothing more or less than gave her a thorough course of Thomsonian Medicines each time. I know no other way to doctor at that time but to follow the letter of directions. I had nothing but kayenne pepper and ginger for my composition powder and lobelia, and as I went along, gathered green Sumac leaves off the bush, which answered well for kanker medicine and to make a tea to put the medicine in for her to drink...This circumstance being noised abroad brought me as much business with the sick as I could attend to. There being several young ladies in the vicinity that the doctor had give out, which was now ready for me, and with thorough courses of Thomsonian medicine, they were cured. One case I will mention for the novelty of it.

"A Mrs. Perry had a daughter with the green sickness who the doctor had spent nine months on without benefit. Her mother being very anxious about her daughter's situation, having heard of Dr. Meeks living at Versailles who cured everything he tried. He was so far ahead of Doctor Vandeventer, she did not know whether she would know how to talk to him or not, but resolved to try, so she rode up one day to my gate and enquired if Doctor Meeks lived there. I said, 'Yes, ma'am. Light and come in.' I had been at work in the garden. It being hot weather, I was sitting between the two doors where I might be cool, being in my shirt sleeves, bare headed and bare footed. She finally came in, and took a chair. She says, 'Is Dr. Meeks at home?' 'Yes, ma'am,' I replied. She says, 'Where is he? I would like to see him.' 'He is not far off, I presume,' I replied. 'What would you have of Dr. Meeks?' She then gave the history of her daughter's case. By this time I thought I ought to let her know that I was the man that she was after. I said to her, 'I am Doctor Meeks.' It struck her dumb for a while. She came very near to jumping out of the chair into the fire...I was truly sorry for her. But when she recovered, so she could speak, she said, 'I do not care how a man looks, so he can only cure the sick.' And with five regular courses of Thomsonian medicine, she was made a sound woman, much to the joy of all her friends. This shows what courses of medicine can do without anything else.

"From the time I become conspicuous among the sick, something like half of the sickness fell to my charge, I was so successful...

"I will relate another incident...while living at Parowan (Utah). Simeon Houd got badly poisoned with strychnine so that he had his thumb amputated but that did not seem to stop the poison from ascending up his arm and going down into his vitals, which would prove fatal. He sent for me and said to me, 'Brother Meeks, if you cannot save me, I am gone, for if the poison gets into my vitals, it will kill me. It is now up to my shoulder.' Never knowing Lobelia to fail in a case of poison, neither indeed in any other case, in full assurance of faith, I went to work and give him several thorough cases of Thomsonian medicine and in three or four days he was so much better that we all believed that nothing more was needed, as the poison was checked. He felt about well. I thought the job was completed and went home." Meeks then relates how a heavenly messenger came to him to tell him to keep giving Houd medicine, as he wasn't completely cured. Meeks did so, noting that his medicine must be good, because heaven seemed to approve it.

"Sister Daniel Tyler, while living in Nauvoo, got desperately poisoned by rubbing red precipitated mercury on her skin for the itch, not knowing the danger. She put it on quite plenty. He (the husband) come for me about midnight. I just give her a few courses of Thomsonian medicine and she was not long till she was well. We need to know but little about the patent, only to know that they are sick and but very little difference what the complaint will be. Thorough courses of regular Thomsonian medicines will seldom ever, disappoint you in performing a cure. It will remove obstructions where ever found in the whole system, and restore a healthy action where ever needed. It does act like intelligence. Always in harmony with the living intention of the system, which is always to remove obstructions from the system of whatever name or nature it may be.

"I sometimes look upon Lobelia as being Supernatural, although I have been using it for 46 years. I do not know the extent of its powers and virtues in restoring the sick and at the same time perfectly harmless. It is undoubtedly the best and purest relaxum in the compass of medicine. That is the reason that it is so good in childbed cases. It puts the system exactly in the situation the laws of nature would have it to be to perform that object. Those in the habit of using it in such cases look forward in pleasing anticipation of having a good time without the forebodings of trouble so common to women. Oh! Glorious medicine!

"Brother Nobles' wife was in about one month of her expected sickness and had the dropsy so bad she thought she could not live till that month was out, so that she could be doctored without injury to her offspring. The doctors in the valley held a consultation over her case and President (Brigham) Young with them. They could devise no means to save the woman without destroying the infant, and she could not live but a few days without help, but they would not make a move until they sent for me. When I come, they told me they could not see how the woman could be saved without destroying the child. I told them there would be no difficulty in bringing about that object. They wanted to know if I thought that I could take the water out of that woman and save both alive. I said, 'Yes, certainly I can. And Lobelia is the thing that will do it.' I just give her the Thomsonian courses of medicine, and soon had all the water out and in due time she had a fine boy, to the joy of all who was watching to see what the result would be. I do not think the medicine is yet found and probably never will be that will act in accordance with the laws of life and the intentions of nature like Lobelia. No difference what the matter is nor where the obstructions are, Lobelia will find it and remove the obstruction and create a healthy action ...

