Bull.lnd.lnst.Hist.Med. Vol. XXVIII·199B pp 7 to 12 ELECAMPANE AND JOB'S DISEASE

SAMIR YAHIA AL-GAMMAL *

ABSTRACT Elecampane ( Campana) sometimes referred to as Inula helenium is famous for its successful use as a medication by Prophet Job who had chronic sore boils. Hippocrates described it as a good and effective cure for chronic skin eruptions and itch etc. Elecampane is also reputed to relieve all kinds of pains, specially those arising from chills, and animal biles. In traditional medi- cine, Elecampane was and is still used in different forms for the cure of many diseases.

Elecampane is a whose also astringent). botanical name is Inula campana, Fam. The are the main part used Compositae (sometimes referred to as while the seeds are rarely used in Inula helenium). Also called Elephant's medicine. The are adulterants ears. Arabic name "Cost Shami" or of Digitalis. "Rasan". In traditional medicine, history The plant grows in central and recalls the story of prophet Job, who had southern Europe, the Mediterranean chronic sore boils which lasted for 18 region where it grows wildly in Egypt, years after which, God inspired him to Central Asia and Russia. use a certain plant as a medication for The roots are 6 inches long, 1-2 his grave illness, and a complete cure inches long and 1/2 - 1 inch thick, very was achieved. This plant was fleshy (sliced for commercial purposes Elecampane. It still keeps its historical either longitudinally or transversely). property through its Egyptian name The longitudinal slices have the bark "Rara Ayyoub." The Greek physician, overlapping, while the transverse slices Hippocrates, described Elecampane as are concave, somewhat radially straite, a good and effective cure for chronic skin externally it is irregularly wrinkled and eruptions and itch. Elecampane is a brownish, while internally, it is white short plant, with yellow flowers, and when fresh, greyish after drying, of a digitalis-like leaves. The roots are peculiar aromatic odour and an pungent and irritant, with bitter taste and aromatic, bitterish and pungent taste. the odour resembles that of pepper and The roots are hygroscopic and camphor (sometimes, the taste may be flexible in damp weather, but break when

