Winter Cough Syrup - the magic of Elecampane

Elecampane is a little known medicinal herb plant, that belongs to the Aster or Daisy family, it's latin name is Inula helenium. In France and Switzerland it is used in the making of Absinthe! An interesting fact I found out is that Susan O'Shea, a research student at Cork Institute of technology, has shown that extracts from the herb kill methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) as well as a broad spectrum of other bacteria.

It's a herbacious perennial, so it dies back every winter. And it is in the winter that you dig up some of the root for medicinal purposes. From Plants for a Future': A gently warming and tonic herb, it is especially effective in treating coughs, bronchitis and many other complaints of the chest as well as disorders of the digestive system. It cleanses toxins from the body, stimulating the immune and digestive systems and treating bacterial and fungal infections. The root is antiseptic, astringent, bitter, cholagogue, diaphoretic, diuretic, mildly expectorant, gently stimulant, stomachic, tonic.'

It's main use is as an expectorant, so to bring up and get rid of phlegm! So when you are chesty of have a bad throat or cough, elecampane syrup is just what you need!

How I make Elecampane Syrup:
When the plant had died back in winter, dig up part of the root, making sure to leave some for growing next year. Scrub the root clean, and slice it into small pieces. put it on a large pot of water, and bring to the boil, let it infuse at a medium heat for 10-15 minutes. Turn of the heat, leave to infuse for a further 10 minutes. Strain off the root using muslin and a strainer. Add sugar to taste (the more you add the longer it will last), heat gently until the sugar dissolves in, be careful not to over heat it again or the taste turns bitter. Bottle it, and keep in a very cool place or in the fridge.  Drink it by adding in some hot water and take as a hot drink, two to three times a day when phlemy/throaty. It turns this amazing green colour when you have infused it in the water. And I think it tastes delicious!