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What is it?

The roots of Elecampane, a long-lived plant whose stems grow up to 2 meters high and then support clusters of distinctive bright yellow flowers. Elecampane was also once known as ‘Elfwort’ because it was sacred to the ancient Celts and Druids.

How has it been used?

Elecampane root was one of the chief remedies for advanced chest diseases and has a long record for clearing old coughs, especially of tuberculosis. It has also been widely used a treatment for cold, congested conditions such as arthritis, rheumatism and bronchial conditions.

One of Elecampane's common names 'Horseheal' was derived from its use by veterinarians in treating lung disorders in horses

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Personal experiences

Any long term respiratory problem causes the lungs to become weakened and strained. There is a noticeable sound of ‘effort’ through the stethoscope, distinctly out of harmony with how healthy and effortless breathing should sound. I always think of Elecampane when I hear such laboured breathing.

Elecampane is a long-term tonic, something that needs to be used with patience, but It is the best herb I know to build back strength into the lungs.

.Elecampane combines perfectly with Mullein and Licorice to help clear the lungs and with Aniseed and Lobelia to release spasm and constriction in the chest. The patient should gently buld up their fitness whilst they are taking the treatment.

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Excerpt from Felter & Lloyd's Kings Dispensatory from 1898

Elecampane is an aromatic stimulant and tonic, and is much used in chronic pulmonary affections and weakness of the digestive organs. Night-sweats are relieved by Inula, as are some cases of humid asthma, and, by its tonic properties, it tends to sustain the strength of the patient in chronic disorders of the respiratory tract. Inula is somewhat slow in action, and should be used for quite a time to get its full action. That it is an important remedy in irritation of the trachea and bronchiae is now well established. It is adapted to cases with free and abundant expectoration, teasing cough, and pain beneath the sternum, conditions frequent in la grippe, and the severer forms of colds.

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