Lobelia Inflata: Herbal Remedy for Diphtheria and Whooping Cough

Lobelia inflata is a fascinating and powerful home remedy for diphtheria, whooping cough, and other childhood diseases. It is particularly useful as an herb for fever and for diseases that involve spasms of muscles (such as a spasmodic cough) and for persistent nausea and vomiting. In the past, Lobelia inflata was administered as a natural treatment for asthma attacks.  Of course, Lugol’s iodine as a nutrient supplement is the most reliable cure for asthma that exists and Lugol’s is also extremely important as a nutrient that can prevent childhood diseases (without vaccination) or at the very least lessen the severity of these diseases. Nonetheless, Lobelia inflata is able to quell spasms in the bronchial tubes to reduce coughing naturally through a mechanism of action that also causes a lowering of fevers among other things.

Click here to read more about the use of Lugol’s iodine as a cure for asthma. 

Lobelia inflata is an herb that deserves respect, so it’s important to learn about it and even take a dose of the herb to understand it better before you begin using it on a child. Note, however, that children are less likely than adults to be unpleasantly affected by Lobelia inflata. 

Lobelia inflata belongs to a class of herbs known as the Nauseating Expectorants. It works through a mechanism of action that has a simultaneous effect on the digestive system and the respiratory system. The dose of Lobelia inflata changes the effects on the body but this herb nonetheless functions to sedate the respiratory system and cause nausea at the same time. Obviously, in babies, children (or in adults), you need to exercise great care in dosing Lobelia inflata because this herb can cause respiratory sedation. At large doses, Lobelia inflata acts a nervous system depressant. At small doses, it is a stimulant that increases expectoration and sweating (which often causes a fever to break). That being said though, in the past, doctors who worked without vaccines and without antibiotics praised this herb, which was able to bring children back from the brink of death when they had severe respiratory disease. 

Small, frequent doses of Lobelia inflata should usually be administered to children in cases of severe disease. However, parents should not be afraid to administer a larger dose of this medicine to revive a child who is seriously ill to the point of needing emergency care, for example. 

Click here to buy Lugol's iodine. 

Lobelia inflata and the Autonomic Nervous System

Lobelia inflata seems to work its magic via the autonomic nervous system a part of the nervous system that consists of 3 branches:

• Sympathetic Nervous System / Awake and Aware or Fight-or-Flight Response
• Parasympathetic / Rest-and-Digest Response
• Parasympathetic / Freeze or Play-Dead Response

A normal, healthy body switches fluently from rest-and-digest to awake and aware responses throughout any given day. While the rest-and-digest response by the parasympathetic system primarily involves the vagus nerve, a large nerve that travels down through the gut to innervate all of the organs, the sympathetic nervous system is made up of nerves that emerge from each vertebra in the spinal column. These nerves travel throughout the body following every blood vessel on its course from the center of the body to the most outer periphery. The sympathetic nervous system nerves tell the blood vessels whether to be more dilated or more closed depending on various factors. 

A diseased body part can provoke the sympathetic nervous system to shut down blood vessels traveling to the diseased body part in an effort to isolate the disease to that part of the body. This can, in turn, make it hard for that part of the body to recover as blood flow is a source of life and health for all parts of our bodies. 

Meanwhile, if the body is overcome with infection, the third branch of the autonomic nervous system, the parasympathetic branch in charge of the “freeze” or “play dead” response can cause the body to begin to shut down in a more general way to preserve energy. This can lead to a comatose state or a state of prolonged, chronic malaise wherein people are often diagnosed with so-called “autoimmune” diseases where the body seems to be attacking itself. 

Lobelia inflata has the ability to reset the autonomic nervous system from a parasympathetic freeze/play-dead response to an awake and aware, sympathetic state. It should be used with great caution (or not at all) in people who have heart issues because of its effects on the sympathetic nervous system.

