Elecampane Plant Health Benefits

According to Greek mythology, the elecampane plant grew from the tears of Helen, wife to Menelaus, King of Sparta, and the cause of the Trojan War. Elecampane is one of the plants whose reputation has always been high. The most famous physicians and naturalists have praised its medicinal virtues: Theophrastus, Dioscorides, and Aristotle in Greece; Pliny the Elder in Rome; Albertus Magnus and Saint Hildegard in the Middle Ages; and Mattioli and Laguna during the Renaissance.

Andres de Laguna, a Spanish translator and commentator of the works of Dioscorides, wrote in the 16^th century: “After eating elecampane, the plant makes a person forget sadness and pain of the heart, preserves the beauty of the whole body, and awakens genital virtues.” What more can one ask of a plant?

Nowadays, the elecampane plant keeps its prestige, not based on myths but ongoing scientific research. Its antibiotic properties have recently been proven: elecampane is effective in vitro against the Koch bacillus, which causes tuberculosis.

Healing Properties and Indications

The whole plant, especially its root, contains an essence formed by a mixture of sesquiterpene lactones and elenine (also known as elecampane camphor). This essence has expectorant, antitussive, antibiotic, choleretic, and cholagogue properties. The plant also contains sucrose and inulin (a sugar), to which it owes its diuretic properties in internal applications and its vulnerary and parasite-killer properties when externally applied on the skin. These are its most critical applications.

1. Respiratory afflictions: In all forms of bronchitis and bronchial catarrh, elecampane eases the expectoration and calms the cough. Moreover, it has an antimicrobial action on the germs infecting the bronchial mucous membrane. It helps treat bronchitis with a dry cough frequently suffered after influenza. In pulmonary tuberculosis, the plant eases coughing and stimulates the whole body, thus a good complement for the anti-tubercular treatment.
2. Allergic asthma: The plant also has antispasmodic and antiallergic properties; thus, its use is especially recommended for asthmatic bronchitis and bronchi asthma caused by allergies and other allergic reactions.
3. Digestive disorders: Its choleretic (increase liver bile production) and cholagogue (stimulate the emptying of the gall bladder) properties invigorate digestion and favor liver and gall bladder functions. It also has an appetizer effect. Elecampane is helpful for gastritis and dyspepsia (lousy digestion).
4. Skin afflictions: Because of its vulnerary and parasiticidal properties, it is successfully applied externally to treat scabies, pediculosis (an infestation of lice), eczema, skin pruritus (itching), and various rashes.

Elecampane plant tea is a widely used remedy to quiet coughing, tone the stomach, and stimulate digestion. It is helpful for all respiratory ailments, such as urinary and respiratory tract inflammation and bronchitis. Combine with comfrey root, licorice, white pine bark, and wild cherry bark for chronic lung conditions. Elecampane oil is an excellent treatment for whooping cough, chronic bronchitis, chronic diarrhea, and respiratory and intestinal catarrh.

The medicinal herb promotes expectoration and is suitable for poor assimilation, weak digestion, and whooping cough. A decoction in one-teaspoon dosages can increase digestive power and counteract stomach poisons. One ounce of the root is used to make the decoction, simmered in one pint of water for one hour, and then used in doses of two teaspoons as needed.

The powdered root can be taken in capsules (one capsule) or ½ teaspoons of the tincture for each dose, three times a day. The tincture or decoction can also expel parasitic worms. When used with echinacea, it is an excellent remedy for tuberculosis. Elecampane is an effective wash or fomentation for skin diseases, itches, and scabies.

Elecampane Plant Scientific Facts

1. Other names: Elfdock, elfwort, horse-elder, horseheal, scabwort.
2. French: Aunee.
3. Spanish: Helenio.
4. Environment: Native to central Asia, it has spread throughout Europe and America. It grows in humid soils and meadows, most frequently near previously cultivated land.
5. Description: This is a vibrant plant of the Compositae family, growing up to two meters high. It has a thick, straight stem, large, finely toothed leaves, and yellow flower heads surrounded by many bractea.
6. Parts of the plant used medicinally: The root.

How to use Elecampane

1. Decoction
2. Powder or dry extract
3. Essence: The usual dose is from two to four drops three times a day.
4. Cotton compresses soaked in the decoction are used internally. They are applied thrice daily for 15 minutes to the affected skin area.

Infusion: Steep for fifteen to thirty minutes and take one to two cups daily, hot or cold. Decoction: Simmer for fifteen to thirty minutes and take one tablespoon as needed or one to two cups daily. Tincture: Take thirty to sixty drops (1/2 to one teaspoon) one to two times daily. Fluid Extract: Take ½ to one teaspoon one to two times daily. Powder: Take three to ten #0 capsules (20 to 60 grains) once or twice daily.

DISCLAIMER: All content on this website is presented solely for educational and informational objectives. Do not rely on the information provided as a replacement for advice, diagnosis, or treatment from a qualified medical expert. If you are pregnant, nursing, or have any preexisting medical concerns, talk to your doctor before using any herbal or natural medicines.

REFERENCES

1. George D. Pamplona-Roger, M.D. “Encyclopedia of Medicinal Plants.” George D. Pamplona-Roger, M.D. Encyclopedia of Medicinal Plants. Ed. Francesc X. Gelabert. Vols. 1 San Fernando de Henares: Editorial Safeliz, 2000. 313,314. Print.
2. Vance Ferrell Harold M. Cherne, M.D. The Natural Remedies Encyclopedia [Book]. – Altamont, TN: Harvestime Books, 2010. – Vol. Seventh Edition: 7: pp. 142, 143.
3. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7583366/
4. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5486829/