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Elecampane

(also referred to as...)

Horseheal, Scabwort, Velvet Dock, Wild Sunflower, Yellow Starwort

Latin Name: Inula helenium

Family: Compositae

 
Description

This herb was used by the Greeks, Romans, early Anglo-saxons, and Celts. It was described by Pliny and Dioscorides as a herb of ancient medicinal repute. A latin quote states, "Elecampane will the spirits sustain".

Elecampane was first introduced into North America by Europeans mainly for use as a herb for healing skin diseases in animals. It also found purpose as an ingredient of cough medicines and a flavouring in sweets up to the 1920's. It is still used to this day in wines.

A robust perennial, elecampane has thick rhizomes and stout, erect stems. Leaves are pointed and toothed, up to 70cm long. Grows up to 3m high and spreads 1.5m. Has yellow daisy like flowers up to 7cm across that from mid-summer to mid-autumn. Prefers sun and moist, well drained soil.

Roots are lifted in Autumn from 2 to 3 year old plants. They are used fresh to make extracts and syrups, distilled for oil, or cut and dried for decoctions, tinctures and powders.

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