Bull.lnd.lnst.Hist.Med. Vol. XXVIII·199B pp 7 to 12

ELECAMPANE AND JOB'S DISEASE

SAMIR YAHIA AL-GAMMAL *

ABSTRACTElecampane (Inula Campana) sometimes referred to as Inula helenium is

famous for its successful use as a medication by Prophet Job who had chronicsore boils. Hippocrates described it as a good and effective cure for chronicskin eruptions and itch etc. Elecampane is also reputed to relieve all kinds ofpains, 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 manydiseases.

Elecampane is a plant whosebotanical name is Inula campana, Fam.Compositae (sometimes referred to asInula helenium). Also called Elephant'sears. Arabic name "Cost Shami" or"Rasan". In traditional medicine, historyrecalls the story of prophet Job, who hadchronic sore boils which lasted for 18years after which, God inspired him touse a certain plant as a medication forhis grave illness, and a complete curewas achieved. This plant wasElecampane. It still keeps its historicalproperty through its Egyptian name"Rara Ayyoub." The Greek physician,Hippocrates, described Elecampane asa good and effective cure for chronic skineruptions and itch. Elecampane is ashort plant, with yellow flowers, anddigitalis-like leaves. The roots arepungent and irritant, with bitter taste andthe odour resembles that of pepper andcamphor (sometimes, the taste may be

also astringent).The roots are the main part used

while the seeds are rarely used inmedicine. The leaves are adulterantsof Digitalis.

The plant grows in central andsouthern Europe, the Mediterraneanregion where it grows wildly in Egypt,Central Asia and Russia.

The roots are 6 inches long, 1-2inches long and 1/2 - 1 inch thick, veryfleshy (sliced for commercial purposeseither longitudinally or transversely).The longitudinal slices have the barkoverlapping, while the transverse slicesare concave, somewhat radially straite,externally it is irregularly wrinkled andbrownish, while internally, it is whitewhen fresh, greyish after drying, of apeculiar aromatic odour and anaromatic, bitterish and pungent taste.

The roots are hygroscopic andflexible in damp weather, but break when

'Pharmacist, Researcher in History of Medicine and Pharmacy, P.O. 136, Maadi, Cairo, Egypt.

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dry with a short fracture. The bark is 1/2 inch or more thick, the inner portionradiates near the cambium line, themeditullium has small fibrovascularbundles and broad medullary rays, andall parts of the roots are dotted withshining yellowish-brown resin cells.

Elecampane contain a little volatileoil, some acrid resin, a bitter crystallineprinciple "Helenin," wax, tannin, and apolysaccharide "Inulin" (44%), saponins,mucilage. The volatile oil containsalantolactone and isoalantolactone.Helenin crystallises from theconcentrated tincture, mixed with water,has the formula (C6 He 0), which isinsipid, almost insoluble in water,crystallises in needles, fuses at 110 co,and is converted by nitric acid into oxalicacid and a resinous body. On distillingthe root with steam, inula camphor isproduced, also called alant camphor,with the formula (C10H160), and inulolor alantol, with the formula (C15H2oO2),

Inulin is a polysaccharideresembling starch, with the formula (C12H2o 010), and is contained in thesubterranean parts of the compositaefamily. It is obtained by forciblyexpressing the grated juicy roots, whena portion will deposit on standing whilethe remainder may be precipitated byalcohol. It is a fine white powder,tasteless, inodourous, insoluble inalcohol, soluble in hot water.

Elecampane powder may be usedin a dose of 1-4 gm. Internally, whilethe syrup is in a dose of 15-60 ml.Helenin is taken orally in a dose of 1/6-1/2 grain.

Bull./nd./nst. Hist, Med. Vol. XXV/II- 1998

Helenin has antiseptic properties,recommended as a gargle in ozaena,and internally in diseases of therespiratory organs for the reduction ofinflammations, relieves speedily chronicbronchitis, and useful in anthrax and aciddyspepsia.

Elecampane is also useful in skineruptions, itch and chronic ulcers andinflammations (due to its content ofhelenin which destroys bacilli and othermicrobes). Also reputed to relieve allkinds of pains, specially those arisingfrom chills, and animal bites. The rootis commonly preserved as pectoralcandy and in the preparation of absinthedrink.