Lobelia inflata acts as a mild relaxant when it is administered orally using a tincture or extract. This is due to the fact that the lobeline (and other alkaloids)  in Lobelia inflata stimulates the nicotinic receptors. Lobeline is an agonist of the nicotinic receptors which is why this herb has a medicinal action that is similar to that of tobacco and nicotine. Nicotine, of course, is also a nicotinic agonist. As such, this herb is able to relax the smooth muscles in the blood vessels and organs as well as the skeletal muscles.

This herb seems to function as an anti-inflammatory and immune-modulating herb via its effects on the autonomic nervous system. For people who are familiar with neural therapy, a system of conventional medicine that specifically deals with the autonomic nervous system, it should come as no surprise that an herb could do a reset on the autonomic nervous system that restores normal immune function while reducing inflammation throughout the body. 

Click here to buy Lobelia inflata tincture.

Neurological Effects of Lobelia inflata

As an herb that works through the autonomic nervous system as a nicotinic receptor agonist, Lobelia inflata has been used to treat neurological issues and researchers believe that this herb, especially lobeline, a substance that is a strong agonist of the nicotinic receptors, could be useful as a home remedy for Alzheimer’s disease or Parkinson’s disease. Other neurological conditions that would likely respond to treatment with Lobelia inflata include:

• Schizophrenia
• Tourette’s syndrome
• Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
• Anxiety

The Renegade Parent's Guide to Children's Health and Healing: Volume 1 - Encyclopedia of Herbal Remedies

My Experience with Lobelia inflata

I have some personal experience working with Lobelia inflata. I used the herb several years ago to try to treat migraine headaches. I had never had severe headaches like this and nothing worked to reduce the pain. I suspected that I had liver stones because of the type of heavy work that I was doing on a construction project that had put a strain on my digestive system. Unfortunately, Lobelia inflata in moderate doses can cause headaches (as well as helping to relieve them). In my case, this herb never helped me get rid of my headaches, though I was glad to have some experience working with it. 

Knowing more about Lobelia inflata now, I wouldn’t use this herb in a context involving headaches unless the headache occurred in the context of an illness.. However, I would consider working with Lobelia inflata in a situation involving severe respiratory illness to relieve symptoms that make it hard for a patient to breathe. In a child, I would administer this herb in small doses at frequent intervals unless the situation was dire. Then, it’s best to administer a larger dose (see dosing instructions at the end of this discussion) once and then wait to see if the symptoms of distress return before administering another larger dose.

Parents who have Lobelia inflata on hand in an emergency involving a child with a major respiratory disease should also have an enema bulb available. Very young children can receive Lobelia inflata as an enema. Indeed, it is also wise to produce an herb-infused oil of Lobelia inflata that can be rubbed on a child’s chest to reduce coughing. See the dosing section for more details about how to make an herb-infused oil of Lobelia inflata.

I would recommend that parents brew a small dose of Lobelia tea and drink it to become familiar with this herb prior to administering it to a child.  

More than perhaps any other herb mentioned on this site, Lobelia inflata is an herbal remedy that can easily demonstrate the rule that all medicines can become poisonous at the wrong dose. This herb works through the autonomic nervous system which is precisely the system of the body that often becomes imbalanced when a patient becomes ill with a very serious disease. While Lobelia requires respect, as an herbal remedy, it can be life-saving. For this reason, we chose to write about it and share this information. Dosing for Lobelia inflata, however, requires some attention.

At very high doses, Lobelia inflata can cause paralysis of the respiratory nerves. Its physiological action on the body is very similar to that of tobacco. In fact, it has been used as a herbal treatment for nicotine addiction. As such, again, we recommend that parent familiarize themselves with this herb before they find themselves in a situation where their child may need to receive it. 

Click here for more information about how to use Lobelia inflata as an herbal remedy for nicotine addiction.

