ELECAMPANE (Inula helenium COMPOSITAE)

<body topmargin=0 leftmargin=0 marginheight=0 marginwidth=0> <table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0><tr> <td valign="top" colspan=3 height=90 BGCOLOR="#996600" TEXT="#080000" background="04e785a3.gif"> <div> <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#FFFBF0" FACE="Times New Roman" ><I><IMG SRC="ccb4c550.png" border=0 width="76" height="85" ALIGN="RIGHT" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">The Complete Writings of</I></FONT><FONT SIZE="5" COLOR="#FFFBF0" FACE="Times New Roman" > Dr. John R. Christopher.</FONT><B>     |     </B><A HREF="index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Dr. John R. 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BORAGINACEAE)</A></div> <div> <A HREF="snh_mullein1ea.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="MULLEIN (Verbascum thapsus Verbasci fili">MULLEIN (Verbascum thapsus; Verbasci filia) SCROPHULARIACEAE)</A></div> <div> <A HREF="snh_chickweed.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="CHICKWEED (Stellaria media Alsine media ">CHICKWEED (Stellaria media; Alsine media; CARYOPHYLLACEAE)</A></div> <div> <A HREF="snh_marshmallow.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="MARSHMALLOW (Althaea officinalis MALVACE">MARSHMALLOW (Althaea officinalis; MALVACEAE)</A></div> <div> <A HREF="snh_slippery_elm.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="SLIPPERY ELM (Ulmus fulva ULMACEAE: URTI">SLIPPERY ELM (Ulmus fulva; ULMACEAE: URTICACEAE)</A></div> <div> <B><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700c800000000.png" HEIGHT="13" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">ELECAMPANE (Inula helenium COMPOSITAE)</B></div> <div> <A HREF="snh_horehound.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="HOREHOUND (Marrubium vulgare LABIATAE)">HOREHOUND (Marrubium vulgare; LABIATAE)</A></div> <div> <A HREF="snh_wild_cherry.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="WILD CHERRY (Prunus virginiana P. seroti">WILD CHERRY (Prunus virginiana; P. serotina; P. rubra; P. obova; Cerasus serotina; C. virginiana; DRUPACEAE or ROSACEAE)</A></div> <div> <A HREF="snh_licorice1fa.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="LICORICE (Glycyrrhiza glabra G. typica ">LICORICE (Glycyrrhiza glabra; G. typica - Spanish, Italian, Turkish, Alicante, and Tortosa varieties; G. glandulifera-Russian, variety; PAPILIONACEAE)</A></div> <div> <A HREF="snh_hollyhock.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="HOLLYHOCK (Althaea rosea MALVACEAE)">HOLLYHOCK (Althaea rosea; MALVACEAE)</A></div> <bR> </td> <td valign="top" height=366 width="100%" colspan=2 BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF" TEXT="#080000"> <div> <TABLE BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="2" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="102" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="BOX" RULES="ALL" ALIGN="RIGHT" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 20 ><NOBR><div> <head> <SCRIPT LANGUAGE="JavaScript">  </script> </head> <A HREF="javascript:myprint()" TARGET="TRLX_Middle" TITLE="javascript:myprint()">Print this Page</A></div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <div> <I><B>ELECAMPANE (Inula helenium COMPOSITAE)</B></I></div> <div> <I><B>Common names:</B></I></div> <div> Elecampane, scabwort, elf dock, yellow starwort, wild sunflower, horse heal, velvet dock, Aunee (Fr.), Alantwurzel (Ger.), enula campana, and helopia (Span.).</div> <div> <I><B>Identifying characteristics:</B></I></div> <div> Stem                Thick, solid, striate (furrowed), villous (pubescent, hairy, downy) above, 2-6 feet high, usually unbranched, and the plant similar in appearance to the horseradish.