Lobelia Lobelia inflata

Botanical Information

Common Names: Lobelia, Indian Tobacco

Folk Names: Puke Weed, Asthma Weed

Botanical Name: Lobelia inflata

Family: Campanulaceae

Description: Small annual or biennial with branching stems, small pale violet flowers, and inflated seed pods; has a strong, acrid taste and odor.

History & Tradition

• Used by some Indigenous peoples and later Eclectic physicians as an antispasmodic and emetic.
• Known as “puke weed” for its ability to induce vomiting in high doses.
• An important, but strong and potentially toxic herb requiring great respect.

Cultivation & Parts Used

Parts Used: Aerial parts (fresh or carefully dried), seeds.

Growing Conditions: Meadows, disturbed soils, light shade to sun; prefers moderately rich soil.

Collection: Harvest flowering tops when seed capsules begin to form.

Doctrine of Signatures

The inflated pods and acrid nature suggest expansion and release — opening constricted passages, then purging. Its intensity reflects its powerful, potentially overwhelming action.

Medicinal & Energetic Properties

Constituents

Piperidine alkaloids (lobeline), resins, gums, fats.

Actions

Antispasmodic • Bronchodilator (traditional) • Emetic (in higher doses) • Nervine relaxant (strong) • Diffusive stimulant.

Taste & Energetics

Taste: Acrid, pungent, nauseating in larger doses

Energetics: Warming • Relaxing • Strongly diffusive

Tissue States: Tense • Constricted • Spastic (especially in lungs and musculature)

Internal Uses

In historical practice and under expert supervision: asthma (spastic), bronchial spasm, acute respiratory distress patterns, severe tension patterns; in very tiny doses as a diffusive relaxant. Inappropriately used doses can cause nausea, vomiting, and toxicity.

Topical Uses

Sometimes used in liniments for muscle spasm and tension.

Combinations

• With Mullein and Elecampane — for spastic lung patterns (traditional, supervised use).
• With Skullcap — for deep muscular and nervous tension.

Homeopathic Remedy

Lobelia inflata — for asthma, difficult breathing, and nausea in highly dilute preparations.

Flower Essence

Helps release sudden emotional constriction and panic; supports letting go of patterns that feel overwhelming or suffocating.

Essential Oil

Not used as an essential oil; alkaloid content is best managed in whole-plant preparations by qualified practitioners.

Culinary Use

Not a culinary herb; potentially toxic and never used as food.

Safety Notes

• Potent and potentially toxic in moderate to high doses.
• Can cause nausea, vomiting, lowered blood pressure, and collapse if overdosed.
• Use only under the guidance of an experienced herbal practitioner.
• Contraindicated in pregnancy, breastfeeding, serious heart disease.

This information is educational and not a substitute for medical advice.

Spiritual & Ritual Uses

Lobelia is a threshold plant of release and surrender. Energetically, it helps “break” intense constriction patterns, but only in contexts where strong support and clear intention are present.

Astroherbalism

Planetary Rulership: Uranus (sudden shifts) with Mars (intensity)

Zodiac: Aquarius, Aries

Signature: Sudden, diffusive action and inflating pods echo its explosive, expansive nature.

Chakra Correspondence

Throat & Solar Plexus: Breath release, letting go of constriction and control.

Cosmic Ray

Electric Indigo Ray: Sudden release, pattern-breaking.

Alchemy & Spagyrics

Salt (Body): Holds the memory of tension and its release.

Sulfur (Soul): Intense, acrid nature that forces patterns to break open.

Mercury (Spirit): Highly mobile spirit that diffuses rapidly through systems.

Spagyric Purpose: To catalyze powerful release where chronic constriction has become dangerous or entrenched—used rarely and reverently.

Magical & Spiritual Properties

Breaking spells of constriction, ending cycles that will not loosen, supporting radical change (with caution and spiritual consent).

Tarot Correspondence

The Tower: Sudden release and breakdown of rigid structures.

Keywords: Release • Diffusion • Intensity • Breakthrough • Caution