In traditional medicine, Elecampanewas and is still used in different formsfor the cure of many diseases.Hundreds of years ago, Elecampanewas used in the form of an aqueousextract prepared from the roots byboiling 18 gm. of roots and 144 gms. ofwater, then filtered, and the filtrate takenorally, three times daily, giving goodresults in relieving kidney, spleen, back,joints and anginal pains. This aqueousextract may also be used or better theroot tincture, for the treatment of chronicskin eruptions such as boils, pimples(mixed with honey), malignant skintumours, ulcers and inflammations.

Hippocrates also describedElecampane as a good stimulant for thebrain, stomach, uterus and spleen. Alsorelieves cough and asthma andrheumatic pains, all internally, while inointment form for the skin eruptions.

Also, Elecampane has a reputation

Elecampane and Job's Disease - EI- Gammal

in traditional medicine as diaphoretic,emmenagogue, choleretic, cholagogue,cures uncontrolled night (bed)micturition, vermifuge, anti-emetic,relieves migraine pains, and has anti-diarrhoeal properties due to its astringenteffect.

In powder form, Elecampane rootswere sprinkled on insect bites to stopbleeding and prevent infection. Wholeroots were sometimes pickled and eatento relieve indigestion and increaseappetite. Also, a tincture made from theroots, painted on loose gums (now-a-days referred to as pyorrhoea), will curethem. .

From the above mentionedinformation about Elecampane'sproperty of curing chronic skininflammations, suggestion of curingJob's disease was fully investigated.

Job's disease is what is termed"Pemphigoid or Parapemphigus" inmodern dermatology. It affects oldpeople, between 65-75 years and over.Unlike Pemphigus, the patient's skin isaffected first by a premonitory itchingeruption, which can resemble eczemaor urticaria. The blisters appear afterscraping of the skin, and aresubepidermal in situation. They arelarge, tense, filled with serum or bloodand in contrast to those of Pemphigus,remain intact for several days and thenrupture.

Histologically, the epidermis is intact,the bulla is always subepidermal. Thisdisease was considered fatal untilsystemic corticosteroids wereintroduced into its medication.

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For more than 40 years, this diseasewas wrongly referred to as Jacob'sdisease instead of Job's disease.According to the Old Testament, we readin The Book of Job, chapter 2, verse 7;"So went Satan forth from the presenceof the Lord, and smote Job with soreboils from the sole of his foot unto hiscrown." And in verse 8, we read and hetook him a potsherd to scrape himselfwithal; and he sat down among theashes."

Also mention of Job's disease isfound in the book Kesus a.-Anbia(Stories of the Prophets), by al-Thalabi,of the chapter on the Prophet Ayyoub(Job) and the story of his illness, .. whileAyyoub was rraying he felt strong heatsensation in all his body, and then bullaappeared throughout his entire skin, withprofound itching, so strong that nothingcould stop it even with scraping by hisfingernails, coarse cloth, stones till all hisskin has fallen and putrefied.Furthermore, his fingers has showed itsbones, could not lift his hands to eat, onecan see through his ears, his abdomenwall loosened ...". " ... then God inspiredhim to .rub his body with bundles of aherb after which complete cure wasachieved."

Another scientific error related to thisplant "Inula ne'enium", is that its Arabicname in Egypt is Rara Ayyoub, but givento another plant growing wild along thewater canals, and belongs to the sameCompositae family. This plant isGnaphalium luteoalbum, very similar toInula helenium in external features(sometimes named Pu/icaria arabica.).

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1. Dymock, W.

2. Ibn AI-Bay tar

3. Ibn Sina

4. Daud AI-Antaki

5. AI-Biruni

6.

7. Ibn Ishak AI-Thaalabi

8. Sneddon I.B.&Church, R.E.

Bulf. Ind. Inst. Hist, Med. Vol. XXV/II- 1998

REFERENCES1891 Pharmacographia Indica, Vol.2, page

259, London, Hamdard, Edn. 1972,Pakistan.

1291 H. AI-Jami Li-Mufradat AI-Adwiya WalAghdhiya (Materia Medica), Vol.2page 128, Egyptian Edn.

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

1282H Tazkaret Daud; page 151, Vol. 1Egyptian Edn.

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

Old Testament, Book of Jobe, Chapter1, verse 7 & 8.

Kesas AI-Anbia; page 148; Cairo Edn.

1977 Practical Dermatology;3rd Edn., page 188; Great Britain.

Elecampane and Job's Disease -EL - Gammal 11

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