HERB - 'syropp of ela campane'

[Gaylin Walli]

Phlip asked:
>Any ideas, folks?

This is how I would look at it.

'syropp of ela campane' would probably be a syrup of the plant
elecampane, often called Elfwort or Scabwort. The botanical of
this plant is Inula helenium (L.) I think. One of the major
constituents of the plant is the volitale oil "helenin" which
is sometimes called "elecampane camphor." Camphor, throughout
history, has been used to treat the symptoms of any of the
numerous kinds of arthritis, including rheumatoid arthritis.

An excellent write-up on Elecampane can be found in M. Grieve's
(OOP) herbal online at

http://www.botanical.com/botanical/mgmh/e/elecam07.html

and this writeup includes pointers to period sources (including
Gerard, Culpepper, and others) which may be of use to the SCAdian
or recreator in tracking down the origins of the syrup's creation.

Jasmine
Jasmine de Cordoba, Midrealm, g.walli at infoengine.com

"Si enim alicui placet mea devotio, gaudebo; si autem
nulli placet, memet ipsam tamen juvat quod feci."
-- Hroswith of Gandersheim
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