Creeping Lobelia Herb (Lobelia chinensis) is commonly known as Asian lobelia, Chinese Lobelia, and Herba Lobellae Chinensis, or in Chinese as Ban Bian Lian.
It is a species of flowering plant in the family Campanulaceae. It is one of the 50 fundamental herbs used in traditional Chinese medicine.
It is a small perennial herb that grows in tangled clumps from 15 centimetres to 35 centimetres long. It has a long, thin, branching stem that is olive green and green-brown crumpled narrow leaves. It has little to no odour at all but a very sweet and pungent taste. When harvesting herbs for medical use by Chinese herbalists, the plants with the greenest stems and yellower roots are preferred.
It is native to east, south, southwest, and south-central China.
Medicinal Uses and Constituents of Creeping Lobelia Herb:-
The herb has a long history of use in connection with respiratory ailments, such as asthma, bronchitis, pneumonia, and coughs. Lobelia is a common herb prescribed by Chinese herbalists being one of the 50 fundamental herbs used in traditional Chinese medicine.
Lobeline, an active constituent in the lobelia plant, is very similar to nicotine in its effect on the central nervous system.
Lobeline acts as a relaxant overall while also dilating the bronchioles (air passages), thereby increasing respiration and possibly helping the lungs. Its anti-asthma activity consists of stimulating the adrenal glands to release the hormone epinephrine, which causes the airways to relax.
This combination of effects makes it extremely helpful for sufferers of asthma and recovering smokers
Lobelia may also be used topically in connection with diseases of the muscles, joints, and tendons that involve inflammation and degeneration.
History of Creeping Lobelia Herb:-
Like lobelia inflata, the plant used as a traditional medicinal herb by the Cherokee, Iriquois and Penebscot indiginous First Nationals or American Indians if you will, Creeping lobelia has bee.used for centuries as one of the 50 fundamental herbal remedies in China for centuries
