Elecampane

Latin name: Inula helenium

Family: Asteraceae (Aster family)

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DESCRIPTIVE CHARACTERISTICS 

Part of the Plant Used

Root and rhizome – harvest in Autumn, wash and chop into small pieces before drying

CONSTITUENTS

• Inulin 40% (immunostimulating – stimulates expectoration)
• Sesquiterpene lactones
• Triterpenoid saponins (expectorant)
• Volatile oil – helenin (Anthelmintic), loosens phlegm & debris, also antiseptic
• Polyacetylenes (antibacterial)
• Mucilage
• Alantoin  – also high in Comfrey, heals damaged tissues rapidly & safely. Also demulcent which heals the lung lining (mucus membranes)

Phenolic acids, terpenes, flavonoids, inulin.

Energetics:  slightly warming, drying, stimulating, bitter.

THERAPEUTIC ACTIONS

Primary:

• Expectorant (stimulating) /Mucociliary escalator
• Antibacterial
• Bronchospasmolytic/ Relaxant to bronchial musculature (ess oils)
• Mucolytic
• Pulmonary tonic /trophorestorative

Secondary:

• Diaphoretic
• Antiinflammatory
• Digestive tonic (bitter)
• Anthelmintic

Produces a LARGER LUNG CAPACITY —- This INCREASES AVAILABLE OXYGEN. This can lead to the body better dealing with infection due to efficient oxygenation.

• Diaphoretic
• Anti-inflammatory
• Digestive tonic (bitter)
• Anthelmintic
• Bronchial or tracheal catarrh
• Bronchitis (acute)
• Emphysema (chronic)
• Wet cough
• Wet Asthma
• Chronic cough with lower appetite
• Congestive LRH complaints.
• Bacteria LRT infections
• Convalescence – where there is a need for better breathing efficiency.
• Excellent tonic herb.

Antiseptic, expectorant, diaphoretic, bitter tonic, carminative, anti-parasitic, anti-inflammatory, immunomodulating, diuretic, alterative, emmenagogue, tonify to the lungs and digestive system, cholagogue, choleretic.

This herb is great for chronic conditions especially of the digestive and respiratory tracts, with extra concentration on viral or bacterial infection of the lungs or intestines. It’s great for a persistent cough with mucus. Elecampane is strengthening and cleansing where there is an irritable cough especially in the elderly or disabled. It’s great for bronchitis, tuberculosis, silicosis, moist asthma and emphysematous conditions. Elecampane may offer relief of gastroesophageal reflux and gastrointestinal ulcers. This herb supports healthy bacteria levels in the gut. It excels when used for hard to treat lung infections especially when antibiotics are not effective. Topical applications may aid in the relief of rheumatoid arthritis and atopic dermatitis.

HERB-DRUG INTERACTIONS

Very large doses may cause vomiting, diarrhea, gastric spasm and symptoms of paralysis. Avoid if allergic to herb or experience hypersensitivity on contact. It is contraindicated during pregnancy. Use caution in patients with blood pressure altering agents, anti-cancer agents, heart agents, laxatives, muscle relaxants. May consider avoiding herb in patients with allergies to dandelion, goldenrod, ragweed, sunflower, and daisies. May alter blood sugar levels. Herb may increase drowsiness when used with other drugs such as benzodiazepines, lorazepam or diazepam, barbiturates or phenobarbital, narcotics, caffeine, antidepressants, alcohol. Use caution while driving or operating machinery. 

Dorothy Hall says care should be taken with giving Inula to Asthmatics — due to the herb’s ability to loosen too much wet mucus and waste matter in the lungs – which may AGGRAVATE & PROVOKE an attack.

FORMULARY

Dosage

Three hundred mgs every day for 5 days, followed by a 10-day respite and then another 5 day course. Other options include 1/4 teaspoon of powdered root in a cup of hot water up to 3 times a day, 1/4 to 1 teaspoon of a liquid root extract, or 1/2 teaspoon of fresh roots. If made into a tea, be sure to have some honey, licorice, lemon, or sugar on hand as the herb is quite bitter.

Secondary sources suggest 1.5-4 grams of root in capsule form or as a decoction 3 times daily or 15 to 25 drops of tincture root daily.

• DECOCTION: Use for bronchitis, asthma, Upper respiratory catarrh or to ease HAYFEVER Sx. Take regularly for long-standing respiratory complaints. Also acts as digestive/liver tonic/stimulant
• WASH: Decoction or diluted tincture for eczema, rashes and varicose ulcers
• SYRUP: Made from decoction – take for coughs

Combinations: white horehound, mullein, pleurisy root, liquorice. For lower breathing mechanism — garlic & echinacea (e.g. threatened pneumonia, bronchitis)

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