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Elecampane | | |
The root of the tall, striking elecampane plant has been used both
medicinally and as a `condiment' for centuries. In ancient Greek and Roman
times, elecampane was used for asthma, sciatica, and also, externally, as
a healing poultice on animals. Elecampane is still grown and cultivated
today, primarily in Holland, Switzerland, and Germany. Modern day research
supports the use of elecampane for disorders of the respiratory tract
based on its anti-bacterial, antitussive, and expectorant actions
exhibited in laboratory in vitro studies. Further studies have
demonstrated anti-parasitic, anthelmintic properties making elecampane
useful for gastrointestinal complaints.
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| Common Name | | | Elecampane
| | | Botanical Latin Name / Classification | | | Inula helenium
| | | Parts Used | | | Roots and rhizomes
| | | Other Names | | | Helenii Radix, (French) Aunée, (German) Alantwurzel, (Welsh)
Marchalan, Alant, Elfwort, Elf Dock, Velvet Dock, Scabwort, Yellow
Starwort, Wild Sunflower, Elecampagne, Horseheal, Horse Elder.
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| | | Description | | | Elecampane is a striking and handsome plant. The erect stem grows from 4
to 5 feet high, is very stout and deeply furrowed, and near the top,
branched. The whole plant is downy. It produces a radical rosette of
enormous, ovate, pointed leaves, from 1 to 1 1/2 feet long and 4 inches
broad in the middle velvety beneath, with toothed margins an borne on long
foot-stalks; in general appearance the leaves are not unlike those of
Mullein. Those on the stem become shorter andrelatively broader and are
stem-clasping.
The plant is in bloom from June to August. The
flowers are bright yellow, in very large, terminal heads, 3 to 4 inches in
diameter, on long stalks, resembling a double sunflower. The broad bracts
of the leafy involucre under the head are velvety. After the flowers have
fallen, these involucral scales spread horizontally, and the removal of
the fruit shows the beautifully regular arrangement of the little pits on
the receptacle, which form a pattern like the engine-turning of a watch.
The fruit is quadrangular and crowned by a ring of pale-reddish hairs -
the pappus.
The plant springs from a perennial rootstock, which is
large and succulent, spindleshaped and branching, brown and aromatic, with
large, fleshy roots.
Although elecampane is no longer grown to any
extent in England, it is still cultivated for medicinal use on the
Continent, mainly in Holland, Switzerland and Germany, most largely near
the German town of Colleda, not far from Leipzig.
It grows well in
moist, shady positions, in ordinary garden soil, though it flourishes best
in a good, loamy soil, the ground being damp, but fairly
well-drained.
It is easily cultivated. Seeds may be sown, either
when ripe, in cold frames, or in spring in the open. It is best
propagated, however, by off-sets, taken in the autumn from the old root,
with a bud or eye to each. These will take root very readily, and should
be planted in rows about a foot asunder, and 9 or 10 inches distant in the
rows. In the following spring, the ground should be kept clean from weeds,
and if slightly dug in autumn, it will greatly promote the growth of the
roots, which will be fit for use after two years' growth.
By
cutting the root into pieces about 2 inches long, covering with rich,
light, sandy soil and keeping in gentle heat during the winter, a good
stock of plants can also be obtained.
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| | | Traditional Internal Uses | | | Elecampane was known to the ancient writers of agriculture and natural
history. The Roman poets were acquainted with it, and mention Inula as
affording a root used both as a medicine and a condiment. Horace, in the
Eighth Satire, relates how Fundanius first taught the making of a delicate
sauce by boiling in it the bitter Inula, and how the Romans, after dining
too richly, pined for turnips and the appetizing Enulas
acidas:
'Quum rapula plenus Atque acidas mavult
inulas.'
Inula, the Latin classical name for the plant, is
considered to be a corruption of the Greek word Helenion, which in its
Latinized form, Helenium, is also now applied to the same species. There
are many fables about the origin of this name. Gerard tells us: 'It took
the name Helenium of Helena, wife of Menelaus, who had her hands full of
it when Paris stole her away into Phrygia.' Another legend states that it
sprang from her tears: another that Helen first used it against venomous
bites; a fourth, that it took the name from the island Helena, where the
best plants grew.
