:fig1:
High elecampane is distributed in the European part of the USSR, the Caucasus, Western Siberia and Central Asia. It grows in wet places, along ravines, river banks, in forest glades, between shrubs. High elecampane is cultivated as a medicinal and ornamental plant.
Rhizomes with roots are used, collected in the fall (October) and spring (April, May). The smell of elecampane high has aromatic: fresh smells like camphor, dried - violet, the taste is spicy, bitter.
Chemical composition and properties of elecampane
Properties of elecampane are used in modern phytotherapy. Rhizomes and root contain inulin (up to 44%) and other polysaccharides; bitter substances, essential oils (up to 4.3%), the main constituents of which are alantolactone and isoalantolactone, gelatin, vitamin E, saponins, resins, gum, mucus, pigment, a small amount of alkaloids. The presence of bitter substance, vitamin C (31.6 mg%) was found in the leaves.
Effects and treatment with elecampane
Treatment with elecampane is recommended for many ailments. The plant has diuretic, choleretic, expectorant and antimicrobial action. The properties of elecampane are bactericidal and anthelmintic. Due to its anti-inflammatory action, elecampane preparations are an effective means of treating the gastrointestinal tract, as they help to reduce the increased motor and secretory function of it, improve appetite.
Treatment with elecampane is used for respiratory diseases, bronchitis with increased secretion, cough, gastritis, liver and gallbladder diseases, as an antihelminthic agent, hemorrhoids, painful and irregular menstruation.
A tincture of the rhizome and roots of elecampane is quite substitutable for imported senega root.
In Indian medicine, the properties of elecampane are used in chronic bronchitis and rheumatism (Chopra et al., 1956).
In the GDR, the root and rhizomes were used in the form of tea, extract for respiratory and stomach diseases (Dorfler, Roselt, 1964).
Treatment with elecampane in Austria is used in the form of decoction, cold infusion, tincture, powder for lung diseases and as an anthelmintic. Root ointment - for eczema and itchy skin. Tincture and powder are prescribed only when directed by a physician (Heithaller, 1964). Rhizomes and roots are official in the Netherlands (Klan, 1948).
Abu-Ali Ibn-Sina used the properties of elecampane for inflammation of the sciatic nerve, joint pain, decoction of roots in grape sauce - for heart and lung diseases, with honey - as an expectorant, syrup of their roots as a diuretic.
In Bulgaria, the roots and rhizomes of elecampane are used as a good stimulating secretion of the stomach and intestines, anti-inflammatory and expectorant for gastroenterocolitis, bronchitis, as well as for irregular and painful menstruation. According to Bulgarian researchers, elecampane high has a favorable effect in kidney disease, liver disease, hemorrhoids, and externally in skin itching with skin rashes, inflammation of the gums. Treatment with elecampane internally is recommended in the form of infusion, decoction, powder, externally - in the form of ointment and decoction.
In Bulgarian folk medicine, an alcoholic infusion of the root is used for heart palpitations, headaches, epilepsy, whooping cough and as a means of preventing premature labor.
Domestic folk medicine uses rhizome as an expectorant for choking, bronchitis, whooping cough, as an anthelmintic, styptic, diuretic and appetite-increasing remedy. Externally, treatment with elecampane is recommended for eczema, neurodermatitis, scabies and other skin diseases, as well as for the treatment of wounds.
In the food industry, it is used for candy and liquor products. The essential oil is a good antiseptic and can also be used to flavor culinary items.
We use rhizomes with roots of elecampane high in a mixture with other roots for joint diseases..
