Lobeila for gran mal?

One of the greatest things about networking with literally hundreds of other practicing herbalists is discovering new uses for old plant friends. That happened to me today with Lobelia (Lobelia inflata) in a direction I'd never considered.

I know the plant to be valuable in conditions of the lungs, but useful in stopping gran mal seizures? A fellow herbalist recants a great tale of personal use, and my research into the tomes proves it out. Read on...

The Eclectics used Lobelia extensively to treat a variety of ailments. Looking for the connection with seizures, I noticed a commonality across the texts. All authors noted the ability of the plant to bring about relaxation. I use it for this today, specifically in the lungs of suffers of asthma. According to Colby's Guide to Health:

Lobelia is the most powerful, certain, and harmless relaxant that has ever been discovered; and as relaxation is an important indication in the cure of the majority of the various forms of disease...

Petersen mentions it as well in his Materia Medica, citing it's effectiveness in relieving angina and asthma, a "baby soother" and for convulsions.

Southwestern herbalist icon Michael Moore uses Lobeila as a "parasympathomimetic antispasmodic", which is a complex (and classic Michaelian) way of saying it stops spasms of the involuntary nervous pathways. Bingo. There is my answer, staring me in the face. The plant works less on the constricted passageways of the heart and lungs and more at the nervous system responsible for the actions of these two systems. It's a small step to equate that same antispasmodic qualities to a nervous system firing out of control, ie a gran mal seizure.

In case you're interested, here's how my fellow herbalist described the situation where she used Lobelia:

I got a phone call about 2:30 pm EST today that Charlie (my son) was experiencing a significant seizure on Main St., in front of our town's little medical center. I grabbed the toolkit, hopped into the wagon and went.

He was still fully involved when I arrived, two syringes of pharmaceutical diazepam in one hand and a bottle of Lobelia inflata extract in my pocket. I administered Lobelia inflata extract about 5 drops sublingually plus two 1/2 droppersful topically at C-1 and C-2 (The Atlas and the Axis or the top two cervical vertebrae where the skull connects to the neck) were immediately massaged in.

Charlie had been in full seizure mode for about ten minutes at that time and significantly discolored. At least he had the emotional support of the
Physician's Assistant, police and locals who know him. No one touched him, not even to support his head.

The effect of the Lobelia inflata extract was so quick that I choose to wait to administer the diazepam pharmaceutical rectally. And, I continued to
wait for the dreaded following seizure to commence, common with Charlie given the length and severity of the first. I was still waiting for the other shoe to drop, so to speak, when the ambulance arrived.

By this time, about 20 minutes after onset, his color had improved to near normal and his blood pressure upper number was 110. The new and improved sphygnomanometer the ambulance carries only measures the upper level, they informed me today. Curious, n'est pas?

Since someone saw Charlie slump and slide to the ground, we knew he did not hit his head on the concrete. There were no other signs of distress or
damage.

So, we placed Charlie in the backseat of the wagon. We then drove home and sat in the warm car in the driveway for another 75 minutes waiting for him to regain some limb use and consciousness so I could haul him into the house. Dealing with almost inert 200 lbs. is a challenge.

No need to go to ER, no need for diazepam. Far less trauma for the kid.

When he could swallow, I gave him 250 mg Mg, B-100 complex and something else to increase the levels of those nutrients decimated by the brain storm. He will get an additional 3 grams of fish oil later to further support the nutritional needs of an impacted brain. Also some milk thistle, grapeseed
extract and Ginkgo biloba.

It now takes well over 24 hours and as much of 72 hours for Charlie to
recover. During this post ictal stage, he does get increased nutritional support, primarily via diet.

Thank you, Ma Nature, for your gift of Lobelia inflata and it's effectiveness in stopping gran mal seizures in people with histories of status epilepticus. What a fine grand dame you are and I am forever in your service.

If you think the above will help someone else, please pass it on.

And pass it on I shall...

Posted by Evo Terra at December 03, 2003 06:36 AM | TrackBack (0)