Diamon Naturals

Alaena Charlotte Diamon

alaena@diamon-naturals.us

Elecampane (Inula helenium)

Name:  According to some authorities, the specific botanical name helenium refers to Helen of Troy. It is Helen’s plant, springing from her tears when she was abducted by Paris.

Common Name:  Yellow Starwort.

Parts Used:  Rhizome.

Description:  Flowers early to midsummer. The seed is ripe in late summer.

Habitat:  Indigenous to Europe and temperate Asia, naturalized in the USA, and cultivated widely in Europe and also China.  Elecampane enjoys roadsides and damp fields and pastures... moist grounds and shadowy places. It is also grown in herbaceous borders.

Cultivation:  The rhizome should be unearthed between September and October. The large pieces should be cut before drying in the sun or artificially at a temperature of 50-70 degrees C.  Plant it in full sun in a damp, but not soggy, location. It is a perennial that grows 3 - 6 feet tall. The root is most commonly used.

Constituents:  Inula helenium Volatile oil, containing sesquiterpene lactones, alantic acid and azulene, inulin; Miscellaneous sterols, resin etc.

Uses: Expectorant, anti-tussive, diaphoretic, hepatic, anti-microbial. Bitter-aromatic Perennial, very tall; Warm energy. Elecampane is used for intestinal worms, water retention, and to lessen tooth decay and firm the gums.  It is usually used in combination with other herbs. Externally it is used as a wash for wounds and itching rashes. It is burned to repel insects.  Elecampane was familiar to the ancient Celts and Anglo-Saxons as well as the Greeks and Romans. In Europe, it is typically found near the ruins of monasteries, where it was once cultivated.  Culpeper set Elecampane under the dominion of the planet Mercury, associated with the voice and lungs through its rulership sign of Gemini. He prescribed it for coughs, shortness of breath and wheezing in the lungs. More recent analysis of the active principle in Elecampane root, inulin, has found it to be a powerful expectorant for expelling fluid from the lungs, and so the plant has maintained its age-old reputation as one of the most effective herbal remedies for respiratory disorders. In Elizabethan England, Elecampane roots were sugared and eaten as a sweetmeat, while in Switzerland the root extract was used as a flavoring for the liqueur Absinthe. Elecampane is a specific for irritating bronchial coughs, especially in children. It may be used wherever there is copious catarrh formed, as in bronchitis or emphysema. The mucilage has a relaxing effect accompanied by the stimulation of the essential oils. In this way, expectoration is accompanied by a soothing action, which in this herb is combined with an anti-bacterial effect. It may be used in asthma and bronchial asthma. Elecampane has been used in the treatment of tuberculosis. The bitter principle makes it useful also to stimulate digestion and appetite. Elecampane expels intestinal worms and fights germs and fungus. It is also used to promote menstruation and treat anemia. The Chinese use the flowers to treat certain types of cancers. Combines well with Coltsfoot and Yarrow for respiratory problems.

Miscellaneous:  Add this herb to love charms and amulets of all kinds. Used with mistletoe and vervain, it is especially powerful. Use when scrying for better results.  

Caution:  Possible side effects: Diabetics should not use Elecampane, as the inulin may raise blood sugar. Sensitive people may develop a rash from skin contact with Elecampane or its oil.   Do not use during pregnancy or while nursing.   

Flower Essence: Helps us connect with intuitive power by enhancing receptivity to spiritual impression; assists in becoming s a powerful transmitter of love, light and power for the service and benefit of others.  Eases extreme stress, hypochondria, and mood fluctuations such as hypoglycemia.  Eases cravings such as those experienced when pregnant.

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