British Elecampane (Inula helenium) has a long history of use in traditional herbal medicine, especially in Europe and the UK, for supporting respiratory health and treating coughs—particularly those described as "damp" or productive (with phlegm). The root of elecampane contains several active compounds, including inulin, alantolactone, and isoalantolactone, which have been thought to possess expectorant and mild antimicrobial properties. In traditional herbalism, especially as recorded in texts from the 17th to 19th centuries, elecampane was commonly used to ease bronchitis, chronic coughs, and chest congestion, attributed to its ability to help expel mucus from the lungs.

Despite this well-documented traditional use, modern scientific validation is limited. A few laboratory studies have demonstrated antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties of elecampane root extracts, but there is minimal clinical research directly assessing its efficacy for coughs in humans. Most evidence remains anecdotal or based on historical herbal lore rather than rigorous clinical trials. Therefore, while elecampane continues to be included in herbal formulas for coughs and damp respiratory conditions, its use is primarily supported by tradition rather than modern scientific evidence.