Vegetius Renatus about the beginning of the fifth
century, calls it Inula campana, and St. Isidore, in the beginning of the
seventh, names it Inula, adding 'quam Alam rustici vocant.' By the
mediaeval writers it was often written Enula. Elecampane is a corruption
of the ante-Linnaean name Enula campana, so called from its growing wild
in Campania.
The herb is of ancient medicinal repute, having been
described by Dioscorides and Pliny. An old Latin distich celebrates its
virtues: Enula campana reddit praecordia sana (Elecampane will the spirits
sustain). 'Julia Augustus,' said Pliny, 'let no day pass without eating
some of the roots of Enula, considered to help digestion and cause mirth.'
The monks equally esteemed it as a cordial. Pliny affirmed that the root
'being chewed fasting, doth fasten the teeth,' and Galen that 'It is good
for passions of the hucklebone called sciatica.'
Dioscorides, in
speaking of Castus root, related that it is often mixed with that of
Elecampane, from Kommagene (N.W. Syria) (Castus, derived from Aplotaxis
auriculata (D.C.), is remarkably similar to Elecampane, both in external
appearance and structure. It is an important spice, incense and medicine
in the East.)
Elecampane is frequently mentioned in the Anglo-Saxon
writings on medicine current in England prior to the Norman Conquest; it
is also the 'Marchalan' of the Welsh physicians of the thirteenth century,
and was generally known during the Middle Ages.
It was formally
cultivated in all private herb-gardens, as a culinary and medicinal plant,
and it is still to be found in old cottage gardens. Not only was its root
much employed as a medicine, but it was also candied and eaten as a
sweetmeat. Dr. Fernie tells us, in Herbal Simples:
'Some
fifty years ago, the candy was sold commonly in London as flat, round
cakes being composed largely of sugar and coloured with cochineal. A piece
was eaten each night and morning for asthmatical complaints, whilst it was
customary when travelling by a river, to suck a bit of the root against
poisonous exalations and bad air. The candy may still be had from our
confectioners, but now containing no more of the plant elecampane than
there is of barley in barley sugar.'
In Denmark, elecampane is
sometimes called elf-doc. Here one sometimes comes across the name
elf-dock locally, also elfwort.
Elecampane was employed by the
ancients in certain diseases of women, also in phthisis, in dropsy and in
skin affections. Its name 'scabwort' arose from the fact that a decoction
of it is said to cure sheep affected with the scab, and the name
'horse-heal' was given it from its reputed virtues in curing the cutaneous
diseases of horses.
In herbal medicine, elecampane is chiefly used
for coughs, consumption and other pulmonary complaints, being a favorite
domestic remedy for bronchitis. It has been employed for many years with
good results in chest affections, for which it is a valuable medicine as
it is in all chronic diseases of the lungs asthma and bronchitis. It gives
relief to the respiratory difficulties and assists expectoration. Its
principal employment as a separate remedy is in acute catarrhal
affections, and in dyspepsia attended with relaxation and debility, given
in small, warm and frequently repeated doses. Elecampane is, however,
seldom given alone, but most frequently preferred in combination with
other medicines of a similar nature. It is best given in the form of
decoction, the dose being a small teaspoonful, three times a
day.
The root of elecampane used not only to be candied and eaten
as a sweetmeat, but lozenges were made of it. It has been employed in
whooping-cough. It is sometimes employed in the form of a confection for
piles, 1 oz of powdered root being mixed with 2 oz of honey.
In the
United States, elecampane has also been highly recommended, both for
external use and internal administration in diseases of the skin, an old
use of the root that has maintained its reputation for
efficacy.
Externally applied, it is somewhat rubefacient, and has
been employed as an embrocation in the treatment of sciatica, facial and
other neuralgia.
Of late years, modern scientific research has
proved that the claims of elecampane to be a valuable remedy in pulmonary
diseases has a solid basis. One authority, Korab, showed in 1885 that the
active, bitter principle, Helenin, is such a powerful antiseptic and
bactericide, that a few drops of a solution of 1 part in 10,000
immediately kills the ordinary bacterial organisms, being peculiarly
destructive to the Tubercle bacillus. He gave it successfully in
tubercular and catarrhal diarrhoeas, and praised it also as an antiseptic
in surgery. In Spain it has been made use of as a surgical dressing.