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Lobelia inflata Medicinal Effects

• Herbal remedy for osteoarthritis (applied topically as an herb-infused oil)
• Herbal remedy for rheumatoid arthritis
• Schizophrenia
• Tourette’s syndrome
• Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
• Anxiety
• Herbal remedy for nicotine addiction
• Herbal remedy for whooping cough / pertussis
• Herbal remedy for diphtheria in children
• Herbal remedy for croup in children
• Herbal remedy for bronchitis in children
• Herbal remedy for pneumonia in children
• Herbal remedy for high fever in children
• Herbal remedy for nausea and vomiting
• Herbal remedy for pain due to spasm
• Herbal treatment for constipation and obstipation

Other Medicinal Effects of Lobelia inflata

Lobelia inflata has been used to treat the following health issues in both children and adults:

• Spasms
• Infantile Convulsions / Seizures in Babies
• Seizures in childhood / Epilepsy - administer Lobelia during the aura in a sufficiently large dose; repeat if necessary
• Puerperal Eclampsia
• Epilepsy
• Tetanus (to reduce muscle spasm) - administer with Chlorine Dioxide Solution or another anti-tetanus treatment
• Rabies
• Asthma
• Pneumonia
• Croup
• Bronchitis
• Bronchial Cough
• Diphtheria
• Pertussis / Whooping Cough
• Severe tonsillitis (Lobelia inflata is not usually helpful is mild to moderate tonsillitis)
• Cough
• Shortness of breath / Tightness in the chest
• Nausea
• Persistent Vomiting
• Upset stomach
• Sick headaches
• Hiccups / Hiccoughs
• Stomach spasm / Stomach cramps
• Chronic constipation 
• Obstipation
• Encourage peristalsis
• Relaxes muscle spasms
• Acute heart failure
• Heart conditions - especially heart conditions involving a weak heart where there is a lack of tone or muscle power. It should not be administered in conditions involving hypertrophy of the heart. Regular doses of Lobelia inflata should be administered.
• Angina pectoris
• Spasm of the glottis
• Cerebrospinal meningitis - Lobelia inflata  (10 drop doses of tincture given hourly) is administered with Echinacea, Calcium Sulfide, and Gelsemium. 
• Strychnine poisoning antidote (30 drop doses administered every 30 minutes)
• Ptomaine poisoning (30 drop doses administered every 30 minutes)
• Uremic poisoning
• Poison mushroom antidote
• Cerebral concussion with unconsciousness (oil infusion applied to the skin)
• Fainting / syncope due to stroke - (oil infusion applied to the skin)
• Remedy for drowning / near drowning
• Unconsciousness due to the use of anesthetics
• Restoration of consciousness after drinking too much alcohol
• Kidney stones (administer in large doses - repeat the dose if necessary)
• Gallstones (administer in large doses - repeat the dose if necessary)
• Strangulated hernia treatment
• Malaria
• Scarlet Fever
• Extreme Albuminaria
• Anuria (administer 2-3 doses)

Side Effects of a Toxic Dose of Lobelia inflata

The side effects of a toxic dose of Lobelia inflata include:

• Total exhaustion / physical collapse
• Burning pain in the esophagus
• Rapid, feeble pulse
• Cold, clammy skin
• General trembling
• Fall in body temperature
• Coma
• Seizures
• Depressed heart rate
• Death from respiratory failure

Side Effects of a Moderate Dose of Lobelia inflata

Lobelia inflata has been classed as an emetic which means that it is an herb that reliably induces vomiting. Indeed, in severe illnesses like diphtheria or whooping cough, it may be necessary to administer small, frequent doses of Lobelia inflata to achieve a moderate cumulative dose to induce vomiting that also, at the same time, causes the lungs to clear (increased expectoration) that ultimately can relieve the symptoms of the disease and give the body the strength it needs to recover. The side effects of a moderate dose of Lobelia inflata include:

• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Dizziness
• Headache
• Tremors

Medicinal Effects of a Small Dose of Lobelia inflata

At small, frequent doses (which we discuss in greater depth below), Lobelia inflata causes the following medicinal effects:

• Increased expectoration
• Fever reduction / breaking of high fevers
• Reduced chest tightness in respiratory illness
• Antispasmodic
• Stimulant effects on the body

When to Use Lobelia inflata

This herb should be used in diseases and disorders involving spasmodic, irritable, or oppressed breathing. It is particularly valuable in respiratory diseases where the patient is having a hard time breathing. For example, it is useful when a patient seems very distressed with a lot of nerve tension and restlessness. The patient may be fearful with facial redness / flushing and contracted pupils. 

