medicinal herbs
Wild Tobacco
Nicotiana rustica

• Medicinal herbs
• Natural herbs
• Latin names
• Common names

Herb: Wild Tobacco

Latin name: Nicotiana rustica

Family: Solanaceae (Nightshade Family, Potato Family)

Medicinal use of Wild Tobacco:

All parts of the plant contain nicotine which is a strong narcotic. The leaves are antispasmodic, cathartic, emetic, narcotic and sedative. They are used externally as a poultice and a wash in the treatment of rheumatic swelling, skin diseases and scorpion stings.

Description of the plant:

Habitat of the herb:

The original habitat is obscure. Plants are naturalized in Eastern N. America where they grow in waste places, open areas etc.

Other uses of Wild Tobacco:

All parts of the plant contain nicotine, this has been extracted and used as an insecticide. The dried leaves can also be used, they remain effective for 6 months after drying. The leaves have also been dried and then chewed as a stimulant or made into snuff for sniffing, or smoked. This species is more potent than N. tabacum (the species normally cultivated for cigarettes).

Propagation of the herb:

Seed - surface sow in a warm greenhouse about 10 weeks before the last expected spring frosts. The seed usually germinates in 10 - 20 days at 20°C. Keep the soil moist and pot up as soon as the plants are big enough to handle, planting them out after the last expected frosts.

Cultivation of Wild Tobacco:

The original habitat is obscure. Plants are naturalized in Eastern N. America where they grow in waste places, open areas etc.

Known hazards of Nicotiana rustica:

All parts of the plant are poisonous.

Plant information taken from the Plants For A Future.