</div> <div> Leaves             Large, 10-18 inches long, 4-8 inches broad, ovate (broadly oblong and pointed), alternate, dark green above, serrate (saw-edged), rough above, pubescent woolly beneath, fleshy midrib, and long petioled (some with heart-shaped, clasping bases).</div> <div> Flowers           Large, usually solitary, 2-4 inches across, brilliantly golden-yellow, on long stout peduncles (stems).</div> <div> Root                Rhizome with roots, similar in color and appearance to belladonna, grayish-brown, hard, up to 3 inches long, 1 3/5 inches thick, longitudinally wrinkled (horny) with occasional buds or stem-scars, short fracture, internally light brown, many oleoresin canals, fibrinous near the cambium zone, roots are cylindrical, tapering, curved, curled, up to 5 1/5 inches long, 3/5 inch thick, radiant transverse structure and numerous dark cells. Powder: light brown.</div> <div> Taste               Acrid, bitter, pungent.</div> <div> Odor               Aromatic and camphoraceous.</div> <div> <I><B>Part used:</B></I></div> <div> Rhizome and roots.</div> <div> <I><B>Therapeutic action:</B></I></div> <div> Expectorant, carminative, diaphoretic, tonic, diuretic, alterative, antiseptic, astringent, gently stimulant, stomachic, emmenagogue, antispasmodic, antiscorbutic, anti asthmatic, vulnerary, anti-venomous, and emetic (large doses.)</div> <div> Elecampane's properties are beneficial to all pulmonary and catarrhal affections. Its sodium phosphate cleans the liver and digestive organs, the potassium chloride dissolves the fibrinous exudations and mucoid matter, and its calcium chlorine supports, feeds, and tones the heart muscles. It is a stimulant, a relaxant, and a tonic to the mucous membrane (a warming, strengthening, cleansing and toning agent to the gastric, alvine and pulmonary membranes). Because of its powerful healing action and efficient expectoration of pulmonary mucus, some herbalists have considered this agent specifically for consumption and pulmonary disorders. It promptly clears up old chronic diseases of the lungs and chest. This herb is the richest source of insulin (a carbohydrate).</div> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> Page 341</div> <div> <I><B>Medicinal uses:</B></I></div> <div> Cough, asthma, bronchitis, all pulmonary complaints, dyspepsia, acute catarrhal affection, tuberculosis, snake bites, dyspnea or shortness of breath, wheezing, cystitis, skin diseases, inflammations (all forms), putrid sores and cankers, rash (skin and face), tooth decay, whooping cough, dropsy, diphtheria, kidney and bladder stones, retention of urine, delayed menstruation, (amenorrhea), phthisis, vesical catarrh, sluggish liver, kidney problems, bowel problems, ulcers, malnutrition, rickets, glandular insufficiency, nervous debility. and muscular weakness.</div> <div> <I><B>Preparation:</B></I></div> <div> Decoction, fluid extract, powder and tincture.</div> <div> <I><B>Dosage:</B></I></div> <div> Decoction        1 tablespoonful to 2 fluid ounces between meals in an equal amount of water 3-4 times daily.</div> <div> Fluid extract     1/2-l teaspoonful (30-60 drops).</div> <div> Powder            1/2-l teaspoon.</div> <div> Tincture           1/2- l teaspoonful (fluid teaspoon).</div> <div> <I><B>Administration:</B></I></div> <div> Elecampane is seldom given alone, but usually in a compound with medicines of a similar nature.</div> <div> <I><B>Oral</B></I></div> <div> <I>Chronic lung troubles:</I></div> <div> Use the decoction up to 1 teacupful made fresh each day, omitting the glycerine. To increase the tonic quality and to obtain a slight laxative action, add 1 teaspoonful of mandrake (Podophyllum peltatum) to the dosage, at the time of administration.