Do NOT use Lobelia inflata if a patient is in a state of general physical relaxation with shortness of breath. It should not be used in patients with heart problems or disorders. Patients with heart enlargement, a weak heart, heart valve issues, or issues pertaining to the pericardium also should not receive Lobelia inflata. 

Lobelia inflata: Herbal Remedy for Diphtheria

In infants and young children with diphtheria, Lobelia inflata can be administered via enema rather than trying to administer this medicine by mouth. Indeed, in the past, enemas were used to administer Lobelia inflata to move the energy of the disease (in Traditional Chinese Medicine, the move the chi) from the lungs to the bowels so that the toxins can be removed. Lobelia inflata causes vomiting and as a home remedy for diphtheria, this herb is used to induce vomiting as well as emptying of the bowels so that symptoms of diphtheria can be relieved.

In babies and young children, Lobelia can be administered as an infusion (which is like an herbal tea) that has cooled to a point where it is at body temperature. The enema is administered and the child will release any fecal matter in the intestines. Vomiting occurs soon after that and symptoms of diphtheria are then relieved. 

Lobelia inflata: Herbal Remedy for Croup in Children

As an expectorant, Lobelia inflata works quickly and efficiently to get rid of croup in children. Though it can be given orally, when given through the skin, it is less likely to cause vomiting. 

NOTE: Do not give Lobelia inflata to patients with any kind of heart disease or disorder.

Lobelia inflata: Herbal Remedy for Bronchitis in Children

Acute bronchitis that involves some mucus in the airways can be treated easily using Lobelia inflata. As with the other respiratory diseases, if a child develops bronchitis, it is possible to use Lobelia inflata as either an enema or as an “oil infusion”. See dosing instructions below for more information.

Lobelia inflata: Herbal Remedy for Pneumonia in Children

In children or adults with pneumonia who also have rapid, shallow breathing with the appearance of anxiety and a tendency to turn blue, Lobelia inflata is a valuable herb. It improves the action of the heart and reduces cyanosis almost immediately. In the past, Lobelia inflata was regarded as one of the most important herbal remedies for patients who seemed to be on the brink of death due to pneumonia. A single, full dose of Lobelia can save a child’s life when administered as an enema or sometimes as an oil infusion that is rubbed on the chest. Note however, that in order for Lobelia inflata to provide life-saving effects in a dire situation, it must be administered in higher doses. Rubbing Lobelia inflata on the chest as an oil infusion must be done at the proper dose in order for it to have the desired effect. Doctors once viewed Lobelia inflata as an herb that could snatch a child from death’s door.

In pneumonia, if the patient is experiencing heart issues due to the lung congestion and there is shortness of breath, and a feeling of tightness and heaviness in the chest, administer a medium dose of Lobelia inflata topically. A second dose may be needed if the symptoms return. 

Lobelia inflata: Herbal Remedy for High Fever in Children 

In children with a high fever, Lobelia inflata acts as a febrifuge to reduce vascular action and lower the fever. Parents who have Chinese medicine “cups” can apply them to the back of the neck and if this doesn’t work, Lobelia inflata can be administered via enema. 

In the past, Lobelia inflata was administered via enema along with the following herbs to treat very high fever that involves confusion:

• Valerian root powder
• Tincture of capsicum OR
• Tincture of camphor

Lobelia inflata: Herbal Remedy for Pain due to Spasm

Lobelia inflata is an herbal remedy for any kind of pain due to muscular spasm. It is antispasmodic so pain relief comes from the fact that this herb reduces muscle tension. It is particularly useful in the following health situations to relax the smooth muscles in the ducts through which stones are being passed:

• Gallstones
• Liver stones
• Kidney stones

Lobelia inflata: Herbal Remedy for Vomiting in Children

Lobelia inflata can be administered as an herbal remedy for nausea and vomiting or in situations where a child has a chronic upset stomach. A teaspoonful of the herb can be administered to children over age 10 years of age every 10 to 15 minutes until the child feels relief.

