Elder- Sambucus nigra
If you have a cold or flu, with no medical insurance, elderberry is the herb for you. Whether the elder herb is in tea, syrup, gummies, jello, wine, vinegar, antiviral drugs have got nothing on elderberry.
Make it stand out.
For the past three years, I have escaped the clutches of the flu, with my trusty homemade elderberry syrup. Heck, I even took daily doses of elderberry tincture due the start of the covid-19 pandemic. That should tell you something.
Monograph
Botanical Name: Sambucus nigra
Common Name: European elder, Black elder, Common elder, Bore tree
Family Name: Caprifoliaceae
Plant Parts Used: Bark, flowers, berries, leaves
Constitution: Cool and wet
Taste: Acrid and bitter
Key Actions: Bark: Purgative, emetic, diuretic. Leaves: Externally emollient and vulnerary, internally as purgative, expectorant, diuretic, and diaphoretic. Flowers: Diaphoretic, anti-catarrhal, pectoral. Berries: Diaphoretic, diuretic, laxative. All parts: Anti-inflammatory, arthritis, diarrhea
Plant Preparations: Infusion, juice, ointment, vinegar, decoction, tincture, cream, syrups, eyewash, compress, gargle
Cautionary Pearls: Elder leaves, roots, and bark should not be used internally if not properly aged.
Self-Help Uses: Leaves: Bruises, sprains, wounds, and chilblains. Flowers & berries: Colds and influenza, catarrhal inflammation of the upper respiratory tract (hay fever and sinusitis), catarrhal deafness, rheumatism. All parts: Anti-inflammatory, allergic rhinitis including hay fever, candidiasis, earache due to chronic congestion, conjunctivitis, gout, chilblains, tonsillitis, sore throats, skin care. Culinary: Flowers and berries are used in wines, cordials, desserts, and jams.
Related Species: American Black Elderberry (S. canadensis)- Its flower and ripe fruit are edible. However, the leaves, stems, roots, seeds and unripe fruits, can be toxic at lethal doses. Red elderberry (S. racemosa)’s is toxic. The stems, roots and foliage are poisonous, and the berries can be toxic or cause nausea if eaten raw. However, the fruits are safe to eat when cooked.
References:
- The Complete Illustrated Holistic Herbal/David Hoffman/Pg. 139
- Encyclopedia of Herbal Medicine/Andrew Chevallier/Pg. 132
- The New Age Herbalist/Richard Mabey/Pg. 37
- The Way of Herbs/Michael Tierra/Pg. 133
Pertinent Information
It i important to use elderberry or elder flowers in the first stages of colds and flus in order to get its full effectiveness.
Elderflowers are also used in salves for the treatment of burns, rashes, minor skin ailments and to diminish wrinkles (Ladies, are you listening?)
The leaves are an excellent detoxifying agent in salves.
The bark is a strong laxative and can be toxic unless properly aged for a year or more.
taken as a strong tea, the elderberries is used as an effective treatment for arthritis and rheumatic complaints.
A gargle of an elderflower infusion or elderberry vinegar alleviates tonsillitis and sore throats.