</div> <div> <I>Diaphoretic:</I></div> <div> Make the decoction without glycerine, and while the patient is well-covered in bed, administer as hot as can be taken in 1/2 teacupful doses until a free perspiration is obtained.</div> <div> <I>Dyspepsia:</I></div> <div> Give in small and repeated doses.</div> <div> <I>Diphtheria:</I></div> <div> Take the "<A HREF="#general_body_nutritive_flesh_builder" TITLE="ELECAMPANE (Inula helenium COMPOSITAE)">General body nutritive</A>" formula internally, and apply externally as a fomentation.</div> <div> <I>Malnutrition, rickets, glandular insufficiency, nervous disability, weakly children, poor digestive powers, muscular weakness, and convalescence:</I></div> <div> Give the "<A HREF="#general_body_nutritive_flesh_builder" TITLE="ELECAMPANE (Inula helenium COMPOSITAE)">General body nutritive</A>" formula.</div> <div> <I>Tooth decay:</I></div> <div> Chew the root (preserves the teeth from putrefaction).</div> <div> <I>Tuberculosis:</I></div> <div> Use the decoction alone, or combine with black Simpson (Echinacea). The "<A HREF="#general_body_nutritive_flesh_builder" TITLE="ELECAMPANE (Inula helenium COMPOSITAE)">General body nutritive</A>" formula can also be used.</div> <div> <I>Whooping cough:</I></div> <div> Give the decoction of the root alone, sweetened with honey or give the "<A HREF="#general_body_nutritive_flesh_builder" TITLE="ELECAMPANE (Inula helenium COMPOSITAE)">General body nutritive</A>" formula.</div> <div> <I><B>Skin</B></I></div> <div> <I>Putrid sores, cankers, and rash:</I></div> <div> Apply the agent externally as a fomentation poultice, ointment, or wash.</div> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> Page 342</div> <div> <I><B>Formulas:</B></I></div> <div> <I><B>Decoction of elecampane root:</B></I></div> <div> 2 ounces     Elecampane root, cut or powder (Inula helenium)</div> <div> 1 quart        D-cell or distilled water</div> <div> 4 ounces     Glycerine</div> <div> <I>Preparation:</I></div> <div> Soak the root for 2 hours in the water and bring to a boil. Simmer slowly while closely covered for 30 minutes, strain and return the liquor to the clean vessel. Reduce to 3/4 pint, add the glycerine while hot and strain. Let cool, bottle, and keep in a cool place.</div> <div> <I>Dosage:</I></div> <div> 1 tablespoonful in 2 fluid ounces of water, 3-4 times daily.</div> <div> <I>Note:  Honey is a healing and soothing balm for all children (containing the medicinal nectar of flowers). It should be given freely where there is a tendency of catarrh.</I></div> <div> <I><B> <A NAME="general_body_nutritive_flesh_builder"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A></B></I><I><B>General body nutritive, flesh builder, tuberculosis, whooping cough, etc.:</B></I></div> <div> 2 ounces     Elecampane root, cut (Inula helenium)</div> <div> 1 pint          Sweet almond oil (Amygdalus dulcis, A. communis)</div> <div> 1 quart       Comfrey mucilage (Symphytum officinalis)</div> <div> <I>Preparation:</I></div> <div> Place the root into the sweet almond oil, and put in a warm place (but do not boil--a double boiler with hot water is excellent). Let the mixture stand closely covered for 4 hours, stirring thoroughly every hour. Next boil the water underneath for 10 minutes, then filter the oil through a fine cotton cloth and let drip until cool enough to handle. Squeeze the oil from the cloth and let stand until cool. Add the comfrey mucilage and shake together well until the oil is uniformly suspended in the mucilage.</div> <div> <I>Dosage:</I></div> <div> 1 tablespoonful to 2 fluid ounces (according to the patient's ability to digest), sweetened with honey. Shake the bottle well immediately before pouring each dosage.