Better Nutrition November 2019

uncommonHERBS/GET TO KNOW BOTANICALS
Healthy Lungs With Elecampane
European herbalists call elecampane root their No. 1 lung healer. Discover
why, as an overall respiratory remedy, this herb is hard to beat
/// BY KARTA PURKH SINGH KHALSA, DN-C, RH
When Helen of Troy was kidnapped,
beautiful bright yellow flowers sprouted
from the ground where her tears fell.
Or so the story goes. Today, we know
“Helen of the campaign” flower as
elecampane, and is a major player in the
lineup of superstar herbs.
Elecampane (Inula helenium) is a
perennial member of the daisy family
(Asteraceae), and is native to Europe and
Asia—from England through southern
Europe to the Himalayas. It is especially
common in the British Isles, where it serves
as a popular traditional medicine. According
to British herbalist David Hoffmann, it
grows “where the tree falls in the forest.”
The root, which is rich in the soluble
fiber inulin, is thick, branching, and
gelatinous, with a slight camphor scent.
The taste of elecampane is quite potent,
often described as bitter and pungent.
Better Lung Health + Cold Relief
It’s a hard call, but I would put this root
at the top of my global list of general
lung-supportive herbs. In any condition
that involves the lungs, elecampane is
likely to produce some benefit. That
makes it an ideal herb to have around
the house to use at the first sign of
sniffles, cough, sore throat, chest
congestion, or a sinus infection.
You can use elecampane root for just
about any respiratory condition, but it’s
especially effective at easing colds with
substantial mucus and “wet asthma.”
It heats up the body and drys out tissues
by opening the pores, releasing sweat,
and thinning mucus.
This useful herb is widely employed
for its expectorant and cough suppressant
qualities, and it’s particularly good for
irritating bronchial coughs, especially
in children. Although it has a profound
healing effect, it’s safe for kids, and is
often recommended by herbalists at the
first sign of pediatric lung congestion or
cough. In the 19th century, elecampane
became famous when the Eclectics
used it to treat bacterial infections with
heavy, thick, yellow to green mucus. And
historically, elecampane has been used
to treat asthma, bronchitis, and chronic
cough in the elderly.
Research on elecampane is
lacking. But according to an
in-vitro study in the British
Journal of Biomedical
Science, elecampane
showed antimicrobial
Did You
Know?
Aromatherapists
recommend elecampane
essential oil for clearing
lung congestion and
strengthening
immunity.
properties against staph, including MRSA.
And a 2019 study from the journal
Antioxidants showed that elecampane
had anti-inflammatory effects in the lungs.
A Liver-Friendly Herb
Although not the main claim to fame for
this herb, liver protection is another benefit
of elecampane. Recent experiments with
elecampane have born this out.
Research is slowly unearthing new uses.
Recent studies, especially from China,
show potential anti-cancer properties.
Chinese research from 2017 found benefit
for rheumatoid arthritis, which fits with
elecampane’s anti-inflammatory profile.
The active constituents of elecampane
are not well established, but are thought
to be bitter terpenoids and sesquiterpenes,
including the stearoptene helenin.
How to Take It
Elecampane is often combined
with herbs that have similar
qualities such as mullein and
yerba santa. As a tincture,
use 1 Tbs. per day. For
capsules, follow label
directions. To make your
own tea, boil 10–30 grams
of dry, chopped elecampane
root; let steep for 15 minutes,
and strain before drinking.
24 • NOVEMBER 2019