MIDTOWN FARM - Nicotiana obtusifolia | tobacco | tabaquito | ban wiwga

Common Names:  

English: tobacco

Spanish: tabaquito

Tohono O’odham: ban wiwga

Botanical Name: 

Nicotiana obtusifolia

Family:

Solanaceae

Distribution:

Arizona, Texas, Nevada, New Mexico, Southern California, and Utah. Grows abundantly in washes, ravines, canyons, and sandy slopes

(elevation: < 6,900 feet).

Flowering season:

March to June

Medicinal Uses:

Tobacco is used medicinally in a variety of ways. The primary way of use is through smoking.

Smoking the dried leaves of tobacco is used to treat headaches, colds, asthma, coughs, and other lung afflictions. The smoke can also be blown into the ear to alleviate earaches. Besides smoking tobacco, it can also be used topically.

It can be applied directly to the skin as a topical analgesic for relieving pain. The leaves, stems, flowers, and seeds can be used to prepare a tea and then applied to aching joints, hives, eczema, dandruff, and other skin irritations.  It can also be added to a warm water bath to sooth body soreness and aches.

References Cited:

Slattery, John. Southwest Medicinal Plants: Identify, Harvest, and Use 112 Wild Plants for Health and Wellness. 2020. Print.

Kane, Charles W. Medicinal Plants of the American Southwest. 1st ed. United States]: Lincoln Town, 2011. Print.