'Pharmacist, Researcher in History of Medicine and Pharmacy, P.O. 136, Maadi, Cairo, Egypt. 8 Bull./nd./nst. Hist, Med. Vol. XXV/II- 1998 dry with a short fracture. The bark is 1/ Helenin has antiseptic properties, 2 inch or more thick, the inner portion recommended as a gargle in ozaena, radiates near the cambium line, the and internally in diseases of the meditullium has small fibrovascular respiratory organs for the reduction of bundles and broad medullary rays, and inflammations, relieves speedily chronic all parts of the roots are dotted with bronchitis, and useful in anthrax and acid shining yellowish-brown resin cells. dyspepsia. Elecampane contain a little volatile Elecampane is also useful in skin oil, some acrid resin, a bitter crystalline eruptions, itch and chronic ulcers and principle "Helenin," wax, tannin, and a inflammations (due to its content of polysaccharide "Inulin" (44%), saponins, helenin which destroys bacilli and other mucilage. The volatile oil contains microbes). Also reputed to relieve all alantolactone and isoalantolactone. kinds of pains, specially those arising Helenin crystallises from the from chills, and animal bites. The concentrated tincture, mixed with water, is commonly preserved as pectoral has the formula (C6 He 0), which is candy and in the preparation of absinthe insipid, almost insoluble in water, drink. crystallises in needles, fuses at 110 co, In traditional medicine, Elecampane and is converted by nitric acid into oxalic was and is still used in different forms acid and a resinous body. On distilling for the cure of many diseases. the root with steam, inula camphor is Hundreds of years ago, Elecampane produced, also called alant camphor, was used in the form of an aqueous with the formula (C10 H160), and inulol extract prepared from the roots by or alantol, with the formula (C15H2oO2), boiling 18 gm. of roots and 144 gms. of Inulin is a polysaccharide water, then filtered, and the filtrate taken resembling starch, with the formula (C12 orally, three times daily, giving good H2o 010), and is contained in the results in relieving kidney, spleen, back, subterranean parts of the compositae joints and anginal pains. This aqueous family. It is obtained by forcibly extract may also be used or better the expressing the grated juicy roots, when root tincture, for the treatment of chronic a portion will deposit on standing while skin eruptions such as boils, pimples the remainder may be precipitated by (mixed with ), malignant skin alcohol. It is a fine white powder, tumours, ulcers and inflammations. tasteless, inodourous, insoluble in Hippocrates also described alcohol, soluble in hot water. Elecampane as a good stimulant for the Elecampane powder may be used brain, stomach, uterus and spleen. Also in a dose of 1-4 gm. Internally, while relieves cough and asthma and the syrup is in a dose of 15-60 ml. rheumatic pains, all internally, while in Helenin is taken orally in a dose of 1/6- ointment form for the skin eruptions. 1/2 grain. Also, Elecampane has a reputation Elecampane and Job's Disease - EI- Gammal 9 in traditional medicine as diaphoretic, For more than 40 years, this disease emmenagogue, choleretic, cholagogue, was wrongly referred to as Jacob's cures uncontrolled night (bed) disease instead of Job's disease. micturition, vermifuge, anti-emetic, According to the Old Testament, we read relieves migraine pains, and has anti- in The Book of Job, chapter 2, verse 7; diarrhoeal properties due to its astringent "So went Satan forth from the presence effect. of the Lord, and smote Job with sore In powder form, Elecampane roots boils from the sole of his foot unto his were sprinkled on insect bites to stop crown." And in verse 8, we read and he bleeding and prevent infection. Whole took him a potsherd to scrape himself roots were sometimes pickled and eaten withal; and he sat down among the to relieve indigestion and increase ashes." appetite. Also, a tincture made from the Also mention of Job's disease is roots, painted on loose gums (now-a- found in the book Kesus a.-Anbia days referred to as pyorrhoea), will cure (Stories of the Prophets), by al-Thalabi, them. . of the chapter on the Prophet Ayyoub From the above mentioned (Job) and the story of his illness, .. while information about Elecampane's Ayyoub was rraying he felt strong heat property of curing chronic skin sensation in all his body, and then bulla inflammations, suggestion of curing appeared throughout his entire skin, with Job's disease was fully investigated. profound itching, so strong that nothing Job's disease is what is termed could stop it even with scraping by his "Pemphigoid or Parapemphigus" in fingernails, coarse cloth, stones till all his modern dermatology. It affects old skin has fallen and putrefied. people, between 65-75 years and over. Furthermore, his fingers has showed its Unlike Pemphigus, the patient's skin is bones, could not lift his hands to eat, one affected first by a premonitory itching can see through his ears, his abdomen eruption, which can resemble eczema wall loosened ...". "... then God inspired or urticaria. The blisters appear after him to .rub his body with bundles of a scraping of the skin, and are herb after which complete cure was subepidermal in situation. They are achieved." large, tense, filled with serum or blood Another scientific error related to this and in contrast to those of Pemphigus, plant "Inula ne'enium", is that its Arabic remain intact for several days and then name in Egypt is Rara Ayyoub, but given rupture. to another plant growing wild along the Histologically, the epidermis is intact, water canals, and belongs to the same the bulla is always subepidermal. This Compositae family. This plant is disease was considered fatal until Gnaphalium luteoalbum, very similar to systemic corticosteroids were Inula helenium in external features introduced into its medication. (sometimes named Pu/icaria arabica.). 10 Bulf. Ind. Inst. Hist, Med. Vol. XXV/II- 1998

REFERENCES

1. Dymock, W. 1891 Pharmacographia Indica, Vol.2, page 259, London, Hamdard, Edn. 1972, Pakistan.

2. Ibn AI-Bay tar 1291 H. AI-Jami Li-Mufradat AI-Adwiya Wal Aghdhiya (Materia Medica), Vol.2 page 128, Egyptian Edn.

3. Ibn Sina 1294H AI-Kanun Fil Tibb; Vol.1, page 420 & 430, Egyptian Edn.

4. Daud AI-Antaki 1282H Tazkaret Daud; page 151, Vol. 1 Egyptian Edn.

5. AI-Biruni 1973 Kitab AI-Saydanah Fil Tibb, Page 307, Hamdard Edn. Pakistan.

6. Old Testament, Book of Jobe, Chapter 1, verse 7 & 8.

7. Ibn Ishak AI-Thaalabi Kesas AI-Anbia; page 148; Cairo Edn.

8. Sneddon I.B.& 1977 Practical Dermatology; Church, R.E. 3rd Edn., page 188; Great Britain. Elecampane and Job's Disease -EL - Gammal 11

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