"About 40 wears ago, in Versailles, Brown County, Illinois, there was a woman afflicted with what the doctors called Prolapsus Uteri in its worst form. But the plain English of it is the falling of the womb. She had been attended for a long time by the best doctor in the country and given up as incurable. The parts were tanned with stringents to such a degree there was but little sensibility in the parts. I think she had been in that condition over a year. I never was acquainted with that complaint before, but with great confidence in the botanic medicines, I undertook her case. I just giver her regular Thomsonian courses of medicine, with common tonics or strengthening medicines. I used some female injects of Slippery Elm and she soon got well. Not long from that time her husband eat an overdose of wild grapes and they proved so costive he had no passage for nine days. Doctor Vandeventer gave him up and said he could not be cured without cutting him open, for his guts were tied in a knot and untie the knot with his fingers. Thomas Harold would not agree to be cut open...He said he might as well die one way as another, and he would live as long as he could, so 'I will send for Meeks.' So they sent for me. I went with him. Mr. Brown, the messenger said, 'The Doctor says his guts are tied in a knot, do you think so?' Said I, 'Yes.' Said he, 'The doctor ought to know.'
"It was the first time that such a subject was ever brought to my mind. I paused a minute and saw the impossibility of such being the case. I said to Mr. Brown, 'When you gut a hog and get the guts in your fingers, can you tie them in a knot without riding them of the strifin a foot or so and then taking the guts in the shape of a bow knot and drawing it double with your fingers?' He said, 'No. You are right.' I treated him with Lobelia in the form of regular courses of medicine and brought grape seeds from him both up and down till he was empty and soon well.

"In Leeds, Washington County, Utah, some years since, I was called to a case of a woman in childbed and could not be delivered with all the best wisdom and talents that was to be had among the women of that section of country. When I met her husband at the gate, he asked,'Do you think you can do her any good?' I said, 'I think I can.' He said he had not faith in the world that I could do her any good, for, said he, 'I have buried two women that died exactly in that situation, and I thought there was no remedy in such cases.' Well, she was in a deplorable condition. She had been five days in that condition without any progress whatsoever. All hands was disheartened and the case given up. There she lay in a cold, lifeless condition, her strength exhausted and her pains gone, and little, if any, progress made.

"Well, I commenced a little before sunset, and by eight o'clock next morning she was comfortable in bed with a 12 pound boy by her side, but it was dead before I commenced.

"...I relaxed her system to the flexibility of a wet cloth with Lobelia, which can be done if persevered in sufficiently without any danger whatever, it is perfectly harmless. At the same time give freely of Cayenne Pepper with the Lobelia in warm teas of some kind, and this medicine will diffuse itself thro the whole system from the top of the head to the end of the toes, removing obstructions wherever found and restoring a healthy action wherever needed, increasing vitality and power of life, giving strength and energy to the internal forces. And in that condition of the system, you can't prevent her delivery according to the law of nature, which is the law of God, and by letting her alone in this condition the pains will return just as natural as the water will follow the ditch when the obstructions are removed...This case was a woman 43 years old, and this was her first child, which made her case much harder to bring her thro safely, but she done well and soon was up and around again ...

"Those women who have used those medicines before confinement (here Meeks is discussing female relief pills that contained among other things, Lobelia) as a preparatory means have received great benefit thereby, both in speed and ease. One case three-and-a-half hours from the time she first knew what was the matter till she was safely delivered of a fine boy, and both done well. Two other cases only three hours, another case of one-and-a-half hours after the midwife arrived, she having to go not over 100 rods, and those that was miserable before confinement found relief by using those pills ...

"A remedy for Diphtheria I never knew to fall: Give a good thorough emetic of Lobelia and bathe the throat from ear to ear and garlic also with a liquid made by putting two teaspoonsful of finely pulverized Lobelia seeds and the same amount of Cayenne Pepper into one quart of good keen vinegar, and go through the operation of bathing and gargling as often as the emergency of the case may require ...

"As an instance, I attended a case of hydrophobia--a boy 10 or 12 years of age. Philetus Davis by name...Having been bitten by a rabid dog. Lobelia was administered. He recovered perfect health and says he has never had a tremor of the complaint. He now lives at Toquerville and has a large family..."

Meeks' experiences seem almost miraculous and certainly belie the claims that Lobelia is a poison. Aside from its historical interest, his experience confirms Thomson's claims.

THOMSONIAN CURE-ALL

Lobelia, also called Indian tobacco or pokeweed, was used by the American Indians as a cure for syphilis, to expel intestinal worms, and as a diaphoretic (Rose: Herbs:77). The herb was known to the Penobscot Indians and was widely used in New England long before the time of Samuel Thomson, who is credited with its discovery. Rafinesque said that the Indians used Lobelia to clear the stomach and head before their great councils.

Thomson was an exceedingly energetic and zealous man who boasted of his illiteracy, never attended a college or received a lecture in medicine, but who created a lasting excitement in the medical world of America, and who has still many earnest followers, though his methods have been altered over the years.

Thomson relates his discovery of Lobelia thus:

"Sometime in the summer, after I was four years old (1773), being out in the fields in search of the cows, I discovered a plant which had a singular branch, and pods that I had never seen before. I had the curiosity to pick some of the pods and chew them. The taste and operation produced was so remarkable that I never forgot it. Afterwards, I used to induce other boys to chew it, merely by way of sport, to see them vomit. I tried this herb in this way for nearly 20 years, without knowing anything of its medicinal virtues...

"I had at that time (eight years old) a very good knowledge of the principal roots and herbs to be found in that part of the country, with their names and medicinal uses. The neighbors were in the habit of getting me to go with them to show them such roots and herbs as the doctors ordered to be made use of in sickness for syrups, etc. and by way of sport they used to call me doctor. While in the field at work, I often used to find the herb, which I tasted when four years old, and gave it to those who worked with me, to see them spit and vomit, but I never observed any bad effects produced by it, which simple experiments eventually led me to observe the value of it in disease.

