Inula helenium, Elecampane

Enulae Campane, Helenii

Inula racemosa

Rasan, Rasin (Unani)

Pushkar (Ayurveda)
Ma Nu  མ་ནུ  (Tibetan)
Tu Mu Xiang (TCM)

Gart der Gesundheit, Cuba, 1485

Herbarius latinus, Petri, 1485

Ortus Sanitatis, Meydenbach, 1491

Kurtzes Handtbuchlein, Ryff, 1599

Inula helenium
Berg,, Atlas der officinellen Pflanzen (1891)

ELECAMPANE ROOT
Notes on Pharmacognosy
By Otto Augustus Wall, 1902

Uses:

1. Benefits the Stomach and Spleen, clears Damp, Tonifies Qi:

-strengthens the stomach and assists digestion “not like a Bitter, but as a warm, invigorating, animating medicine”. (Culpeper)
-strengthens Stomach and increases Spleen Qi deficiency (like Atractylodes Bai Zhu)
-vomiting, diarrhea (Chinese Pharmacopoeia)
-removes ‘Crudities’ (Dampness)
-Hernia, Colic, Wind, Stitches
-“atony of abdominal viscera, with engorgement and relaxation”. (King’s)

2. Move Qi, Eases Pain:

-“useful in all types of Cold pains”. (Avicenna)
-distention in the chest, epigastrium and hypochondria (Chinese Pharmacopoeia)
-bruise or sudden sprain of the Chest with pain during Breathing (Chinese Pharmacopoeia)
-“Enula drives away anger and sadness … According to the testimony of Hippocrates, it is believed to bring cheerfulness, For the sweet cream in it brilliantly disperses the clouds of the mind,”. (Dorsetn, 1540)

3. Clears Cold Phlegm, Stops Cough, Strengthens the Lungs:

-all diseases of the Lungs, Cough, Asthma, shortness of Breath, Whooping Cough
-Lung Ulcers, spitting of Blood
-“The root protects the lungs from bad humors”. (Dorsetn, 1540)
-“it has not its equal in the cure of the Whooping Cough in children when all other medicines fail”. (Culpeper)
-“chronic coughs where the general condition and appetite are reduced”. (Weiss)
-“Cough, of a teasing, persistent character, accompanied with substernal pain, and profuse secretion”. (King’s)

4. Resists Poison, Promotes Sweat:

-biting of Rabid Dogs and other venomous Bites;
-infectious and epidemic diseases, both to prevent and cure
-Herpes, Eczema, putrid Sores and Leprosy
-“great force in the Plague, and Pestilential Fevers”. (Salmon)
-“The root, prepared with honey or sugar, is said to be very effective against pestilential air”. (Dorsetn, 1540)
-“an old German physician claimed to have cured 47 cases of Hydrophobia with Elecampane, without a single failure”. (Ellingwood)

5. Benefits the Kidneys, Clears Damp, Promotes Urine:

-Edema, water retention, stoppage of Urine
-Gravel, Stones
-“The person who is accustomed to take Elecampane regularly will not suffer from frequent urination”. (Avicenna)
-decoction is the best form as a diuretic (Avicenna)

6. Moves the Blood, Promotes Menstruation:

-suppressed, delayed or scanty Menstruation (decocted in wine)
-Pain of the Uterus
-Threatened Abortion (Chinese Pharmacopoeia)
-“strengthening for the Heart”. (Avicenna)

7. Clears Wind, Stops Spasms, Benefits Sinews:

-Cramps, Convulsions, Paralysis
-Gout, Arthritic and Rheumatic pain, Neuralgia
-“looseness of certain joints, by reason of overmuch moisture”; Galen used it for joints prone to dislocation.
-“useful in Sciatica and Arthralgia”. (Avicenna)
-“beneficial for those suffering from sciatica and joint pain … cures pains in the hips”. (Dorsetn, 1540)

8. Benefits Eyesight:

-eye weakness, poor eyesight and to strengthen the sight (Decoction in Wine, Salmon)
-“It nourishes the skin on the face … it adorns the body with perpetual beauty.” (Dorsetn, 1540)

9. Externally:

-externally for Scabs, Itch, Herpes
-old Ulcers and Sores
-fastens the Teeth if the root is chewed.
-wine decoction is gargled for toothache, loose teeth and to prevent putrefaction of the gums
-topically to the joints to tighten loose ligaments, strengthen the joints, and to help remove their pain.
-applied to Sciatica and Hemicrania
-Saline tincture (tincture in salt water) is used as a wash for Dandruff, Spots, Freckles, Herpes, Eczema etc.

