Lobelia
Lobelia

 

It is hard to understand addiction unless you have experienced it yourself. – Ken Hensley

 

Salt

 

Lobelia is also called “Indian tobacco” and has a long history of use as an herbal remedy for respiratory conditions such as asthma, bronchitis, pneumonia, and cough. Historically, Native Americans smoked lobelia as a treatment for asthma. In the 19th century, American physicians prescribed lobelia to induce vomiting in order remove toxins from the body. Because of this, it earned the name “puke weed.” It is a purgatory, it means that it makes you vomit if taken in larger doses.

Mercury

Lobelia impacts neurotransmitter activity in a way that is similar to nicotine.  The active ingredient, Lobeline, is a both a nicotine agonist and antagonist derived from an Indian plant “lobelia inflata.”  Here's what that means:

The brain has neurotransmitter receptor cells that have been labeled 'nicotinic' receptors because they are stimulated by nicotine.  Lobeline acts on these cells as an 'agonist,' which means that it binds to these cells and stimulates them in a similar way to nicotine.  (The effects are not as strong as nicotine, however.)  Because the drug is in effect 'parked' at the receptor sites on these cells, it also partially blocks nicotine from activating them, thereby reducing the effect of nicotine in the brain from smoking, and helping to reduce the 'reward' associated with smoking.

Interestingly, unlike nicotine, which is highly addictive, lobeline does not appear to be addictive.  This may be because of its structural differences from nicotine, and the different ways that it affects dopamine storage and release.  (Dopamine is another a neurotransmitter – one that is implicated in addictive patterns of behavior.)

Rather than stimulating the release of dopamine in the normal way (from the presynaptic terminal), lobeline appears to induce the metabolism of dopamine intraneuronally as well as inhibit dopamine re-uptake.  The result of this is that rather than getting a 'dose' of rewarding dopamine immediately connected to the behavior of smoking (or of taking lobeline), the dopamine effect is more diffuse.  So you still get the pleasant dopamine effect, but because it is not strongly associated with the behavior, it does not induce addictive behaviors, and in fact partially blocks the addictive effect of nicotine intake.

Dwoskin LP, Crooks PA., (2002) A novel mechanism of action and potential use for lobeline as a treatment for psychostimulant abuse. Biochemical Pharmacology. Jan 15;63(2):89-98.

Sulphur

 

I made a formula to help people stop smoking or using snuff which is common in Sweden. So far this formula have helped around 12 people in quitting, myself included!

I recomend smokers or snuffers who wish to quit my formula rather than the pure Lobelia spagyric tincture because it has calming and adaptogenic herbs in it that helps the quitter cope with stress.

 

I want to share 2 useful tips for the one wanting to stop smoking to use in combination with the Stop smoking support formula:
1. Make a ceremony where you commit and ask the universe to help you to be a vessle for transformation at the new moon and start then.
2. Drink a liversupporting  tea the first 72 hours.
Make a decoction of :
Turmeric root
Ginger root
Liquerice root
Dandelion root
Burdock root
Cinnamon
Milk Thistle Seed
The stop smoking support formula is a spagyric tincture and contains among other herbs:
Skullcap, Milky Oats, Speedwell, Lobelia, Siberian Ginseng, Cleavers. I always prepare it when the moon is in gemini. (Gemini rules the respiratory tract)
I can not be held responsible if you do not manage to quit smoking or snuffing using my formula.

 

 

Speedwell
Speedwell

“I am most glad I loved thee—think of all
The suns that go to make one speedwell blue! – Oscar Wilde

Salt

Speedwell was highly regarded as THE herb for a speedy recovery in the times of the roman empire. It has since a hundred years ago been sort of forgotten in the world of healing.

It is primarly used for respiratory troubles, cough. It is an expectorant , it dispells mucus. Speedwell is also healing for ulcers,  it enhances the regeneration of the gastric mucosa. It was famous for healing the lungs as well, and research is going on on this topic.

Mercury

Maria Treben recommends it for nervousness caused by mental exhaustion.  In my opinion it is grounding and brings a lightness at the same time, your chakras seem to align themselves from the bottom to the top.  It contains the glycoside, scutellarin, named after our calming friend, Skullcap.

I have both Skullcap and Speedwell in my Stop Smoking Support.

Sulphur

Maria Treben also wrote that the most powerful Speedwell you can harvest grow under oaktrees.
In our garden there grows an abundance of Speedwell under our old oaktree and they are the ones I use in the spagyric tincture.  I also add a few spiked Speedwells that came from the south of France brought here by french monks who came here in  1143 when Bernard de Clairvaux founded Alvastra Abbey, a Cistercian order close to where I live. These spiked Speedwells grows in the place of  the ruin of the Abbey  where the monks used to dance a labyrinthic dance in praise of the Black Madonna.