"The herb which I had discovered when four years old, I had often met with; but it had never occurred to me that it was of any value as a medicine, until about this time (1791-1794)-when mowing a field with a number of men one day, I cut a sprig of it, and gave it to the man next to me, who ate it; when we got to the end of the piece, which was about six rods, he said he believed what I had given him would kill him, for he never felt this way before. I looked at him and saw that he was in a most profuse perspiration, being as wet all over as he could be; he trembled very much, and there was no more color in him than in a corpse. I told him to go to the spring and drink some water; he attempted to go and got as far as the wall, but was unable to get over it, and laid down on the ground and vomited several times. He said he thought he threw off his stomach two quarts. I then helped him into the house, and in about two hours he ate a very hearty dinner and in the afternoon was able to do a good half day's labor. He afterward told me that he never had anything do him so much good in his life; his appetite was remarkably good, and he felt better than he had felt for a long time. This circumstance gave me the first idea of medicinal virtues of this valuable plant; which I have since found, by 20 year's experience (in which time I have made use of it in every disease I have met with, to great advantage), to be a discovery of the greatest importance."

Thomson's medical practice began with the treatment of his own family, and then he began to gather roots, herbs and barks to practice empirically in the families of his neighbors. He did study the medical writings of his day, as he was often very caustic and aggressive toward the regular medical profession. Perhaps if he had been less so, and had gone more quietly about his own business, he would have suffered less at the hands of the medical doctors. His mistake might provide a lesson for zealous herbal practitioners today.

In 1805, his practice extended beyond his immediate neighborhood, and he was called to other states to treat difficult cases. During these trips his combative nature led him continually into heated arguments with members of the regular medical profession, who bitterly denounced his treatment. He was finally charged with murder, for sweating two children to death, and for killing a certain Captain Trickery, who Thomson declared he had not treated at all. In 1809, a Dr. French, between whom he and Thomson there had long existed an intense animosity, preferred charges, and Thomson was arrested for the willful murder of a young man who had died under his attention; Dr. French charged Thomson with murdering this young man with Lobelia, "a deadly poison."

Thomson was thrown into prison at Newburyport, Massachusetts, November 10, 1809, where he remained confined in a dungeon for an entire month, without a table or chair or bed, only a dirty straw mat upon the floor with one blanket which had never been washed. The place was infested with vermin, it was filthy, and his cellmate was a man charged with child molesting. He remained there during the winter month without a fire. He probably would have remained in prison for a year, as the court was not scheduled to convene until the fall of the next year, but some eminent friends who had benefited from his work, after much exertion, secured a hearing before Judge Parsons in a special session on December 10, 1809.

The prosecution seemed to base their charges on the fact that the powder given the young man was Lobelia, a Dr. Howe testifying to that effect. The defense showed, however, that Howe was not acquainted with Lobelia, and also that the powder that Drs. Howe and French thought was Lobelia was marsh rosemary root-which Thomson said he had administered to the young man. Finally the court acquitted Thomson without even hearing his witnesses, the case so apparently trumped-up. Later Thomson sued for damages against French, but only succeeded in losing more than $600, then quite a sum. Thomson embittered so many medical men against himself that in 1811, while Thomson was passing the office door of a doctor in Maine, the physician tried to kill him with a scythe. In March 1813, he obtained a patent on his system of healing and sold it to whomever wished to apply it for the then heavy sum of $20. Thomson died in Boston, 1843.

Thomson originated a theory of disease and healing that was, and is, distinct from other notions. You may be interested in a summary of his ideas. First, he believed that all diseases are the effect of one general cause and may be removed by one general remedy--which did not mean one herb, however. He thought that all diseases originated from obstructed perspiration, which is always produced by cold or the absence of a suitable degree of natural vitality. His axiom became, "Heat is life and cold is death." He did not perhaps mean this in a literal sense, but he believed that a low temperature caused disease and that fever was a positive thing to remove cold. The cold causes obstructions, he claimed, and a fever arises to remove them.

In all Thomsonian works, the term canker appears, which is somewhat an original idea to Thomson. He believed that a white feverish coat was caused by cold and attached itself to the mucous membranes of the stomach and bowels. If this growth is not checked and removed, it will communicate with the blood, he believed, and cause death, the final victor in the battle between heat and cold. Dysentery is caused by canker in the bowels. The piles (hemorrhoids) are canker below the usual reach of medicine-and so on.

Therefore, good medicine will produce a great internal and external heat to prevent formation of canker and throw it to the stomach, and then remove it from the stomach by emetics. Thomson called emetics, class No. 1, stimulants; class No. 2, which produce perspiration; class No. 3, which scour the stomach and bowels and remove the canker; bitters, class No. 4, to restore digestion and correct the morbid secretions of blood and bile; restoratives, class No. 5, to correct digestion and strengthen the stomach and bowels; and antiseptics, class No. 6, to give tone to the stomach and bowels and prevent mortification.

The enemies of Thomson asserted that he first administered No. 1; if that failed, used No. 2, and so on through the list, if the patient still lived!

Of course, that is not the case. But perhaps his system seemed over-simple to many, and perhaps his notions of disease needed expansion. Certainly his promotion of Lobelia and cayenne have made them prominent in the herbal world.

Thomson's work was affirmed by Dr. A. I. Coffin in 1853. His motto was "believe one who has experience to justify his own opinion." Dr. Coffin used Lobelia extensively in his obstetrics practice. He used Lobelia and yarrow combined to stop threatened miscarriage, as well as using the herb itself during childbirth. He described the case of an Irish girl, unmarried, who was unfortunately pregnant. She had been in labor three days under the direction of a physician who considered the case so desperate that he recommended breaking opening the infant's skull, extracting the brains, and then pulling out the remainder of the child. He had planned this operation for two o'clock that day. The girl called for Dr. Coffin, who found her lying on a pallet of straw on the floor, totally exhausted. The head of the child had advanced into the pelvis, where it was completely wedged and had been so for two days. Dr. Coffin gave her a strong dose of red-raspberry leaf tea together with a half-teaspoonful of cayenne; in 15 minutes he gave her tincture of Lobelia by the teaspoonful. In about one hour the contractions began to increase, the girl's strength returned, and in two hours from the time Dr. Coffin had arrived, the child was born, healthy and strong. In this case the Lobelia did not make her vomit at all, although she took enough to have vomited three times over, the doctor commented. He called Lobelia and red-raspberry leaf tea the greatest midwife in the world. Needless to say, the other doctor in attendance was astounded; he said, "Good God-the child is born?"

