AKA: Yellow Starwort, Elfdock, elfwort, horse-elder, horseheal, scabwort, Wild Sunflower, Inula Helenium

Wanted For:
Aiding and abetting with digestion, Soothing coughs in children, Posing as an expectorant, Helping with asthma, Treating tuberculosis, Stimulating digestion

Also Suspected Of:
Helping with Urinary tract infections, Easing Menstrual Pain, Treating worms

Elecampane has also been seen working as an external skin problem remedy

Description:

This is a perennial that knows how to stand out in the crowd. Tall and sporting a large yellow orb like disc for a flower, elecampane’s appearance is much akin to the sunflower. Thisi s partially the reason  why it is also known as “the wild sunflower”. The “wild” part of this moniker might be more because of the woolly hairs that cover the plant than its tendency to put a lampshade on its head every time the rhododendrons next store decide to through a party  Wild looks aside, let us get to the root of the matter which is the  part of the plant that is used for medicine. Both big and branching, the fleshy roots of the elecampane are brown on the outside and white within.
 
Last Seen:

Elecampane can be found growing in sunny or partially shaded places where the soil is rich, moist, but also well drained. Elecampane’s fibrous top shaped roots can be traced to the temperate zones of Europe and Asia, but thanks to widespread cultivation, it can now be found just about everywhere.

What to do when you come across it:

Elecampane is especially great for relieving a children’s cough. It helps them cough more effectively, clearing out the mucus that is bothering them. It is also great for any other respiratory tract problems including emphysema, influenza, pneumonia, colds and bronchial infections. The herb’s relaxing effect and stimulating essential oils also makes it a good treatment for asthma and tuberculosis. The bitter agents of the plant also make it useful for aiding digestion and stimulating the appetite.

Elecampane is most popular in tea form and can be used to quiet a cough, stimulate appetite, and has a overall tonic affect on the stomach. Elecampane oil is great for respiratory problems, mucus buildup, chronic diarrhea, and chronic bronchitis. As a decoction and tincture, it can be used as a treatment for worms or as an external wash.

Side effects:

Elecampane can cause contact dermatitis in some people. You should always check with your physician before trying out any new supplement.

A Simple Elecampane Infusion Recipe

The roots of Elecampane plant (Inula helenium) have been used for centuries as a popular cough remedy, especially for children. The plant is originally from asia, but is now cultivated just about everywhere. Also called a “Wild Sunflower” the plant boasts a large yellow  sun like disc for a flower and is covered with wild looking wooly hairs.

While you can find various concoctions and tinctures  of the Elecampane in many health food stores, you can also find the root itself. Back in the days before the alternative health aisle, people used to make their own cough syrups out of elecampane root and then use it whenever  they saw a need for it. This plant is actually pretty easy to grow in your own backyard, requiring only ample sun and well drained soil. It matures in two to three years and can be harvested in the fall.

Making a cough syrup out of elecampane root does not need to be overly complicated. In fact, all you need is some fresh elecampane roots, a jar, and a lot of honey. First you dig up the plant and then snip off the long thick roots. You then wash the roots thoroughly and then cut them up into small (bite size) pieces. You then take your jar and fill halfway up with these elecampane pieces. After that you take your honey and fill up the jar the rest of the way. Let the jar sit for a few days, turning over a few times a day. When it is ready, simply keep it in the fridge until you need it.

Next time you or somebody in your family has a cough; you can go to the fridge and pull out a nice big teaspoon of infused honey. The honey itself will help soothe your throat and the herb contains inulin which is a natural expectorant that can help clear up mucus. You can also chew on the candied pieces of the root before spitting them out. Elecampane is safe for children over the age of one, but women who are pregnant or breastfeeding should avoid it. You might also want to avoid elecampane if you happen to have a ragweed allergy.