It is mentioned in an 1817 New-England almanack as a cure for hydrophobia when the root is bruised and used with a strong decoction of milk. It is used in herbal medicine as an expectorant and for water retention. Chemical constituents Besides the storage polysaccharide inulin (C6H12O6[C6H10O5]n), a polymer of fructose, the root contains helenin (C15H20O2), a phytochemical compound consisting of alantolactone and isoalantolactone. Helenin is a stearoptene, which may be prepared in white acicular crystals, insoluble in water, but freely soluble in alcohol. When freed from the accompanying inula-camphor by repeated crystallization from alcohol, helenin melts at 110 °C. References External links Elecampane at Plants for a Future Elecampane from Maud Grieve, A Modern Herbal photo of herbarium specimen at Missouri Botanical Garden, collected in Missouri in 1933 Inula Medicinal plants of Asia Medicinal plants of Europe Flora of temperate Asia Flora of Europe