Dr. Coffin related a similar experience with a woman who was 39 years old, never having borne a child. The child presented breech into the pelvis, and each contraction made the uterus more pulled together. Dr. Coffin gave her the red-raspberry tea and Lobelia, which brought the child in about two hours. However, the child seemed dead, for the cord had been for a long time compressed between the head and the bones of the pelvis, so as to completely stop the circulation. However, they placed the afterbirth on some hot coals without cutting the cord, which filled the umbilical cord with warmth and moisture. They gave the newborn a half-teaspoonful of the tincture of Lobelia and gave it a small enema of composition tea; by this means, said Dr. Coffin, the degree of heat was raised sufficient to expand the lungs, and the child was resuscitated! Coffin was a British physician; quantities of Lobelia were imported into England for such use, where they became a standard in the British pharmacopeia, although the herb had its enemies there as well as here. Perhaps Dr. Coffin's comment will begin to shed some light on the poison controversy. He said that Lobelia is not to be used on the well, but only on the sick, those in crisis. We will return to this concept later in our discussion on the poisonous allegations against Lobelia.

In 1838, Professor William Tully of Yale, writing to a medical doctor, said, "Lobelia is entirely destitute of any narcotic powers. I have been in the habit of employing this article for 27 years, in large quantities and for a long period, without the least trace of any narcotic effect. I have used the very best officinal tincture in the quantity of three fluid ounces in 24 hours, and for four and seven days in succession, and I have likewise given three large tablespoonfuls of it within half an hour, without the least indication of any narcotic operation.

"I have known four and five tobacco pipes full of it smoked in immediate succession and without any narcosis, and I have also known it to be given by enema with the same result...Dr. Bigelow, of Boston, was the first person who ascribed narcotic powers to this agent, and he did this in 1817, but not from his own observation. I am confident (the old women's stories in the books are to the contrary notwithstanding) that Lobelia Inflata is a valuable, a safe, and a sufficiently gentle article of medicine, and I think the time will come when it will be much better appreciated."

Lobelia is one of the plants named in honor of Mattias del Lobel, one of the early English botanists.
He was born in 1538 in Lisle in the north of France and was educated at Montpelier in the south of France; he traveled throughout Europe, finally settling near London. He was a physician, at one time doctor to William, Prince of Orange, but he is primarily known as a botanist. His first book dealt with the materia medica of the ancients. His second work expanded upon the first, with new remedies, rare plants, etc., and the beginnings of a natural system of classification. Although it was very crude and imperfect, some of his groupings continue to this day. The specific name inflata refers to the seed pods, which appear to be inflated like a balloon. A number of other names have been applied to the plant, mostly in older works. The very earliest botanists did not agree on a name for the plant. Aton in 1810 called it Bladder Pod, and this name together with Inflated Lobelia and Bladder Pod Lobelia are the natural translations of the specific name. From its taste, which resembles tobacco, the plant began to be known as Wild Tobacco, with naturally proceeded to change to Indian tobacco, as a tobacco which grew wild would be presumed to be used by the Indians. However, there is no record that the Indians ever used this plant as tobacco. Dr. Carver, who spent most of his life among Indian tribes and who wrote a list of their plant uses, did not mention this plant. The herb began to be used by Dr. Bigelow and was adopted in the classical botanical books. Thomson and his co-worker, Dr. Cutler, a medical doctor who became convinced of the virtues of the plant, brought the herb into general attention; they called it Emetic weed, which brought the suggestions of Puke weed, Vomit weed, and Gag root, which names have been variously used. Asthma weed is used by a few writers, and in very old works, it is sometimes called Eyebright.

Lobelia was official in the U.S. Dispensatory in 1887. It was there recommended for asthma, bronchial troubles, whooping cough, and similar ailments.

During the 1800's there was a popular misunderstanding about this plant. Patent medicines would often specify whether the formula was made up from the smaller varieties, "low-belias," or the taller varieties, the "high-belias." Incidentally, the highest of the lobelias, native to the slopes of Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania, is a giant wildflower that grows up to 12 feet in height. A typical preparation from that time period recommended filling a bottle with Lobelia roots and stems, covering them well with good whisky for a couple of weeks. The liquor was strained and scent added. This, rubbed in the scalp, would stop hair from falling out rapidly, and indeed, it would make the hair grow in thickly.

Farmers used to gather little lots of Lobelia and sell the entire plant. Herb collectors, on the other hand, would wait until the plant flowered, beat out the seed, which sold separately at a higher price, and then sell the herb as well. This is why most of the herb is sold broken and devoid of seeds. Because the herb grew abundantly in the eastern states, the first supplies came from that section, but collectors in other parts of the U.S. began to find it, and it is said to be collected over most of the country. Moore mentions that it is supposed to grow in southern California, but in ten years of looking for it, he has never found it (Moore:98). At times, Lobelia becomes hard to secure; in 1807, a thousand dollars could not purchase one pound. At present, it is nearly impossible to purchase Lobelia seed for medicinal use, although you can buy it to plant in your garden.

