general guidelines and tips

what else you should know

Elecampane is a member of the aster family distributed throughout Europe, Asia and some parts of North America. Although the attractive flowers are eye-catching, it is the root of the plant that is harvested to produce teas, tinctures and other preparations.

The herb gets its species name in honor of Helen of Troy, who was allegedly holding a bouquet of the flowers at the moment her Trojan prince swept her off her feet. The genus name of the plant provides inspiration for inulin, a natural plant fiber and polysaccharide used to sweeten processed foods.

history and folklore
According to Greek legend, Helen held a sprig of elecampane in her grasp as Paris, the son of the King of Troy, made off with her from Sparta, where she lived with her husband, King Menelaus. Later known as Helen of Troy, she left with Paris willingly, an act of her infidelity that set all of Greece against the city of Troy and sparked the Trojan War. Some etymologists suspect that Helen is also the reason elecampane was given helenium as its species name.

Pliny the Elder recommended elecampane to promote mirth, a prescription supported by Galen, the Roman physician and surgeon who wrote that the root of the plant is "good for the passions of the hucklebone." Pliny also praised the herb's ability to combat the effects of poor digestion with "Let no day pass without eating some of the roots of elecampane...to help digestion, to expel melancholy..."

Weight: 1 net ounce

for educational purposes only

This information has not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration.
This information is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.

please be advised:
Before making any changes to your diet you should always consult with your doctor,
especially if you are pregnant, nursing or have existing conditions.