Obiol, in 1886, stated it to be an efficient local remedy in the treatment
of diphtheria, the false membrane being painted with a solution of Helenin
in Oil of Almond.
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| | | Indications | | | Primary Indications: Respiratory Problems, Lung Health, Whooping Cough, Bronchitis, Asthma, Emphysema, Tuberculosis (TB)
Secondary Indications: Cardiovascular Disorders, Angina Pectoris (Chest Pain), Dyspepsia, Skin Disorders, Indigestion, Gastrointestinal Disorders, Worms, Ringworms, Tapeworms, Pinworms
Other Indications: Kidney Disorders, Gallbladder Disorders, Urinary Tract Infections and Inflammation, Sciatica, Neuralgia (Nerve Pain), Hemorrhoids, Asthenopia (Eyestrain), Gout, Menstruation Problems, Anemia (Iron Deficiency)
Primary Indications: Coughing, Catarrh
Secondary Indications: Appetite (Increased or Decreased)
Other Indications: Convulsions, Joint Pain
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| | | Actions | | | Anthelmintic, Anti-Inflammatory, Antibacterial, Antifungal, Antiseptic, Antitussive, Astringent, Diaphoretic, Expectorant, Hypoglycemic (Anti-Hyperglycemic), Hypotensive (Anti-Hypertensive), Cholagogue
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| | | Constituents / Nutrients | | | Carbohydrates: Inulin (up to 44%),
mucilage.
Terpenoids: Beta- and gamma-sitosterols,
stigmasterol and damaradienol (sterols), friedelin.
Volatile
Oils: 1-4%. Mainly contains sesquiterpene lactones including
alantolactone, isoalantolactone and dihydroalantolactone (eudesmanolides),
alantic acid and azulene.
Other Constituents: Resin.
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| | | Pharmacological Summary | | | The pharmacological actions documented for elecampane seem to be
attributable to the sesquiterpene lactone constituents, in particular
alantolactone and isoalantolactone. The demulcent action of mucilage and
reported in vivo antispasmodic activity of the volatile oil support the
traditional uses of this remedy in coughs.
Research has shown that
the volatile oil is active against the tubercle bacillus. The volatile oil
has a stimulating effect on the mucociliary escalator and the circulation,
while the saponins stimulate the bronchial structures by reflex from their
detergent irritant effect on the stomach wall. This results in an increase
in the active elimination of mucus from the lungs. The soothing mucilages
help to mitigate what might otherwise be fairly harsh effects.
Alantolactone and other related compounds have expectorant, secretolytic
and antitussive activity; and have demonstrated antibacterial and
antifungal actions too.
In addition, alantolactone has been
utilised as an anthelmintic. A number of interesting cardiovascular
activities have been documented for a related species, I. racemosa.
Whether the constituents responsible for these actions are also present in
elecampane is unclear. In view of the paucity of toxicity data for
elecampane, excessive or prolonged use should be avoided.
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| | | Scientific Research and Pharmacologicial Actions | | | In Vitro and Animal Studies
Elecampane infusion has
exhibited a pronounced sedative effect in mice. Alantolactone has been
reported to exhibit hypotensive, hyperglycaemic (large doses) and
hypoglycaemic (smaller doses) actions in animals. Antibacterial properties
have also been documented. Alantolactone and isoalantolactone have been
reported to exhibit high bactericidal and fungicidal properties in
vitro.
The volatile oil has been reported to exert a potent
smooth muscle relaxant effect in vitro on guinea-pig ileal and
tracheal muscle.
Various activities have been documented for Inula
racemosa: an extract lowered plasma insulin and glucose concentrations in
rats 75 minutes after oral administration,(2) counteracted
adrenaline-induced hyperglycaemia in rats,(2) exhibited negative inotropic
and chronotropic effects on the frog heart,(2) and provided a preventative
and curative action against experimentally induced myocardial infarction
in rats.(3) Pretreatment was found to be most
effective.(3)
Sesquiterpene lactones with antitumour activity have
been isolated from Helenium microcephalum.(4,5)
Clinical
Studies
Alantolactone has been used as an anthelmintic in the
treatment of roundworm, threadworm, hookworm and whipworm infection.