HERB OF MANY USES

Most people agree that Lobelia is a specific treatment for asthma, as well as other bronchial or spasmodic troubles. Because the herb removes obstructions, giving it when an attack comes on will often cause vomiting; matter will accumulate in the stomach which will cause obstructions. When the person vomits, it removes the intestinal blockage and often removes the mucus accumulations in the bronchial system as well. Dr. Nowell told the story of a woman who at 40 years old was pregnant with her first baby. She was suffering terribly with asthmatic spasms, unable to lie in bed, fighting for breath; both she and her husband begged their doctor to stop the cough. They were told that nothing could be done until the child was born.

Dr. Nowell gave them a bottle of tincture of Lobelia, telling her to take a teaspoonful whenever the coughing began. The next morning, the patient told the Doctor that almost immediately after taking the first dose, the patient brought up long, thick masses of phlegm from the lungs the size of a man's fist. No further dose was taken and the patient never had a trace of any chest trouble since and lived a long and fruitful life. (Kloss:272).

It is one of the best plant expectorants, but as it is a stimulant to the vagus nerve it can easily produce nausea and vomiting when taken in excess. If a teaspoonful of the tincture produces nausea, cut down; it can easily be overdone, says herbalist Moore (Moore:98). The leaves and flowers have strong antispasmodic effects on the bronchials when smoked, and certain individuals with asthma can find it a reliable herb to smoke at the first signs of spasms (Ibid.).

Lobelia is in this regard and in other conditions a superior antispasmodic, which is an herb to stop spasms and pains related to spasms. It relaxes the system powerfully, although cayenne should be taken with it to lengthen the duration of the herb's effect. For baby convulsions, place a drop or two of the tincture on the tip of a clean finger and place it in the baby's mouth. This should stop the spasms immediately. The antispasmodic tincture, which combines equal parts of Lobelia, scullcap, skunk cabbage, gum myrrh, black cohosh, and a half part of cayenne, is even more effective. This is also used by the teaspoonful in sweetened warm water for painful spasms of any kind in the body. It should relieve attacks of epilepsy, lockjaw, delirium tremens, fainting, hysteria, suspended animation, etc. (SNH:363).

The relaxant or releasing quality of Lobelia is related in a case handled by an associate, Richard Schultz M.H., N.D., when a three-year-old child was brought to him, after receiving no help from medical doctors. The little girl was swollen so badly with edema that a person could not see her eyes through the puffiness. Schultz administered previously successful herbal diuretics to no avail. Knowing that she must release these fluids, he administered Lobelia seed tea, one teaspoon three times per day, which gave some immediate pain relief and reduced the swelling gradually, clearing the condition completely within two weeks.

Lobelia is said to be an excellent remedy (and preventative) for infectious diseases. Since most fevers result from obstruction in some part of the system--usually the digestive tract, we have found Lobelia "locates" and removes the obstruction. We have seen this happen many times with the children; they begin to sicken, and you can tell there is something congesting their system. By removing the congestion, you remove the cause of the illness. Lobelia can be used as an enema to remove congestion from the body via the colon. When Lobelia causes vomiting, Malstrom claims, it usually signals a cleansing process in the body expelling debris that cannot be expelled in any other way (Malstrom:94). He considers it an effective remedy in scarlet fever, measles, whooping cough, mumps, and other contagious diseases. It gives almost immediate relief from suffocating mucus and phlegm that has accumulated in the respiratory tract and which is often associated with these diseases (Rose:Herbs:77). In connection with infectious diseases, Dr. Christopher told a story about one of the most contagious of them all--mononucleosis. A woman, an elderly student of Dr. Christopher's, was in contact with the disease with the employees she worked with at a nursery hothouse. Since all of them had been using the company drinking fountain, all of them were exposed to the disease, and there was almost a complete turnover in employees because of it. The lady tried to locate Dr. Christopher to ask what she should take to prevent getting the disease, but he was away lecturing. She took a bottle of the tincture to work with her, and took two drops in a teaspoonful of distilled water every 15 or 20 minutes. Out of all the employees, she was the only one who did not get mononucleosis! Dr. Christopher thought that she might have needed to drink a teaspoonful every so often, as he thought more might be needed to do the job! Often a person who has a fever coming on will take the teaspoonful of tincture of Lobelia with a glass of water. After vomiting, the fever breaks and the person is able to go about his regular duties. Dr. Christopher said that Lobelia is an anti-infection herb as well as a relaxant.

It is also very important in the relief of pain. However, we must stress here that the pain should be of an acute nature and not simply a minor irritation. We feel that there are other herbs of a less potent nature, such as Catnip, which will alleviate pain without requiring the skillful and knowledgeable use that Lobelia does. However, in accidents Lobelia can help immediately. Once a student of Dr. Christopher's smashed his finger with a hammer. He immersed the injury in tincture of Lobelia and the pain subsided in seconds. Terrific pain from muscle over-exertion has been abated by massaging Lobelia into the affected muscles. People writhing in pain and rolling on the floor have been immediately calmed with the administering of one-half teaspoonful of tincture of Lobelia. When there is acute swelling, such as with bolls or inflammation, an external rub of the tincture or a poultice of the bruised herb mixed with flaxseed or bran, suitably moistened, will relieve the pain. However, used as a sedative, Lobelia depressives the spinal chord function excessively (Moore:98).

