| I was taking a red eye flight from LA to | | | | immediately swallowed the contents of |
| the East Coast and hoped to get some | | | | the two-ounce bottle. Within minutes he |
| sleep on the plane but soon noticed an | | | | vomited about a half cup of black |
| older gentleman a few seats away who was | | | | mucous. Instantly he could breathe again |
| coughing and gasping for air. An oxygen | | | | and the color returned to his face and |
| tank confirmed that he probably had a | | | | lips. I walked him back to his seat |
| chronic problem like emphysema or | | | | where, with tears in his eyes, he |
| bronchitis. | | | | thanked me for helping him feel better. |
| After 15 minutes of listening to him | | | | I gave him the empty bottle and |
| choke and gasp I realized I wouldn't be | | | | suggested that when he got home he could |
| able to get any rest if I didn't help | | | | stock up on it at his local health food |
| him. Since I always carry a bottle of | | | | store. Then he could take two or three |
| fenugreek and lobelia tincture with me, | | | | eyedroppers three or four times a day to |
| I approached him and introduced myself | | | | help him breathe more easily. |
| as a natural healing doctor. I explained | | | | After that, both of us were able to |
| how small doses of lobelia and fenugreek | | | | sleep all the way to the East Coast. |
| can dilate the bronchial tubes making it | | | | It isn't only smoking tobacco that |
| easier to breathe. In a stronger dose it | | | | causes emphysema and bronchitis; almost |
| can act as an expectorant and will help | | | | anything that we inhale that's toxic can |
| break up and get rid of the mucous that | | | | cause problems to develop in the lungs. |
| was making him cough so hard. At a | | | | Inhaling any burning thing including |
| really strong dose it can act as an | | | | native American tobacco or marijuana can |
| emetic and could actually cause the | | | | result in emphysema. Inhaling other |
| mucous to be vomited from the lungs. | | | | people's smoke can be deadly. Even |
| I proposed that he follow me to the | | | | inhaling hot air from fires can have |
| restroom where he could take the entire | | | | devastating effects. |
| two-ounce bottle in one large dose. This | | | | But by far the most pernicious is the |
| would immediately cause him to vomit all | | | | widespread practice of smoking tobacco |
| the mucous from his lungs and then he | | | | because tobacco is so addictive that |
| might feel much better and be able to | | | | quitting is a real challenge even for |
| get some rest. He looked at me and said, | | | | strong-willed people. It's best to avoid |
| "What do I have to lose? I'm dying | | | | even being around people who have a |
| anyway. Lead the way." | | | | smoking habit. Second hand smoke can |
| We went back to the restroom where he | | | | kill you, too. |