</div> <div> <I>Note:  This formula is a substitute for cod liver oil. Dr. Shook asserts that it is far more nourishing, emollient and healing than cod liver oil or any other food extract or concentrate ever discovered or compounded by man. It is stomachic, antiseptic and germicidal.</I></div> <div> <I><B>Asthma:</B></I></div> <div> 1/2 ounce           Elecampane (Inula helenium)</div> <div> 1/2 ounce           Horehound (Marrubium vulgare)</div> <div> 1/2 ounce           Hyssop (Hyssopus officinalis)</div> <div> 1/2 ounce           Vervain (Verbena officinalis, V. hastata)</div> <div> 1/2 ounce           Wild cherry (Prunus virginiana; P. serotina)</div> <div> 1/2 ounce           Skunk cabbage root (Symplocarpus foetidus)</div> <div> 1/4 ounce           Skunk cabbage root (Symplocarpus foetidus)</div> <div> 1/2 tsp               Cayenne (Capsicum minimum; C. fastigiatum)</div> <div> 2 fluid ounces     Acid Tincture of lobelia (Lobelia inflata) or antispasmodic tincture</div> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> Page 343</div> <div> <I>Preparation:</I></div> <div> Simmer the first 6 herbs for 20 minutes in 3 parts of water. Strain while hot over the cayenne; when cool, add the lobelia and stir well.</div> <div> <I>Dosage:</I></div> <div> 2 fluid ounces (3-4 tablespoonfuls) every 3-4 hours.</div> <div> <I>Administration:</I></div> <div> If the bowels need attention, you may clear them with a catnip enema, or regulate them with the lower bowel tonic (also 1/4 ounce of bayberry bark (Berberis vulgaris) added to the formula will act as a cathartic).</div> <div> <I><B>Asthma:</B></I></div> <div> 1/2 ounce     Elecampane root (Inula helenium)</div> <div> 1/2 ounce     Comfrey root (Symphytum officinale)</div> <div> 1/2 ounce     Horehound (Marrubium vulgare)</div> <div> 1/2 ounce     Black cohosh (Cimicifuga racemosa)</div> <div> 1/2 ounce     Spikenard (Aralia racemosa)</div> <div> 1/2 ounce     Skunk cabbage (Symplocarpus foetidus)</div> <div> <I>Preparation:</I></div> <div> Pour 3 pints of boiling hot water over the herbs and steep for 1 hour; strain and sweeten with honey.</div> <div> <I>Dosage:</I></div> <div> 2 fluid ounces every 3-4 hours.</div> <div> <I><B>Bronchitis:</B></I></div> <div> 1 part          Elecampane root (Inula helenium)</div> <div> 1 part          Comfrey root (Symphytum officinale)</div> <div> 1 part          Horehound (Marrubium vulgare)</div> <div> 1 part          Wild cherry bark (Prunus virginiana; P. serotina)</div> <div> 1 part          Spikenard (Aralia racemosa)</div> <div> <I>Preparation:</I></div> <div> Steep a heaping teaspoonful of the mixture for 30 minutes in a cup of hot water and sweeten with honey.</div> <div> <I>Dosage:</I></div> <div> 1 cupful 2-3 times daily.</div> <div> <I>Administration:</I></div> <div> Strain or simply drink the clear liquor.</div> <div> <I>Coughs, asthma, bronchitis, etc.:</I></div> <div> 1 ounce        Elecampane root, powdered, (Inula helenium)</div> <div> 1 ounce        Skunk cabbage, powder (Symplocarpus foetidus)</div> <div> 1 ounce        Aniseed, powdered (Pimpinella anisum)</div> <div> 1 ounce        Pleurisy root, powdered (Asclepias tuberosa)</div> <div> 1/2 ounce     Licorice root, powdered (Glycyrrhiza glabra)</div> <div> 1/4 ounce     Lobelia herb, powdered (Lobelia inflata)</div> <div> 1/2 ounce     Ginger, powder (Zingiber officinale)</div> <div> 1/4 ounce     Cayenne, powder (Capsicum minimum; fastigiatum)</div> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> Page 344</div> <div> <I>Preparation:</I></div> <div> Mix the herb powders (all should be fine) well together, use 1 teaspoonful to each cup of hot water (1 ounce to a pint of water) and sweeten with honey or molasses.</div> <div> <I>Dosage:</I></div> <div> 2 fluid ounces to 1/2 cupful, 3-4 times daily.