Lobelia seems to have been a specific for poisoning from various reasons. It is used in cases of hydrophobia, where a mad animal bites a human (we suppose that it could be used for animals who have been bitten as well). Give the tincture by the teaspoonful, give the tea as an enema, and rub the tincture over the bitten part. Emesis may result as the poison is eliminated from the body, but the rabies should cause no harm. For tetanus, follow the same procedure. In fact, when any poison is ingested, if you feel that the care of a doctor is not required but you would like to administer something to remove the poison, Lobelia is the answer.

There are various other uses for Lobelia. For pleurisy, you can give Lobelia and pleurisy root for a certain action. For earache, place a few drops of warm Lobelia tincture in both ears (even if only one is aching, put the tincture in both) and plug with cotton. You can put oil of garlic in first. Of course, combinations such as B&B Tincture or the antispasmodic tincture, both of which contain Lobelia, will do the job as effectively or perhaps even more effectively. For any external problems, such as irritations, swellings, inflammations, boils, and so on, make a mixture of one part Lobelia and two parts Slippery Elm; moisten to make a thick consistency, and apply. For liver problems, Lobelia is mixed in equal parts with pleurisy root, catnip, and bitter root; these herbs are made into tea and taken by the tablespoon every couple of hours. Lobelia is used in the case of mumps; when catnip enemas and Lobelia are given, mumps usually have very little effect on males, although there is usually concern when males contract the disease. The illness will disappear, after mild symptoms, within five days (Malstrom:94). Lobelia reduces palpitation of the heart, and it is in this regard that many herbalists use the plant. Lobelia is employed in midwifery to alleviate rigidity of the pelvic musculature during childbirth (Weiner: 12). It is taken internally to help break the smoking habit, as the action of the alkaloid lobeline greatly resembles the action of nicotine. For this reason, doses of lobeline sulfate are incorporated in tablets of lozenges that are intended to aid in breaking the habit (Tyler:201). Lobelia is helpful in meningitis, hepatitis, peritonitis, nephritis, etc. (Malstrom:94).

Used in very small doses, frequently given it can raise a vigorous perspiration, being a diaphoretic, after which a long sleep of ten to twelve hours often follows. When the patient awakes, he is either cured of his illness or feels greatly improved (Thomson: 138).

LOBELIA POISONING?

With so many applications of the herb, and with the virulent claims that Lobelia is a poison, it might be well to discuss the history of Lobelia and poisoning.

From the beginning of its use, Lobelia was labelled a poison by Thomson's enemies. Although no deaths have ever been proven to have been caused by Lobelia, there are certain symptoms when much of the herb is taken. These include great dejection, exhaustion, mental depression; nausea and vertigo; contraction of the pupil; profuse clammy salivation; dryness and prickling of the throat; pressure in the esophagus with a sensation of strong vermuclar motion; sensation as of a lump in the throat; incessant and violent nausea with pain, heat, and oppression of the respiratory tract; vomiting, followed by great prostration; violent and painful cardiac constriction; griping and drawing abdominal pains; increased urine, easily decomposing and depositing much uric acid; violent racking paroxysmal cough with expectoration; small, irregular, slow pulse, general weakness; violent spasmodic pains, with paralytic feeling, weariness of the limbs, with cramps in the gastrocnemii, and sensation of chill and fever (Millspaugh:388). We have experienced many of these symptoms upon taking much Lobelia, however, we nor anyone else have ever experienced the last one: death, preceded by insensibility and convulsions. The critics' great question is whether the effects of Lobelia are a cleansing crisis or simply a poison effect on the body. Do people improve after the vomiting sequence from the herb? Is this improvement a healing; is it relief from illness? Herbalists with sufficient Lobelia experience will affirm its benefits. Some people say they never experience the weakness and giddiness, only a tobacco-like irritation until the vomiting occurs. Moore treats the subject rather humorously. "The presumption that a patient should puke his or her brains out and then take even more Lobelia is past my understanding...The pedantic idea that Lobelia cannot be poisonous is clearly antithetical to the facts. I know of one genial addlepate who was rushed to a hospital in Los Angeles in near coma, turning strange colors from respiratory failure, after attempting a Thomsonian 'cleansing' emetic" (Moore:98). We should not simply dismiss the fact that Lobelia sometimes has greatly distressing effects on individuals; as all of us know, herbs react differently upon different people.

For this reason, we usually recommend two things. One is that people taking Lobelia should do so for distressing situations that cannot be handled by other means. If a mother is unable to deliver her infant and has suffered many hours of unproductive labor, this is a situation worthy of using a strong medicine. If a person can hardly breathe due to asthma distress, this again would merit the use of the herb. Dr. Christopher said that the herb simply won't work unless a person is at a crisis. We discourage people from using the herb for simple, everyday problems that can be solved using a milder herb that requires less skill in administration. The second condition we like to apply is that a skilled person administer Lobelia. This doesn't mean a doctor necessarily; it doesn't even mean an herbalist or a naturopath. But it means someone sufficiently knowledgeable and skilled in the application of herbs that they don't overdose with Lobelia. Dr. Commichaux, a noted reflexologist in Salt Lake City, warned us not to use Lobelia except in the case of heart palpitations. We do think, however, that Dr. Christopher's use of the herb in small amounts mixed with others in formulas, to act as a carrier is certainly within the limits of good application. What we are concerned with is people using the herb excessively without proper cause and without adequate skill. Most really potent medicines require this same skill; this doesn't mean that Lobelia is dangerous, but simply that it is powerful.

