Elecampane

Inula helenium

Elecampane

There are some interesting common names for this plant; Elfwort or Elfdock, Horseheal, Yellow Starwort. This plant is thought to be native to Asia and spread to southern and eastern Europe but has been naturalized in North America and many other parts of the world. It is a fairly large and hearty perennial plant, in the same family as sunflowers and grows up to 8 feet tall with gorgeous and multiple blooms of yellow flowers and a downy underside to it’s broad green foliage. Much folklore surrounds the plant not limited to it’s inclusion in a 9-herb blend consisting of Rue, Nettle, Verbena, Yarrow, Mugwort, Wood Betony, Celandine, and White Clover which is an old European-style tea-bath for Protection Against Witches. The species name (second of the latin binomial) comes from ancient Greek Myth relating to a tale of how this plant sprouted up from the tear’s cast by Helen of Troy upon her abduction from Sparta by Paris.

What is Elecampane Used For?

One of the primary constituents of the root is a starch known as Inulin, also found in large amounts in Burdock, Dandelion, and Jerusalem artichoke. Inulin is a carbohydrate belonging to a class of compounds known as fructans. Among the many chemical compounds in this plant, inulin supports immune function and comprises up to 45% of the weight of the root. It is also likely that the essential oils in the root contribute to soothing support that it offers the respiratory tract. It also helps support normal mucous secretions. It is astringent and bitter and thus has been used traditionally to tonify the mucous tissues of the respiratory, G.I. tract, and urinary tract.