The flowering plant known as elecampane has a poetic history and many nicknames. If you’ve heard of elfdock, elfwort, wild sunflower, horseheal, and scabwort — these are all names for elecampane.
The plant’s Latin name — innula helenium — gives a clue to the plant’s origins. One legend says that the species originated with the most beautiful woman in the world: Helen of Troy. She may have carried a handful of elecampane with her when Paris stole her away. Another story says that elecampane sprang up from the tears of the goddess Helena. A third story suggests that the plant is named for the island Helena, where the best plants grew.
Ancient Roman poets suggested that elecampane caused mirth and said it was “good for the hucklebone”. I’m not sure exactly where the hucklebone is, myself. Early veterinarians used elecampane to help heal scabs on sheep (why the plant is nicknamed scabwort) and cure several ailments suffered by horses (how the plant earned the nickname horseheal).
Herbalists around the world have used elecampane to treat respiratory ailments. The dried elecampane root is crushed and used in many compound medicines. Native Americans used the plant to treat bronchial problems and other lung ailments. Elecampane root was combined with spikenard root and comfrey root. A syrup was made by boiling the root mixture in a gallon of water until it reduced to a pint. Eight ounces of alcohol and a pint and a half of honey were added; a teaspoon of the mixture was taken every two hours. Chinese herbalists used elecampane root in syrups, lozenges, and candy to treat bronchitis and asthma.
Elecampane is still considered safe and effective for treating coughs and other minor respiratory problems. Simmer an ounce of dried elecampane root in a pint of water to make a soothing tea. This plant is easy to grow from offshoots or two inch root cuttings and makes a bright, sunny addition to any garden.