</div> <div> <I><B>Cough syrup:</B></I></div> <div> 2 ounces     Elecampane root (Inula helenium)</div> <div> 4 ounces     Spikenard root (Aralia racemosa)</div> <div> 4 ounces     Marshmallow root (Althaea officinalis)</div> <div> 2 ounces     Blood root (Sanguinaria canadensis)</div> <div> 2 ounces     Coltsfoot (Tussilago farfara)</div> <div> 2 ounces     Boneset (Eupatorium perfoliatum)</div> <div> 1 ounce      White poplar or quaking aspen bark (Populus tremuloides)</div> <div> 2 ounces     Slippery elm bark (Ulmus fulva)</div> <div> 1/2 ounce    Senega (Polygala senega)</div> <div> 1/2 ounce    Lobelia herb (Lobelia inflata)</div> <div> <I>Preparation:</I></div> <div> Place the herbs in 3 pints of alcohol and let stand for 14 days (shake occasionally), strain and add sufficient Yellow D sugar to make a syrup.</div> <div> <I>Dosage:</I></div> <div> 1 tablespoonful occasionally in mucilage of slippery elm.</div> <div> <I><B>Tuberculosis, with severe hemorrhage:</B></I></div> <div> 1 ounce       Elecampane root (Inula helenium)</div> <div> 3 ounces     Comfrey root (Symphytum officinalis)</div> <div> 1 ounce       Horehound (Marrubium vulgare)</div> <div> 1 ounce       Licorice root (Glycyrrhiza glabra)</div> <div> 1 ounce       Iceland moss (Cetraria islandica)</div> <div> 1/2 ounce    Peruvian bark (Cinchona calisaya)</div> <div> 1/4 ounce    Composition powder</div> <div> 1/4 tsp        Cayenne (Capsicum minimum)</div> <div> 3 ounces     Acacia or gum arabic (Acacia senegal)</div> <div> 1 pound     Yellow D sugar</div> <div> 1 ounce     Queen's delight, tincture (Stillingia sylvatica)</div> <div> 1 ounce     Antispasmodic tincture</div> <div> <I>Preparation:</I></div> <div> Simmer the first 7 herbs in 3 quarts of water down to 2 quarts; strain hot over the cayenne and dissolve in the sugar and acacia. To each 14 fluid ounces add the given amount of queen's delight and antispasmodic tincture.</div> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> Page 345</div> <div> <I>Dosage:</I></div> <div> (first week) 2 fluid ounces 5-6 times daily; (second and third weeks) increase gradually to 8 times daily.</div> <div> <I>Administration:</I></div> <div> Along with the formula, give a 1/2 pint slippery elm gruel morning and evening, also slippery elm and fresh lemon drink. Be sure to stay on the regenerative diet.</div> <div> <I><B>Congenial combinations:</B></I></div> <div> Elecampane root combines well with echinacea or black sampson root (Brauneria pallida; B. angustifolia). Mandrake root (Podophyllum peltatum) combines well with elecampane root to increase its tonic qualities and make it slightly laxative.</div> <div> <I><B>Growth characteristics:</B></I></div> <div> Perennial; found mostly from Nova Scotia to the Carolinas, and westward to Minnesota and Missouri, and is common in Europe. It grows in pastures, along roadsides, and blossoms from July to September.</div> <div> <I><B>Sister plants:</B></I></div> <div> Fleawort (Pulicaria dysenterica; Inula dysenterica). Its properties and uses are similar to elecampane and is common in Europe.</div> <div> Carline Thistle (Carlina acaulis; Radix Carlinae). Properties and uses similar to elecampane; typhoid, impotence, amenorrhea, paralysis of the tongue and common in Europe.</div> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> Page 346</div> <bR> </td> </tr><tr> <td valign="top" colspan=2 height=24 BGCOLOR="#FFFBF0" TEXT="#080000" bgproperties="fixed" background="cc203181eearkz.gif"> <div>  <A HREF="snh_slippery_elm.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="SLIPPERY ELM (Ulmus fulva ULMACEAE: URTI">SNH Slippery Elm</A> < Previous  |  Next > <A HREF="snh_horehound.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="HOREHOUND (Marrubium vulgare LABIATAE)">SNH Horehound</A></div> <bR> </td> </tr></table></body>