In 1981, Dr. Christopher's staff called the Division of Toxicology of the Food and Drug Administration in Washington D.C. At that time the FDA was removing Lobelia from the shelves of herb and health stores, claiming that it was a poison. Shortly thereafter the agency discontinued its illegal action, although we understand that the FDA still considers it a poison and in 1986 is renewing its efforts. Dr. Christopher's staff spoke with Dr. Sara Henry at that office to find out what sort of criteria the FDA uses to classify Lobelia as a dangerous drug. Dr. Henry graciously looked through the files on Lobelia, although she mentioned that there were so many substances for the FDA to investigate, only a limited amount of time could be allotted for the judgment of each one. She mentioned that Lobelia contains lobeline, "a poisonous alkaloid possessing properties similar to those of nicotine." Lobeline itself was not considered extremely toxic, however.

There was almost no research in the file on the use of Lobelia by human beings. There was simply not very good clinical data available to the FDA. They relied mostly upon written sources, such as books dealing with poisonous plants. Dr. Henry said that using Lobelia was dangerous because if people used it as an emetic, perhaps 99% of the people might vomit, while 1% might retain the lobeline within their systems and become poisoned. However, this 99% figure was purely hypothetical.

Dr. Henry considered that there were much better expectorants and emetics nowadays whose dosages are measured and whose purity could be controlled. Dr. Henry mentioned that it is not sure how much lobeline is in the crude herb; plants vary, she said. She mentioned that 8 mg. is the maximum tolerated dose in a human and that most people take 100 mg. of the herb. Of course, these figures are not documented in the FDA files. Dr. Henry was kind enough to supply the inadequate information that the FDA had.

But Dr. Christopher's staff went a bit further. Consulting Phytotoxin Tables by James A. Duke of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, published in 1977, we find that lobeline can be fatal to 50% of a mouse population if injected intraperitoneally in a dose of 39.9 mg. or if 37 mg. is injected subcutaneously or 78 mg. if injected into the veins. Setting up a relationship between the human average weight of 150 pounds and the mouse's weight, the amount of lobeline in Lobelia to be toxic in a human is as follows: If six pounds of raw Lobelia were injected subcutaneously (under the skin) individually into a human population, the lobeline would be sufficient to kill 50% of that population! Orally is even more absurd; it is suggested that most folks would vomit before taking a minute fraction of the six-pound lethal dose! Of course, we are talking about Lobelia herb and not the extracted lobeline. Dr. Christopher always stressed that the herb in its entire state contains elements that help in its assimilation and use in the body. If we begin to isolate the ingredients, we pervert the action of the herb plant--eliminate the synergistic safety from other chemicals, and increase the risks of overdose.

CULTIVATION, COLLECTION, PREPARATION

This herb is a very common weed growing along roadsides and in neglected fields throughout the United States. It is not difficult to grow in the garden. It is an annual, but the seeds are easy to collect and plant again. You can buy established plants from herb suppliers, or buy the seeds. We recommend starting them indoors in peat pots or other controlled conditions, being sure not to let the soil dry out as the seeds germinate. When the seedlings are well-established, plant them outdoors, being sure that the danger of frost is past. The herb is usually collected after some of the pods have "inflated," that is, that the seeds have ripened and the pods assumed their classic open shape.

Dry the collected herbs in a warm, shady place, not in the direct sun, as the heat will shrivel the somewhat delicate plant. When snap-dry, crumble the plant over paper and store the herb in a cool, dry place. Be sure that no moisture is allowed to reach the dried plant. It can be used in herbal mixtures as needed.

You can also make a tincture of the herb for emergency-type use. We have made this successfully in any times at home; there is no need to buy the tincture if you wish to make it yourself. Soak one ounce of the herb to the pint of pure apple-cider vinegar. Put in a jar that will allow you to shake the herb. For 14 days, several times a day, shake the jar thoroughly. At the end of the 14 days, strain and bottle, capping tightly. This should last a long time, for many years if necessary. Dr. Kloss liked to make a raspberry vinegar for this use. Simply macerate two quarts of raspberries per quart of apple-cider vinegar, the berries mashed, for several days. Strain, and proceed to shake the tincture as above.

To make oil of Lobelia, mix the herb with olive oil, perhaps an ounce of the herb to the pint of oil. Low-heat for a day, stirring occasionally, until the herbs are crisp. For a really strong oil, repeat the process. If you live in a hot climate, the oil can be made by standing the olive oil-herb mixture in the sun for a week or so. Repeat if necessary.

To make a syrup of Lobelia, mix a strong decoction of the herb, warm, with thick honey. Stir well. There are other ways to prepare syrups, but this way avoids sugar and avoids ruining the honey by overcooking.

DESCRIPTION
Lobelia is an annual herb growing in dry fields and pasture grounds and woodland pastures. In dry sunny places it attains a height of a few inches to a foot or two, the usual height in pasture lands being about a foot. In shady, rich soil, however, it is more luxuriant, growing two or three feet and becoming more slender and fewer branches. The plant flowers in August continuing until frost into September. When the time to flower arrives, each plant begins to bloom, no matter what its height or size. Often plants will be found in bloom only an inch or two high, and only bearing three or four small leaves and as many terminal flowers.

The flowers appear in August, the first to open axillary to the upper leaves which become successively smaller, passing into the bracts of a terminal raceme. The flowers themselves are rather inconspicuous being only about a quarter of an inch long. They are borne on short, erect peduncles about the length of the calyx lobes.

The calyx is adherent, with a globular ribbed tube and five slender, linear, subequal, erect teeth, which are nearly as long as the corolla. The corolla is small, bilabiate, and of a light blue color; the tube of the corolla is split the entire length on the upper side, a characteristic of all the species of Lobelia, the upper lip consists of two erect, narrow lobes, the lower of three sub-equal, broad reflexed segments. The stamens are five and cohering together, both filament and anther, around the pistil, form a column the length of the corolla tube and slightly projecting from the split in this tube. The pistil consists of a two-celled inferior ovary, containing numerous minute ovules attached to the large central spongy placentas, and completely filling the ovary when in flower. The style is enclosed in the tube formed by the stamens, and ends in a small two-lobed stigma.