Inula racemosa has been reported to prevent ST-segment depression and
T-wave inversion in patients with proven ischaemic heart disease,(2) and
to have a beneficial effect on angina pectoris.(6)
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| | | Research | | | "Here Comes Flu Season - Protect Yourself The Wise Woman Way"
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| | | Precautions / Contraindications | | | None documented.
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| | | Interaction with Medications | | | None documented.
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| | | Possible Side Effects | | | None documented.
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| | | Dosage | | | Rhizome/Root: 1.5-4.0 g or by decoction three times
daily.
Dried Extract: Elecampane capsules are generally
available in strengths that range from 300 to 600 mg. Within herbal
blends, quantities of elecampane are significantly smaller. Typically, a
capsule strength of 400 to 500 mg is recommended to be taken 3 times
daily.
Liquid Extract: 1.5-4.0 mL (1 : 1 in 25% alcohol)
three times daily.
Alantolactone: 300 mg daily for two
courses of 5 days, with an interval of 10 days. Children, 50-200 mg daily.
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| | | Preparation | | | For traditional use, elecampane is typically recommended as a tea. Boiling
water is poured over 1/4 teaspoon (1 gram) of the ground root and rhizome,
left to steep for ten to fifteen minutes, then strained. One cup of this
preparation is taken three to four times daily. Some texts recommend 1/2
to 1 teaspoon (3-5 mL) of a tincture three times daily.
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| | | References | | | 1. Reiter M, Brandt W. Relaxant effects on tracheal and ileal smooth
muscles of the guinea pig. Arzneimittelforschung 1985; 35:
408-414.(PubMed)
2. Tripathi YB et al. Assessment of the adrenergic beta-blocking activity
of Inula racemosa. J Ethno pharmacol 1988; 23: 3-9.(PubMed)
3. Patel V et al. Effect of indigenous drug (puskarmula) on
experimentally induced myocardial infarction in rats. Act Nerv Super
(Praha) 1982; (Suppl 3): 387-394.(PubMed)
4. Sims D et al. Antitumor agents 37. The isolation and structural
elucidation of isohelenol, a new antileukemic sesquiterpene lactone, and
isohelenalin from Helenium microcephalum. J Nat Prod 1979; 42:
282-286.(PubMed)
5. Imakura Y et al. Antitumor agents XXXVI: Structural elucidation of
sesquiterpene lactones microhelenins-A, B, and C, microlenin acetate, and
plenolin from Helenium microcephalum. J Pharm Sci 1980; 69:
1044-1049.(PubMed)
6. Tripathi SN et al. Beneficial effect of Inula racemosa (pushkarmoola)
in angina pectoris: a preliminary report. Indian J Physiol Pharmacol 1984;
28: 73-75.(PubMed)
7. Stampf JL et al. The sensitising capacity of helenin and two of its
main constituents the sesquiterpene lactones alantolactone and
isoalantolactone: a comparison of epicutaneous and intradermal sensitising
methods in different strains of guinea pig. Contact Dermatitis 1982; 8:
16-24.(PubMed)
8. Woerdenbag HJ. In vitro cytotoxicity of sesquiterpene lactones from
Eupatorium cannabinum L. and semi-synthetic derivatives from
eupatoriopicrin. Phytother Res 1988; 2: 109-114.
Our thanks to
the following information resources: WholehealthMD.com, Botanical.com,
MedicinesComplete.com, Vitacost.com, American Botanical Council
(Herbalgram.org), and Purplesage.org.
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| | 3 total products | | | Elecampane (Read all about Elecampane.)
Botanical Latin Name: Inula helenium
Plant Part: Roots and rhizomes | |
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Elecampane - Health - 30 Day Paraway Cleanse Kit - 30 mL + 200/108 Capsules
Parasite Cleanse Based on Dr. Hulda Clark's Teachings.
62.91 US
More Info
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Elecampane - Health - Artemisia / Wormwood Combo - 440 mg
200 capsules
32.93 US
More Info
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Elecampane - Health - Artemisia / Wormwood Combo - 440 mg
100 capsules
17.56 US
More Info
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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.
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