Elecampane Root 100 g, 50 g, 25 g

Elecampane Root – 100 g ($13.99), 50 g ($9.99), 25 g ($6.99)

Benefits:
Elecampane is regarded as a long-term treatment for respiratory diseases such as asthma and bronchitis. It is also recommended as a daily supplement to improve digestion. It also is used for menstrual cramps, worm infestation, and headaches. Homeopathic preparations are used for stomach ulcers and chronic cough. It has antibacterial and antifungal effects in cell lines. One of elecampane’s active ingredients, alantolactone, has been used to treat intestinal parasites. It also is somewhat effective against yeast infections.

Bronchitis and pneumonia. Elecampane contains inulin, a mucilage-like polysaccharide that may coat the linings of the bronchial passages. The herb’s essential oil is antibacterial.

Recommended Use
Elecampane is available in capsules, tinctures, and teas; as an ayurvedic medicine called a rasayana; and in combination with other ayurvedic herbs in a commercial preparation. The daily dose of elecampane is 1 gram.

Repeated use of elecampane may cause allergic sensitivity. Symptoms of overdose are cramps, diarrhea, vomiting, and signs of paralysis. It also can cause contact dermatitis. In rare cases, it may be necessary to use a stomach pump and treat the poisoning with medication. Animal studies have shown a reduction in blood sugar with small doses of elecampane, and an increase in blood sugar with large doses. Until further testing shows otherwise, people with diabetes should avoid elecampane. It should not be used by pregnant women or nursing mothers.

Botanical Name: Inula helenium
English: Elecampane
Ayurvedic: Pushkaramuula, Pushkara, Pouskara,
Also, known as: Alant, Inule, Enula elemie, Ussul-ur-rasun, Phatmer, Pil-gush, Scabwort, Elf dock, Yellow starwort, Wild sunflower, Horse heal, Velvet dock, Paushkara, Padmapatra, Kaashmira, Kushtha-bheda, Pohakarmul, Puskar, Pushkarmula, Pushkarmulam, Pushkara, Pushkaramula, Pohakar Mul, Pushkara Moola, Pokhar Mool, and Pushkarmulam, Elfwort, Horse-Elder, Horseheal, and Indian Elecampane
Habitat: Europe, North Asia, and Western Himalaya.
Origin: Ukraine
Harvested: Wild or Cultivated
Parts Used: Roots and rhizomes

General Information:
Inula helenium is one of our largest herbaceous, striking, and handsome plant. The stems are thick, vigorous, 3 to 4 ft tall, downy above, and branched. The leaves are large, ovate, 10 to 18 inches long and woolly underneath, are arranged alternately and toothed, the upper ones clasping the stem, the lower ones stalked. The flower heads are golden yellow, large, solitary, 2 to 4 inches across, and with narrow rays, blooming in midsummer. The flowers are on long stalks, resembling a double sunflower. The root is slightly grey brown on the outside, lighter brown internally, hard, horny and cylindrical, and should be dug in the autumn of the second year, usually split into longitudinal, oblique pieces having one or more roots. Divide plants about every 3 years to maintain vitality. The whole plant is similar in appearance to the horseradish. This plant has a long and interesting history as a medicinal herb wherein the rhizomes and roots were at one point used in a large variety of medical applications. Inula racemosa, similar species also found in Western Himalayas.

How to use:
We make these suggestions to help you get the best benefit from the herbs that you’re choosing to improve your health. Also we make these ideas and recommendations so that consuming them easier and better fit into your lifestyle by adding them to the food that you already eat.
For the full health benefit, it is best to consume (or use the whole herb in poultices) the whole herb. All of the compounds in the herb act best together, as nature intends. Extracts draw out the most prominent beneficial compounds and may concentrate them. What is not extracted can be helpful in ways that we do not yet understand.

Cut Pieces or Powdered Herb:
There are different ways to use cut pieces or powdered herb.
Food Preparation: You can add powdered or pieces of herb (if the pieces you buy are bigger than you like, a coffee or herb grinder will quickly reduce) to any yogurt, smoothie, apple or other sauces, spreads, salads or other foods more familiar to you that don’t use heat. Heat can be damaging to the beneficial compounds in the herb. Other options like oatmeal, scrambled eggs, pasta sauce, soup, cookies and anything else that fits your lifestyle, but minimizing (by adding near the end of cooking) the heat is helpful.
Also, for children, you can mix powdered herb with honey or glycerin to make paste. The thicker the paste, the more potent and herbal in taste. The sweet taste of honey and glycerin will help medicine go down. The resulting liquid is called an electuary.
For seeds in general, but especially small seeds, it’s best to grind these to break the protective hulls a short time before consumption. This makes all the benefits available, rather than some remaining locked inside the hulls that are unbroken by insufficient chewing.
To make adding herbs even easier, you could add a week’s worth of your chosen herb(s) to an amount of, for example, yogurt that you would eat in a week. Mix thoroughly and eat this each day of the week. SO you make once /week and just eat each other day.
Hot Infusion: The basic method for dried herbs and flower is, take 2-3 tablespoons of dried herb in a cup or teapot. Pour hot water over it and cover it with lid for 10-30 minutes. The heat from making tea can degrade some of the beneficial compounds in the herb. This method minimizes this effect. For the full health benefit, it is recommended to consume what is left over after making tea.
Decoctions: Decoctions are suitable for roots, barks, large seeds & berries, and other dense material. The simple way to make decoction is, in a saucepan, add 1 tablespoon of dried herbs to 1 cup of water, Bring the water to boil, reduce heat and simmer for 30-60 minutes with the pot covered. Squeeze out as much as liquid as possible. Best practice is to drink the liquid and also consume the solid material that remains. Herb pieces can also be used.
Powdered Herb:
There are different ways to use powdered herb.
Capsules: HerbsCrafters makes capsules guaranteed to be filled with the pure herb with no filler or any other products. You can also use powdered herb to make your own capsules at home. These capsules are best taken with liquid to aid in digestion and absorption and to ensure it doesn’t stick in your throat.
Poultice: Poultice can be made with an herbal powder and liquid (mostly water) to form a paste which is then applied to the skin. This method is very helpful for skin conditions.
Herbal shot: Powdered herb can be mixed with water, fruit juice or other liquid to make herbal shot.

Tips:
You can sweeten your herbal decoctions with bit of honey, natural fruit juice, stevia leaves powder or licorice root powder.

Precautions:
You should consult with a qualified healthcare practitioner before using any herbal products, particularly if you are pregnant, nursing, or on any medications.
All information on this website is for educational purpose ONLY.
This information has not been evaluated by Health Canada.
This information is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.