Nicotiana tabacum L

Occurrence

This species is now cultivated all over the world.

Historical background

Indigenous tribes use tobacco for many curative and spiritual rituals. Tobacco is seen as a sacred curative plant by many indigenous tribes throughout the Americas, as an intermediary between the physical and other non-physical worlds, to establish connection with unseen forces and the spirits. This plant also is said to provide safety, power, purification and healing. It is originally from the Andes region and later expanded with European settlement throughout the world.

Medicinal uses

A decoction of the leaves is rubbed over sprains and bruises. Fresh leaves are crushed poulticed over boils and infected wounds. The crushed leaves mixed with palm oil are rubbed into the hair to prevent baldness. Tobacco juice is taken therapeutically for indisposition, chills and snake bites. A tobacco sniff may be employed medicinally for a variety of illnesses, particularly to treat pulmonary ailments.

"Tobacco, Nicotiana tabacum - family Solanaceae at the Royal Botanical Garden, Sydney, Australia." by Derek Keats is marked with CC BY 2.0.