Lobelia inflata Dosage for Children

If given at the wrong dose, Lobelia inflata can cause death so this is an herb that needs to be studied so that parents know how to obtain the proper dose in situations where it can be useful.  This is an herb that should be usually administered in small doses at frequent intervals to avoid giving a child too much. However, at the same time, it deserve repeating that children do not react to Lobelia inflata in the same way that adults do. There are times when children must be given a high dose to save their lives. 

Practitioners who have worked with Lobelia inflata say that intravenous administration allows the herb to work on the respiratory system without causing vomiting and nausea in the digestive system. The theory is that, when Lobelia inflata is administered by mouth, it impacts the pneumogastric nerve. In contract, when it is administered into the bloodstream directly, it seems to exert a medicinal impact on the Sympathetic Nervous System. Though there’s no way for most people to administer Lobelia inflata intravenously using needles at home, but it is possible to administer a Lobelia inflata infusion with dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO) as a topical mixture that can pass through the skin into the bloodstream. When used topically with dimethyl sulfoxide, Lobelia inflata causes the following medicinal action:

• Slows and softens the pulse
• Slows respiration
• Quiets the nervous system
• Frees respiration
• Opens circulation
• Controls blood engorgement in body parts (hyperemia)
• Generally increases the “vital force” in the body 

How to Make an Herb-Infused Oil of Lobelia Inflata

An herb-infused oil of Lobelia inflata is the best way to administer this herb to children and adults because it makes it possible for this herb to pass through the skin to work with the sympathetic nervous system, rather than going into the body via the digestive system where it can cause nausea and vomiting.

Lobelia inflata: Herb-Infused Oil Recipe

The oil infusion should be administered to children at a dose of between 10-40 minims hourly (0.525 grams to 2.1 grams) depending on the size and age of the child. If you follow the instructions below for making Lobelia inflata-infused oil, you will be able to divide the bottle 4-16 doses. If you have a small, young child, divide the jar into 16 doses by measuring the height of the oil in the jar and dividing total height by 16. Mark the jar with 16 tick marks. When you administer the oil to your child, administer 1/16th of the oil at each dosing. If you have an older, larger child (or if you are administering this oil to an adult), divide the total height of the oil in the jar by 4. Mark the jar to divide the oil clearly into fourths. 

You must make your own Lobelia inflata oil infusion according to the instructions below. The process takes 3-5 days:

Ingredients / Materials

• Lobelia inflata finely powdered - 8.4 grams

• Olive oil, almond oil, or castor oil (hexane-free, organic castor oil is the preferred type of oil)
• 8-12 ounce mason jar

1. Put the powdered herb in the mason jar.
2. Cover the powdered herb with castor oil, olive oil, or almond oil.
3. Stir.
4. Put the cap on the mason jar and place the jar in a water bath in a crock pot. Put a rubber ring under the jar so that it is not in direct contact with the pot.
5. Gently heat the water in the crock pot and the oil infusion for 3-5 days on the “warm” setting. The water should not boil. Leave the lid off the crockpot, if necessary to keep the water at a lower temperature around 110 degrees.
6. After 3-5 days, remove the jars.
7. Store the oil infusion in a jar with a lid (it should be airtight). Put the jar in a cool, dark place. Mark it with the date and note that the expiration date is one year from the date it was produced.

NOTE: Hexane-free castor oil is ideal for use as the oil this Lobelia inflata infusion because castor oil also supports lung health when it is applied to the skin over the lungs.

Enema of Lobelia inflata for babies and young kids

Administer Lobelia inflata as an enema by first making it into a tea. Bring 8 ounces of water to a boil. Put 0.5 to 2 grams of Lobelia inflata dried herb in a mug and pour the hot water on top of it. Allow it to steep for 15 minutes and then cool down to body temperature. Suck the “tea” up into a bulb enema and then administer it gently to the child. Administer smaller doses of the Lobelia inflata for smaller children. Also administer smaller quantities of 4 ounces of water in very young children.

Lobelia inflata Alcohol Tincture

Administer according to the dosing instructions on the bottle.

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