CONFECTED ROOT
1. Tonifies Spleen Qi:

-digestive deficiency with weakness, poor appetite, no energy, loose stool
-“Acts directly upon the Nutritive functions of the body. In general debility from protracted disease or from overwork, or from age, its influence is plainly apparent”. (Ellingwood)
-all types of pain in the bowel coming from cold or phlegm (Wirtzung)

2. Nourishes Lungs and Kidneys:

-chronic Cough, Asthma, chronic Lung disease, Consumption from deficiency
-“One of the most beneficial roots nature affords for the help of the Consumptive”.
-pain of the lower back pain or lower body

Main Combinations:

Elecampane & Licorice

Lungs:

1. Cough:
i. acute Cough, Elecampane, Elder berry, Hyssop, Licorice
ii. Cold-Phlegm (‘Wet’) Cough, Elecampane, Rosemary, Sage, Licorice
iii. Cold-Phlegm, Elecampane, Ginger, Licorice
iv. Cold-Phlegm or Wind-Cold, Elecampane, Thyme, Hyssop, Raisins, Licorice
v. Elecampane, Coltsfoot, Licorice, Bitter Almond, Figs
vi. Elececampne, Marshmallow root, Rosemary,
vii. Childhood Cough, Elecampane, Mallow, Plantain and Helichrysum stoechas (this has been studied; see below)
2. Bronchitis:
i. Elecampane with Thyme, Nettle leaf, Lungwort (Fischer)
ii. Elecampane with Myrrh, Mullein, Cinnamon
iii. Elecampane with Elecampane, Coltsfoot
iv. Elecampane with Marshmallow, Hyssop, Thyme
3. Whooping Cough:
i. Elecampane with Thyme
ii. Elecampane, Hyssop, Licorice
iii. Elecmpane, Thyme, Hyssop, Plantain, Raisins
4. Asthma:
i. Elecampane with Coltsfoot, Gentian, Licorice, Hyssop, Sweet Almond, Pine nuts, Dates, Figs (as in Asthmatic Water of Frankfurt)
ii. Tincture Against Asthma, Elecampane with  Orris, Aniseed, Caraway, Licorice, Blessed Thistle, Raisins, Senna.
iii. Elecampane with Angelica, Comfrey, Horehound
iv. Elecampane with Horehound, Coltsfoot, Licorice (as in Decoction of Horehound)
v. Elecampane with Squill, Coltsfoot, Hyssop, Fennel, Marshmallow
vi. Elecampane, Orris, Calamus, Licorice, Aniseed (Anti-Asthmatic Elixir)
5. Shortness of Breath:
i. Elecampane, Hyssop, Coltsfoot
ii. Elecampane, Coltsfoot, Raisins, Licorice
iii. Elecampane, Raisins, Figs, Dates, Bitter Almonds, Pine nuts, Maidenhair, Licorice
iv. Elecampane, Licorice, Saffron
6. Lung deficiency, Cough, Asthma:
i. Elecampane with Licorice, Figs
ii. Elecampane with Fig, Licorice, Comfrey, Coltsfoot (as in Decoction to Strengthen the Lungs)
iii. Elecampane, Raisins, Figs, Dates, Bitter Almonds, Pine nuts, Maidenhair, Licorice
7. Persistent Cough:
i. Elecampane, Raisin, Maidenhair, Licorice
ii. Elecampane with Marshmallow root and Licorice (Ulrich)
8. Chronic catarrh, Asthma, Aneurisms of the Heart, Elecampane with Hyssop and Ground Ivy (Katier)
9. Pectoral Elixir, Elecampane, Orris, Squill (6 each), Benzoin, Myrrh, Gum Ammoniac, Licorice juice (3 parts each), Saffron (2 parts) in alcohol (40%, 65 parts); dose: 60–80 drops. (Hufeland)
10. Pectoral Mixture: Elecampane extract (2 scruples), Gum Arabic (2 drams), Hyssop water (½ oz.), Oxymel of Squill, Syrup of Hyssop (1 ½ oz. each). Mix. Dose:a spoonful. (Formulaire Magistral et Memorial Pharmaceutique, 1823)

Other:

