Elecampane Root

Elecampane is used for lung diseases including asthma, bronchitis, and whooping cough. It is also used to prevent coughing, especially coughing caused by tuberculosis; and as an expectorant to help loosen phlegm, so it can be coughed up more easily.

Other uses include improving stomach function; treating nausea and diarrhea; and killing worms that can live in the intestine. These worms include hookworm, roundworm, threadworm, and whipworm.

Some people use elecampane to promote sweating.

In foods and beverages, elecampane is used to provide flavor.

In other manufacturing processes, elecampane is used as a fragrance in cosmetics and soaps.

Coughs.
Asthma.
Bronchitis.
Nausea.
Diarrhea.
Killing worms that live in the gut (hookworm, roundworm, threadworm, and whipworm).
elecampane is said to be an antispasmodic (relieves muscle spasms and tension), a hepatic tonic (soothes and tones the liver), and has cancer-fighting properties, like preventing the growth of tumors.3

 Other potential benefits include:

Ease Digestive Issues
This herb contains a large amount of the prebiotic soluble fiber inulin, which supports a healthy intestinal tract.4 Dietary inulin is found in many foods (including whole wheat, onions, and garlic) and is said to slow digestive metabolism and reduce blood glucose spikes in people with diabetes. Inulin from chicory root is now being added to many foods to boost their soluble fiber content.

Elecampane is also used to soothe nausea, flatulence, and diarrhea, which may be caused by worms present in the intestines. Elecampane contains phytochemicals alantolactone and isoalantolactone, which are said to address worms such as hookworm, roundworm, threadworm, and whipworm.5

Soothe Pain and Inflammation
Some herbal medicine practitioners say elecampane could be used to ease pain stemming from lung diseases such as asthma, bronchitis, and whooping cough. Since elecampane is said to prevent coughing, this herb may also relieve symptoms of tuberculosis.4 Elecampane is said to loosen phlegm in these situations so a person will cough and expel it from the body. Studies have also found sesquiterpene lactone compounds in the herb have an anti-inflammatory effect.

Fight Bacteria
Elecampane has astringent and antimicrobial properties, which may act against bacterial infection. Elecampane has also been said to promote sweating in individuals who are attempting to rid their bodies of bacteria or a virus.

While a 2009 study found the antimicrobial compounds of elecampane as a potential treatment against Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA),1 MRSA can be dangerous and even fatal, so it's best to see a medical doctor if you're experiencing any symptoms.