The Artistic Farmer

Inula viscose or I. helenium. Compositae                                                  

Found in fields and on hill slopes. Leaves are bright green, rather sticky, of a very pungent scent due to glandular hairs, which protect against grazing flocks. Flowers are bright yellow, starry, small.

Use, internal:

For all ailments of the chest and lungs, including pneumonia, bronchitis, asthma, hay fever. Will soothe coughs and is also a remedy for whooping cough.

Use, external:

Much favored by the Arabs, who use the leafy sprays in steam baths to cure stiffness of the body and rheumatic complaints. The herb in vapor ( and as an internal medicine ) warms and strengthens the lungs, and promotes expulsion of mucus from nose and throat. Used also as an insecticide, dried and powdered or as a strong brew. The Spanish peasants hang branches from the ceiling hooks in their homes. The flies gather on the sticky plants which are thrust into sacks at nighttime, and the sacks are plunged into water, drowning the flies.

Dose:

Standard Brew of the whole herb, a tablespoon morning and night. In steam baths, place a quantity of the herb in a pot or kettle and simmer, so that the aromatic oils fill the room and surround the whole body. As a vapor inhalation: Steam the herb in a kettle, hold the face over the steam, covering head and spout of kettle with a cloth to retain the aromatic vapors.