Know what you're putting in your body.

158 herbs, nutrients, and compounds. What the science says, what tradition knew, and what to watch for. Founding members keep this running.

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GENERAL IMMUNITY

Lobelia

Lobelia inflata

also known as Indian tobacco

Weak — and a real toxicity concern

Lobelia — Köhler 1887 botanical illustration

A small North American plant historically called 'puke weed' for good reason — it causes vomiting at modest doses. Used traditionally as a respiratory herb and smoking-cessation aid, but lobelia's narrow safety window makes it inappropriate for casual self-use. This is a herb for trained practitioners, not the supplement aisle.

Traditional use as a respiratory herb — antispasmodic action on the lungs
Lobeline, the main active, weakly stimulates the same nicotine receptors as tobacco — historically used for smoking cessation
FDA reviewed lobelia for over-the-counter smoking cessation products and rejected it for lack of efficacy
Long history of use by trained herbalists at carefully measured doses

Causes nausea, vomiting, sweating, tremor, and confusion at modest doses — toxicity comes on quickly

High doses can cause seizures, coma, and respiratory paralysis

Avoid with heart disease, high blood pressure, or seizure disorders

Avoid with tobacco cessation aids like nicotine replacement and varenicline

Avoid with sedatives and anesthesia

Avoid during pregnancy — can stimulate the uterus

Avoid during nursing

Not a herb to self-experiment with — historical use was always carefully dosed by trained practitioners

Several US states have restricted retail sale due to safety concerns

Research

Interplay Between Traditional and Scientific Knowledge: Phytoconstituents and Their Roles in Lung and Colorectal Cancer Signaling Pathways.
Imtiaz I, Schloss J, Bugarcic A · Biomolecules · 2025
Latitudinal trends in mating system traits in the highly self-fertilizing Lobelia inflata revealed by community science.
Coffey ML, Simons AM · Ecology and evolution · 2023
From cis-Lobeline to trans-Lobeline: Study on the Pharmacodynamics and Isomerization Factors.
Xu HH, Yang L, Tang MX · Molecules (Basel, Switzerland) · 2022

Memorial Sloan Kettering About Herbs · EMA Herbal Medicinal Product Monographs · American Botanical Council HerbMedPro · Memorial Sloan Kettering About Herbs · EMA Herbal Medicinal Product Monographs · American Botanical Council HerbMedPro

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