If you only have one herbal medicine to help support your lungs and give you clear, easy breathing, Elecampane is the one for you! This beautiful and sunny herb is easy to grow and makes powerful medicine for you and your family. (Inula helenium) Why We Love It Here are some of the reasons why we love Elecampane... 1) RESPIRATORY SYSTEM SUPPORT - Elecampane is very effective in strengthening the lungs and clearing deep infections in the lungs. Historically it's been used for chronic coughs, lung infections, and pneumonia. 2) EFFECTIVE ANTI-MICROBIAL - Elecampane has been shown in research to have a strong effect on infectious organisms like Staphylococcus aureus, Enterococcus faecalis, Escherischia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Candida albicans. Here's the research. 3) SUNNY FLOWERS AND POLLINATOR PLANT - The golden sunflower-like flowers of Elecampane are a cheery addition to the garden. They are attractive to both humans and bees alike. How to Grow It Here's how to grow Elecampane: SUN PART SHADE TO FULL SUN MOISTURE LIKES MOIST SOIL GROWING ZONES USDA 3-9 (Not sure? Find your growing zone here) SIZE 3-5 FEET TALL & 1-3 FEET WIDE GROWING FROM SEED Elecampane needs light to germinate, so it's important to only cover with a little bit of soil so the light can still reach the seed. Tamp firmly into the soil and keep moist until germination. Once the baby plants make their 2nd set of leaves, you can transplant. Transplant to 2 feet apart. Elecampane is best planted in the Fall or Spring. Winter Sowing is the easiest way to start these seeds. Here's a seed-starting tutorial for you. You won't believe how easy it is! How to Harvest & Use It The roots of Elecampane are best harvest in the Fall and Winter. When the plant goes dormant, all of the energy goes back into the roots, which makes the most potent medicine for you. Here's an awesome article about the history of Elecampane, the research behind it, and how to use it by Richard Whelan, Medical Herbalist. And here's a great video from Harmonic Arts on how to identify, harvest, and use this potent, powerful medicine.