The fruit-pod is a peculiar shape. It is about a quarter of an inch long, inflated, sub-globular, compressed laterally, and unequal at the base, the cell opposite the stem being longer at the base than the inside cell. This is characteristic of the fruit. The pod is prominently ten-veined lengthwise with numerous intermediate net veins. It is crowned with the five persistent linear calyx segments, which on the unripe pods are nearly erect and slightly more than half the length of the pod; the sides are very thin and easily compressed. The pod is very much inflated, and is divided lengthwise into two cells by a thin partition; it contains an axial two-lobed, comparatively large, spongy placenta, which is densely covered with numerous minute seeds.

CHEMICAL CONSTITUENTS

The characteristic principle of Lobelia inflata is all acrid alkaloid that pervades all parts of the plant, although it is most easily obtained from the seed. It is known as lobeline. It exists in combination with Lobelacrin, Lobelic acid, Inflatin, Resin, Wax, Volatile oil (Lobelianin), Fixed oil, Gum and Ash. Lobeline is the most important of the alkaloids present in the plant.

With wise and careful use in their wholesome state, none of these constituents is harmful to the human system. Lobelia is safest and most effective when used in combination with other herbs that enhance its desirable actions.

DR. CHRISTOPHER'S COMBINATIONS CONTAINING LOBELIA

Resp Free, the combination to heal the respiratory tract, contains Lobelia.

Relax-eze Tea, the combination with relaxes the system and heals the nerves, contains Lobelia.

Juni-Pars, the urinary tract combination, contains Lobelia.

Fen LB, the herb to tone and heal the eliminatory system, contains Lobelia.

BF&C, the combination to heal bone, flesh and cartilage, contains Lobelia.

Mullein and Lobelia work to heal any part of the glandular system.

INF, the combination to control infection, contains Lobelia.

Calc Tea, the marvelous herbal calcium formula, contains Lobelia.

SHA Tea, the combination that helps us control allergies and hay fever, contains Lobelia.

Pre-Natal Tea, the combination taken five to six weeks before parturition to help the birth, contains Lobelia.

The Yellow Dock Combination, which supplies organic iron and iodine and other important minerals, contains Lobelia.

Adrentone, the combination to heal and build the adrenal glands, contains Lobelia.

AR-1, the combination to help arthritis and rheumatism, contains Lobelia.

Dri, the herbal incontinence formula, contains Lobelia.

Mem, the combination to help improve the brain's function, particularly the memory, contains Lobelia.

AT-GS, the combination to prevent and alleviate distressing gas symptoms in the body, contains Lobelia.

Bugleweed Combination, is used for removing heavy minerals.

The herbal Toothpowder contains Lobelia.

B&B tincture contains Lobelia.

The Antispasmodic tincture contains Lobelia.

There is a Lobelia seed tincture, which is very powerful.

The Anti-plague syrup contains Lobelia.

There is a Mullein and Lobelia ointment to externally apply to the glands.

RELATED PLANTS

L. dortmanna. This is indigenous to England, and rather similar in action to L. inflata. A tincture of the fresh plant cures headaches and noises in the ears.

L. erinus. A tincture of the plant has been used in cancer and has produced absolute freedom from pain; it is also used as a remedy in syphilis.

L. siphilitica and L. cardinalis are both used in homeopathy. The first is diaphoretic, emetic and cathartic and has been used in dropsy, diarrhea, syphilis and dysentery, the root being the part used.

The L. cardinalis is said to be anthelmintic, nervine and antispasmodic.

L. kalmit is said to be used by the Indians in the care of syphilis.

L. purpurascens. A tincture of the whole plant is used in paralysis of the lungs and tongue.

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Coon, Nelson. The Dictionary of Useful Plants. Emmaus, PA: Rodale Press, 1974.

Grieve, M., Mrs. A Modern Herbal. Harmondsworth, Middlesex: Penguin Books, 1980.

Hutchens, Alma R. Indian Herbology of North America. Kumbakonam, S. India: Homeo House Press, 1970.

Hylton, William H. The Rodale Herb Book. Emmaus, PA: Rodale Press, 1974.

Kloss, Jethro. Back to Eden. Loma Linda, CA: The Jethro Kloss Family Back to Eden Book, (n.d.).

Shih-Chen, Li. Chinese Medicinal Herbs. San Francisco, Georgetown Press, 1973.

Lewis, Walter H. and Memory P.F. Elvin-Lewis. Medical Botany. New York: John Wiley & Sons, 1977.

Millspaugh, Charles F. American Medicinal Plant. New York: Dover, 1974.

Moore, Michael. Medicinal Plants of the Mountain West. Sante Fe; Museum of New Mexico Press: 1979.

Rose, Jeanne, Herbs and Things. New York: Perigee, 1972.

Christopher, John R. School of Natural Healing. Provo, Utah, 1975.

Spoerke, David G. Jr. Herbal Medications, Santa Barbara, California: Woodbridge Press Publishing Company: 1980.

Thomson, Robert. The Grosset Encyclopedia of Natural Medicine. New York: Grosset and Dunlap, 1980.

Tierra, Michael. The Way of Herbs. Santa Cruz: Unity Press, 1980.

Tyler, Varro E., et al. Pharmacognosy. Philadelphia, Lea and Febiger: 1981.

Weiner, Michael. Weiner's Herbal. New York: Scarborough, 1980.