Lobelia Herb – 1 lb (454 g)

Lobelia Herb, known in Chinese as 半边莲 (Bànbiānlián) and scientifically as Herba Lobeliae Chinensis, is a valued herb in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). This TCM herb has been traditionally used to support natural wellness, maintain vitality, and encourage holistic balance. At TCMforyou.com, we provide premium-quality Lobelia Herb carefully sourced to preserve its therapeutic properties.

As a herbal supplement, Lobelia Herb helps promote overall well-being and supports natural energy, immunity, and balance. Integrating this herb into your wellness routine offers a gentle, time-tested approach to enhancing daily health. Whether brewed as tea, added to herbal remedies, or taken as part of a TCM formula, Lobelia Herb provides a safe, natural way to experience the benefits of traditional Chinese medicine.

Trusted for centuries, Lobelia Herb has been used in TCM to harmonize the body and encourage optimal functioning of key systems. At TCMforyou, we prioritize authenticity and quality. Each batch undergoes rigorous testing to ensure purity and potency, delivering an herbal product aligned with traditional practices.

Experience the natural support of Lobelia Herb, promoting immune health, vitality, and holistic well-being. Embrace the wisdom of TCM and incorporate this gentle, effective herbal remedy into your daily wellness journey.

[Overview] This herb is also known as Shelicao, Sheshecao, Ximicao, and Fushuicao. It is the whole herb of Lobelia chinensis Lour., a plant of the Campanulaceae family. It is distributed throughout the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River and southern provinces. It is harvested in summer and autumn when growth is vigorous by uprooting, cleaning, and drying.

[Properties] It has a pungent and sweet taste, with a slightly cold nature. It enters the Heart, Lung, and Small Intestine meridians.

[Actions] Clears heat and detoxifies, reduces swelling, and promotes diuresis.

[Applications]
1. Used for poisonous snake bites and carbuncles with swelling and toxicity. For poisonous snake bites, it can be decocted alone or fresh herb juice mixed with wine can be taken orally; the herb can also be pounded and applied externally, or combined with fresh Pinellia ternata (Sheng Banxia), pounded together and mixed with egg white to apply around the wound. For carbuncles and toxic swellings, fresh herb with wine or a small amount of salt can be pounded and applied externally; it can also be decocted with Lonicera japonica (Jinyinhua), Viola yedoensis (Zihuadiding), and Chrysanthemum indicum (Yejuhua) for oral administration.
2. Used for eczema, athlete’s foot, and traumatic injuries; a concentrated decoction of Lobelia chinensis can be applied topically to the affected area.
3. Used for damp-heat jaundice and ascites swelling. For jaundice, it can be decocted with Artemisia capillaris (Yinchen), Rheum palmatum (Dahuang), Gardenia jasminoides (Shanzhi), etc.; for ascites swelling, it can be used alone or combined with Verbena officinalis (Mabiancao), Lysimachia christinae (Jinqiancao), Citrus aurantium (Zhishi), etc., decocted together.
Currently, it is often used in the treatment of various cancers, combined with Scutellaria barbata (Banzhilian), Hedyotis diffusa (Baihuasheshecao), and others to enhance anticancer effects.

[Dosage and Administration] Internal use: decoction, 9–15 g; or juice taken orally. External use: appropriate amount pounded and applied, or juice mixed and applied topically.

[Cautions] Contraindicated in cases of edema due to deficiency.

[Modern Research]
1. Chemical constituents: The whole herb contains alkaloids, flavonoids, saponins, and amino acids. The main alkaloids are lobeline, lobelanine, lobelanidine, and isolobelanine. It also contains effective components against snake venom such as sodium dehydroacetate, sodium succinate, and sodium p-hydroxybenzoate.
2. Pharmacological effects: Decoctions of Lobelia chinensis or isolated sodium dehydroacetate, sodium succinate, and sodium p-hydroxybenzoate, when administered orally half an hour before snake venom injection or subcutaneously at the time of venom injection, provide good protective effects. Crude preparations of Lobelia chinensis, whether injected or taken orally, have significant and lasting diuretic effects. Lobeline has a nicotinic receptor-like effect and can suppress appetite when taken orally. Water decoction and alcohol precipitation preparations have choleretic effects. Lobelia chinensis and its extracts can also lower blood pressure and enhance myocardial contractility. Oral decoction has a mild laxative effect.
3. Clinical reports: Herpes zoster: Fresh Lobelia chinensis is used in an amount depending on the lesion size, pounded into a paste and applied externally to the affected area. Dressings are changed 1–2 times daily. In a total of 23 cases treated, mild cases healed in 2–3 days, severe cases in 7 days. [Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 1983, (3):54]