* Please Note: This information is based partly on Traditional Medicine which uses natural materials to support health. This information has not been evaluated or approved by the FDA. These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). These products are intended to support general well being and are not intended to treat, diagnose, mitigate, prevent, or cure any condition or disease. If conditions persist, please seek advice from your medical doctor.
Description
Elecampane Root Inula helenium L.
Family: Asteraceae.
Other Names: Elfdock; aunée (French); Echter Alant (German); enula campana (Italian); enula campana (Spanish).
Description: A large, leafy perennial herb of up to 2.5 m in height, with erect stems bearing broad, irregularly toothed leaves and large, yellow flower heads. The large heads (up to 80 mm in diameter) and slender ligulate florets are quite distinct.
Origin: Asia Minor and southeastern Europe; naturalised in Europe, North America and eastern Asia; cultivated in China and eastern Europe.
Parts Used: Dried rhizomes and roots of two to three-year-old cultivated plants (elecampane - Helenii rhizoma; synon. Radix inulae).
Therapeutic Category: Expectorant.
Uses and Properties: Elecampane is mostly used as an expectorant for the treatment of coughs (including pertussis) and bronchial catarrh. It is a traditional bitter tonic, stomachic, carminative, cholagogue, diaphoretic and diuretic. The root (or isolated alantolactone) is used as an anthelmintic against several intestinal parasites and for infections of the urinary tract. Externally, extracts are applied as antiseptic to treat skin conditions.
Active Ingredients: The rhizomes and roots contain a mixture of sesquiterpene lactones often referred to as "helenin" or "elecampane camphor". These compounds also occur in the volatile oil (1-3%) (with alantolactone and some degradation products; mainly alantol and alantic acid). Also present are inulin (up to 44%), polyacetylenes, phytosterols and triterpenoids.
Pharmacological Effects: Experiments have shown antibiotic, diuretic, choleretic and secretolytic activities (probably due to the lactones - mainly alantolactone and isoalantolactone).
Notes:Helianthus tuberosus (also Asteraceae) is an important source of inulin.
Status: Traditional medicine; Pharm.
Preparation and Dosage: As an expectorant, 1 - 4 g of chopped material is taken as tea three or four times per day. Alantolactone is taken in doses of 300 mg for adults and 50 - 200 mg for children, daily for two five-day courses (with an interval of 10 days between courses). Also in use is the essential oil.
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Directions
Hot tea brewing method: Bring freshly drawn cold water to a rolling boil. Place 1 tea bag for each cup into the teapot. Pour the boiling water into the teapot. Cover and let steep for 3-7 minutes according to taste (the longer the steeping time the stronger the tea).
Iced tea brewing method (to make 1 liter/quart): Place 6 tea bags into a teapot or heat resistant pitcher. Pour 1 1/4 cups of freshly boiled water over the tea. Steep for 5 minutes. Quarter fill a serving pitcher with cold water. Pour the tea into your serving pitcher straining the bags. Add ice and top-up the pitcher with cold water. Garnish and sweeten to taste. [A rule of thumb when preparing fresh brewed iced tea is to double the strength of hot tea since it will be poured over ice and diluted with cold water].
Cautions
General Herb Caution: The free methylene group of alantolactone is highly reactive and can form covalent bonds with proteins and nucleic acids. The lactones in the herb may cause allergic reactions when applied to the skin.
Additional Information
ZooScape is proud to be the exclusive distributor of TerraVita teas, herbs and supplements in the United States, Canada and around the world. Please direct all wholesale and bulk inquiries to Simona Heather at 905-494-1785.
These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Products are intended to support general well being and are not intended to treat, diagnose, mitigate, prevent, or cure any condition or disease. If conditions persist, please seek advice from your medical doctor. The essence of the current American rule on Traditional Uses is, as stated by FTC, "Claims based on historical or traditional use should be substantiated by confirming scientific evidence, or should be presented in such a way that consumers understand that the sole basis for the claim is a history of use of the product for a particular purpose."