11. Swelling of the Stomach, Lumbar Pain, Gravel & Stone, Phlegm, Colic, Hemorrhoids, to stop excess Menstrual Bleeding, for Cough, Epilepsy and Liver and Spleen disorders, Elecampane 1 oz., Fennel seed 3 oz., Black Pepper 2 oz. Powder and mix with boiled Honey. Give as much as a Hazel nut, either with Oxymel, with Wine, or by itslef. (The Secrets of Alexis, 1615)
12. Pain of the Spleen, take the Powder with Wine. (The Secrets of Alexis, 1615)
13. Hernia:
i. Distill water of Elecampane, 2–3 oz., morning and night. (The Secrets of Alexis, 1615)
ii. Elecampane with Rue (School of Salerno)
iii. Elecampane, Fennel seed, Aniseed
14. Stomach Cold, Elecampane, Cardamon, Galangal (Herbarius latinus, Petri, 1485)
15. Spleen Yang and Qi deficiency, Elecampane with Cinnamon, Galangal, Cumin, Clove, Cardamon, Ginger (as in Powder of Cinnamon Compound of Mesue)
16. Stragnury from Cold, Elecampane, Cinnamon, Galangal, Aniseed, Licorice, Orris, Ginger, Clove, Nutmeg (Herbarius latinus, Petri, 1485)
17. Kidney Yang Deficiency, back pain, impotence, Leukorrhea etc:
i. Elecampane with Nutmeg, Tormentil, Cinnamon, Clove, Mastic (as in Powder of Nutmeg Compound)
ii. Elecampane with Orchis, Black Pepper, Cinnamon, Ginger, Rocket seed (as in Antidote for Cold Kidneys and to Excite Libido of Nicholas)
18. Promote Menstruation:
i. Elecampane with Horehound (Müller)
ii. Elecampane with Mugwort, Betony, Hyssop (as in Decoction to Promote Menstruation)
19. Paralysis:
i. Elecampane with Licorice, Aniseed, Annis, Nutmeg, Peony root (as in Electuary for Paralysis of Wirtzung)
20. Cardiac Edema, combine Elecampane with Foxglove and Compound Celery Syrup.
21. Cachexia, Black Pepper, Elecampane, Fennel root (Pharmacopoeia medici practici universalis, Bruxelles, 1817)
22. Hemorrhoids, Fistulas, Elecampane, Rhubarb, Black Pepper, Licorice, Caraway (equal parts), powder and form a paste with Honey, take a teaspoonful three times daily.
23. Herpes, Elecampane as an ointment with Sulphur
24. To cause suppuration of Abscesses and Tumors, Elecampane powder, White Lily root, applied as a paste with milk or vinegar

INULA RACEMOSA:

1. Cough, Lung disease:
i. Inula racemosa with Adhatoda, Tylophora, Long Pepper
ii. with hard to clear phlegm, Inula racemosa with Basil, Long Pepper, Tylophora
iii. from Wind, Inula racemosa with Adhatoda, Celery seed, Indian Spikenard
iv. from excess Cold Phlegm, Inula racemosa with Mustard seed, Long Pepper, Tylophora
v. Dry Cough, Inula racemosa with Sesame seed, Licorice, Sida
vi. Phlegm Cough, Inula racemosa, Raisins, Triphala (3 Myrobalans), Trikatu (Ginger, Long and Black Pepper), Zedoary, Plumbago, made into a linctus with Honey and Oil. (The Bower Manuscript, Ayurveda)
vii. Cough, Asthma, Inula racemosa with Lesser Cardamon, Sacred Basil, Zedoary, Asafetida
2. Allergic Rhinitis, Atopic Asthma, Inula racemosa with Chebulic Myrobalan, Long Pepper, Licorice
3. Cold and Weak digestion:
i. Inula racemosa with Ginger, Cardamon
ii. Inula racemosa with Ginger, Plumbago, Cumin
4. Dysmenorrhea, Inula racemosa with Turmeric, Rose, Asparagus root
5. Angina pectoris, Hypertension, Inula racemosa with Arjuna, Bdellium

Major Formulas

Decoction of Elecampane and Rue
Decoction of Horehound
Decoction to Strengthen the Lungs
Syrup for Asthma (Wirtzung)
Powder of Cinnamon Compound (Mesue)
Electuary of Clove and Costus (Caryocostinum)
Electuary of Elecampane (Unani)
Electuary for Paralysis (Wirtzung)
Electuary which is Remarkably Effective
Antidote for Cold Kidneys and to Excite Libido (Nicholas)
Tincture Against Asthma
Elixir Salutis, Elixir of Health
Eight-Limbed Electuary (Ayurveda)
Auscpicious Conqueror (Bkra shis rnam rgyal) (Tibetan)
Blood Medicine 7 (Khrag sman bdun pa) (Tibetan)
Cloudless Moonbeam (Sprin bral zla ‘od) (Tibetan)
Cowrie Ash 6 (Mgron thal drug pa) (Tibetan)
Eliminator of All Lung Imbalances (Khrugs glo bcu gsum) (Tibetan)
Increase Awareness Pills (Tibetan)
Inula 4 Decoction (Ma nu bzhi thang) (Tibetan) 
Podophyllum 25 (‘Ol se nyer lnga) (Tibetan)
Six White Formula (Dkar po drug sbyor) (Tibetan)

