Episode 181: Lobelia inflata
with joAnna Sanchez

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Would you prefer watching or reading this episode? If so, click here for the 'What is Lobelia Used For' video and transcript.

Episode Summary

You’re in for a treat! In this episode, I had such a delightful conversation with joAnna Sanchez, who has been “beckoned by the plants,” as she so lovingly puts it, for decades. She shares such hope for the world, gained through her work with the plants and relationships with other students of nature, and her positive attitude is infectious – I found myself just beaming after speaking with her!

I was thrilled that joAnna chose to speak about Lobelia inflata, a plant that she has been working with closely for many years. She had so much to share about it – not only its medicinal benefits and tips for working with it, but also some fascinating history of this often-maligned herb. joAnna included her recipe for Lobelia Acetract, and you can download your beautifully-illustrated recipe card for this traditional preparation from the section below.

Lobelia is a diminutive plant with some big effects! Here are some of the ways lobelia has been worked with both historically and in modern days:

► As a respiratory antispasmodic, to help with asthma and coughing

► To relax the nervous system, reducing muscle twitches and tics

► To help stop smoking and give support with nicotine withdrawal

To learn even more about lobelia’s benefits, be sure to check out the entire episode!

By the end of this episode, you’ll know:

► Why lobelia is infamous in the herbal world (and why, despite its notoriety, it’s such an amazing plant!)

► Why you should only work with lobelia in low doses

► What makes lobelia a great plant for herbal skeptics

► An old-fashioned but still relevant herbal preparation for lobelia

► and so much more…

For those of you who haven’t met her, joAnna’s herbal journey began in the natural foods industry in 1979; she later served as clinician in private practice for 13 years. She was, and remains, a voracious reader of all things botanical. In 1997 joAnna wrote five texts and started teaching coursework at Sonoran University, where she began what is now likely the largest plant medicine garden in the Southwest.

joAnna launched her own herb school for personal interest and professional training, and has trained a host of herbalism educators. She is a passionate educator, plant hunter, gardener, and conservationist herbalist. joAnna has a calling to remain personally experiential with her relationship to the plants, and to practice the preservation of herbal traditions.

I’m so excited to share our conversation with you today!

What You'll Learn from This Episode

• [1:09] Student spotlight
• [2:36] Introduction to joAnna Sanchez
• [3:58] joAnna’s plant path
• [16:01] Medicinal benefits of lobelia
• [32:19] Lobelia’s emetic quality
• [33:33] Lobelia Acetract recipe
• [37:25] Formulating with lobelia
• [42:32] joAnna’s current projects
• [47:03] How herbs instill hope in joAnna
• [53:50] Herbal tidbit

Get Your Free Recipe!

Connect with joAnna:

• Phone at Botanica Herb School | (623)465-7359

Connect with Rosalee

• On Instagram | @rosaleedelaforet

• On Facebook | Herbs With Rosalee
• On YouTube | Herbs With Rosalee

• Website | herbswithrosalee.com


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