Lobelia (Indian Tobacco) as an Antiviral and Antidote

Wednesday, 03/04/26 at 12:38
Anno.Domini.144K

March 4, 2026

Three months ago, I walked in my garden and, looking at some of my raised beds, wondered what to plant in them this spring. Suddenly, the Holy Spirit downloaded the word, “LOBELIA”. I knew of the plant, also known as “Indian tobacco”, because of its blue-purple flowers and its use in herbal medicine for lung conditions and for quitting smoking. When I asked the Holy Spirit to tell me more about Lobelia inflata and why I should grow it, he led me to the following information.

Lobelia inflata contains a molecule called LOBELINE. What is so special about this molecule? Lobeline docks easily—with high binding affinity—into the nicotinic acetylcholine receptors of every human cell. What is so important about this property of lobeline? Lobeline helps to keep viruses and venom peptides—natural and manmade—from docking into the cell’s nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (Studies report that ACE2 receptors serve as an entrance for the access of coronaviruses like HoV-NL63, SARS-CoV, SARS-CoV-2 into human cells). If these receptors have either nicotine or lobeline already docked in them, the virus or venom can’t dock and do its damage to a cell. In addition, the viruses and venom peptides have enough affinity for lobeline that this molecule can pull them off when docked to a human cell and capture them. Interestingly, the binding affinity of Ivermectin for the nicotinic acetylcholine receptors is very close to that of nicotine, and that is why it is so helpful as an antiviral. But the binding affinity of lobeline for the nicotinic acetylcholine receptors is even stronger than that of Ivermectin. In fact, lobeline is only second to nicotine itself regarding binding affinity. Ivermectin comes third. In Traditional Chinese Medicine, lobeline is found in Lobelia chinesis, known as Ban Bian Lian.

Recently, thanks to the courageous research of Dr. Bryan Ardis, Dr. Edward Group, and many others across the world (including peoples who have practiced traditional medicine for centuries, if not millennia), nicotine and lobelia—in appropriate low doses—have been identified as antivirals to viruses and antidotes to venom peptides.

Thank you, dear Holy Spirit, for your guidance and comfort in the time of the plagues—the ones already here and the ones to come. Under your wings, we will find refuge! (Psalm 91)

Scripture:

Numbers 21:4-9 (NIV)

The Bronze Snake

4 They traveled from Mount Hor along the route to the Red Sea, to go around Edom. But the people grew impatient on the way; 5 they spoke against God and against Moses, and said, “Why have you brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? There is no bread! There is no water! And we detest this miserable food!”

6 Then the Lord sent venomous snakes among them; they bit the people and many Israelites died. 7 The people came to Moses and said, “We sinned when we spoke against the Lord and against you. Pray that the Lord will take the snakes away from us.” So Moses prayed for the people.

8 The Lord said to Moses, “Make a snake and put it up on a pole; anyone who is bitten can look at it and live.” 9 So Moses made a bronze snake and put it up on a pole. Then when anyone was bitten by a snake and looked at the bronze snake, they lived.

Psalm 91:3-6 (NIV)

3 Surely he will save you from the fowler’s snare and from the deadly pestilence.
4 He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart.
5 You will not fear the terror of night, nor the arrow that flies by day,
6 nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness, nor the plague that destroys at midday.

Mark 16:17-18 (NIV)

17 “And these signs will accompany those who believe: In my name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new tongues; 18 they will pick up snakes with their hands; and when they drink deadly poison, it will not hurt them at all; they will place their hands on sick people, and they will get well.”

Luke 10:19 (NIV)

19 “I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you.”

Acts 28:3-6 (NIV)

3 Paul gathered a pile of brushwood and, as he put it on the fire, a viper, driven out by the heat, fastened itself on his hand. 4 When the islanders saw the snake hanging from his hand, they said to each other, “This man must be a murderer; for though he escaped from the sea, the goddess Justice has not allowed him to live.” 5 But Paul shook the snake off into the fire and suffered no ill effects. 6 The people expected him to swell up or suddenly fall dead; but after waiting a long time and seeing nothing unusual happen to him, they changed their minds and said he was a god.