1. Compound Syrup of Elecampane:.
Roots of Elecampane; Polypody, Currants 2 oz. ea., Sebestens 15 (in number), Coltsfoot, Lungwort, Calamint, Savory 1 handful ea., Licorice 2 drams, Seeds of Nettles and the Cotton plant 1 ½ drams ea., 1 large Tobacco leaf
Boil in Honey and Wine down to 1 ½ lbs, then with a sufficient amount of Sugar, make a syrup from the strained decoction.
Used for diseases of the Lungs coming from phlegm
“Invented by Horatius Augenius, and afterwards recommended by Platerus, Sennertus, Riverius, and other famous practitioners … and ought to be frequently made use of”. (The London Practice of Physic; Willis, 1689)
2. Anti-Asthmatic Water:
i. Elecampane, Licorice, Florentine Orris (2 oz. each), Ground Ivy, Coltsfoot, Jerusalem Oak (½pound), Hyssop, Horehound, Pennyroyal, Sage (3 oz. each). Annis, Fennel seed (1 oz). Digest 3 days, then distil 6 or 7 pounds. (Pharmacopoeia Wirtembergica, 1798)
ii. Elecampane (2 oz.), Burnet Saxifrage root, Florentine Orris (1 ½ oz. ea.), Hyssop, Horehound, Sage (2 oz. each), Annis, Fennel seed, Juniper berry, Bay berry (1 oz.), Lesser Cardamon, Cinnamon, Ginger (½oz. each), Storax (6 drams), Alcohol (12 pounds), Water of Acacia (8 lbs.). Digest 3 days, distil off 12 pounds, then add: Rose Julep (2 pounds), Fennel water (8 pounds). Mix. (Dispensatorium Pharmaceuticum, 1777)
3. Anti-Asthmatic Elixir:
Stimulant, principally for humid Asthma. Dose: 10–30 dops.
i. Asarum root (3 parts), Florentine Orris (5 parts), Elecampane, Calamus (10 parts each), Licorice (15 parts), Aniseed (5 parts), Proof Spirit (80 parts). Infuse cold for several days, strain, and add Camphor (1 part). Dissolve. (Pharmacopee Usuelle, Louvain, 1821)
4. Theriacal Vinegar:
Used to preserve against Contagion.
i. Roots of Elecampane, Angelica, Cyperus, Zedoary, Avens, Contrayerva, Materwort, Valerian, Vipers Bugloss (½ oz. each), fresh Orange and Lemon peel, Clove, Cinnamon, Galangal, Juniper, Bay berry, Sage, Rosemary, Rue (2 drams each), Vinegar (7 lbs.). Macerate for a month in a warm place, express strongly, then add Theriac (7 oz.), Macerate for a month, and filter. Dose: a spoonful every morning. (Dispensatorium medico pharmaceuticum Palatinatus, 1764)
5. Courcelle’s American Elixir:
i. Elecampane (16 lbs.), St. Johns wort (8 lbs.), Orange leaf (6 lbs.), Elder flower (5 lbs.), Balm (4 lbs.), Lime flower (2 ½ lbs.), Root of Provence Cane, Juniper, Rosemary flowers, Opium (2 lbs.), Asarum root (1 lb.), Alcohol (120 lbs.), Water, sufficient to make 24% alcohol. Digest, strain and color with Red Poppy flowers.
  This was highly regarded as a Panacea in American for a time. Specifically used for nervous spasms and for general debility.
Dose: a large spoonful, 2–3 times daily. (This version is reformed from Formulaire Magistral et Memorial Pharmaceutique, 1823)
6. Compound Oil of Elecampane:
i. Elecampane, Valerian, Burdock, St. Johns wort, Sothernwood, Wormwood, Sweet Basil, Balm, Balsamita odorata, Marjoram, Mint, savin, Sage, Elder flower (3 oz. each), Camomile, Meliot, Stoechas (2 oz. each), fresh Bay leaf, Dwarf Elder leaf, Rosemary, Rue (6 oz. each), Cumin, Fenugreek, Nettle (1 oz. each), Olive oil (12 lbs.). Macerate 4 days, then boil to the consumption of the humidity, and set aside to clarify (settle). (Pharmacopoeia Hispana, 1798)