Tree tobacco is a perennial shrub that is native to Argentina, but is now grown around the world. The leaves of tree tobacco are poisonous because they contain anabasine, which is a toxic alkaloid.
Tree tobacco is used topically to treat the following:
- Fever
- Boils
- Headaches
- Sore throat
- Pain
- Wounds
Tree tobacco is also used topically as an insecticide.
Also known as: Blåtobak, Blaugrüner Tabak, Gandul, Glaucous Leaf Tobacco, Tabaco Moro, Tabaco Moruno, Tabaco Negro, Tobacco Bush, Wild Tobacco, Wildetabak
Diseases and Conditions
There is insufficient information on the effectiveness of tree tobacco on the following:
- Fever
- Boils
- Headaches
- Sore throat
- Pain
- Wounds
- As an insecticide
Safety
Tree tobacco is likely unsafe for adults, children, pregnant, and breastfeeding women when used orally because of its anabasine content, which is toxic.
Symptoms of poisoning include the following:
- Seizures
- Respiratory compromise
- Hypertension
- Severe muscle weakness
- Bulbar palsy
- Asytole
- Spasms
- Vomiting
- Death
There is insufficient information on the safety of tree tobacco when used topically.
Medication Interactions
There are no known medication interactions for tree tobacco.
Supplement and Food Interactions
There are no known supplement, herb, or food interactions for tree tobacco.
Dosage
There is insufficient reliable evidence available to determine a dosage for tree tobacco.
Foods
There is insufficient evidence to determine if tree tobacco can be found in foods.
References
- https://naturalmedicines.therapeuticresearch.com/references.aspx?productid=1519
- http://naturaldatabase.therapeuticresearch.com/nd/Search.aspx?cs=&s=ND&pt=100&id=1519&fs=ND&searchid=61656410
