What is Elecampane?
A hardy old-world herb of the Aster family native to Eurasia and later naturalized in Great Britain, Asia and America. The plant has distinctive and showy yellow flowers that have many rays and a very thick root. It was originally used to treat horses, and hence its nick name ‘horse heal’. The root is mucilaginous and has a bitter taste. Elecampane is usually propagated by root cuttings. They need good exposure to the sun and a well draining soil. The roots of the plant should not be harvested before 2 years of growth.
Elecampane is obtained from the dried cut root and rhizomes of lnula helenium. Extracts generally contain a volatile oil whose chief components are alantolactone; isoalantolactone; 11,13-dihydroisoalantolactone; 11, 13-dihydroalanlantolactone; and other sesquiterpen-lactones. Traditionally, elecampane has been used to treat coughs, particularly those associated with bronchitis, asthma, and whooping cough. The herb has also been used to treat poor digestion and general complaints of the intestinal tract. Alantolactone can be an irritant to the intestinal tract and along with other sesquiterpene lactones in elecampane may cause localized irritation in the mouth and intestinal tract. Amounts several times larger than those stated above may cause vomiting, diarrhoea, spasms, and signs of paralysis. If these symptoms occur, people should contact their local poison control center. Pregnant or nursing women should not use elecampane. These compounds may exhibit variable antiseptic, antibacter
Elecampane is plant in the aster family which is native to Central Asia. It has been used as a traditional herbal remedy by many cultures, including the Ancient Greeks and Romans, and it is available as a dietary supplement in some regions of the world. Conclusive studies on the effects of elecampane have not been conducted; some people believe that the plant is highly useful, while others dismiss it as a worthless herbal remedy. The plant is not generally harmful, so supplementing other treatments with elecampane should not cause damage, although it might not help, either. The botanical name of this plant is Inula helenium. There is some dispute over how the plant got the common name of “elecampane.” The word could be related to the roots “Helen” for Helen of Troy and campana for field, leading some people to suggest that the plant is named for the tears of Helen of Troy. Others believe that “Helenium” is a place name, and that the finest examples of the plant may have been cultivated
