Elecampane

Other names : Inula Helenium, Alant, Elfwort, Horseheal, Scabwort, Inula

A wild herbaceous plant found throughout continental Europe and Asia, Elecampane is a large, handsome plant with bright yellow flowers, resembling sunflower, blooming June to August. Elecampane root was used as a condiment, but also as a medicine by the Romans and legends says it sprang from the tears of beautiful Helen. Solar herb, Elecampane was considered in the magical medicine a plant governed by Jupiter, with powerful antidepressant properties, fighting successfully anxiety and melancholia .

Chemicals and essential oil contained in the plant gives the property to modify bronchial  secretions and has a bacteriostatic effect especially on Bacille de Koch. Uses include lung disease, asthma, whooping cough and also tuberculosis cough. The chemical complex of Elecampane has also diuretic properties, favoring water and also chlorine and nitrate elimination and promoting sweating. The herb has also choleretic-cholagogue effects, being recommended in renal and biliary lithiasis, cholecystitis and arthritis , but also as a sedative in association with other plants.

Hippocrates used Elecampane mostly as a remedy for uterine disorders because the root has similar effects to hormones, proving helpful in alleviating menopause symptoms. Elecampane has also antitumor properties, confirmed by the National Cancer Institute, USA and is recommended in the prophylactic treatment of women with breast cancer. Elecampane wine is sometimes used to regulate hormones, the recipe requiring 700 ml red wine boiled for 5 minutes with 50 g of dried root. To stimulate menstruation, a blend of equal parts of White Horehound ( Herba Marrubii) and Elecampane, infused for 10 minutes, is administered twice a day.

Elecampane can also provide flavor in foods and beverages and fragrance in various cosmetics and soaps.