THE AMAZING ELDERBERRY

Elderberry, a Traditional Medicine for Colds and Flu.

ELDERBERRY (Sambucus canadensis)

Probably everyone has heard of Elderberry Wine. I heard of it, too, but even when I once made wine for a hobby, I could not identify the plant well enough to feel secure about using it to make wine, jams, jellies, teas etc.

I next heard of it as a great remedy for colds, from Dr. Nida (unsure of the spelling) who appeared on one of the Denver TV stations. That was about six years ago, and I soon became a believer. Sambucol, the liquid version  of Elderberry was available at the drug store.

At the first indication of a cold, I would take Sambucol, frequently, and the symptoms would lessen, or go away entirely, and in the first years while taking it, the misery of a cold was much reduced. I have been subject to colds, sore throats and all the symptoms that follow, all of my life, and the last two years I have made it through without having a cold. After the beginning, I found a capsule form of Elderberry, and always keep it on hand.

When I developed Rheumatoid arthritis in both hands last autumn, 2013,  I  noticed also, that in addition to interrupting a cold, taking Elderberry seemed to reduce the inflammation. Wanting evidence, I wasn’t sure that this wasn’t just a coincidence.

Elderberry varieties grow all over the world, and Native Americans used it as a medicine in this country. Elder trees were part of the folklore in European cultures.

Dr. Robert A Schulman, MD. in his book Solve it with Supplements, says that Elderberry counters the flu as well as sinus infections, bronchitis, sore throats, coughs and more. Some recent studies show that cocktail remedies containing Elderberry may help treat forms of herpes.

Schulman says Elderberry flowers and berries contain flavonoids, notably, Quercetin. The flowers have anti-inflammatory properties as well. Not only that, but Schulman says (pg 110) that Elderberry stimulates the immune system and inhibits the growth of viruses.

So probably I did not just imagine that Elderberry helped my inflamed hands when I took it.

Use of the (white) flowers for making tea, and the extract from black and blue Elderberries are the usual ways of using it, but specific procedures for cooking the berries are required, and as long as syrups, capsules and teas are available commercially, this is probably the most prudent source to use. Red Elderberries, are not effective. Raw and or green forms of the plant can make one very sick.

Nature’s Way is one Store brand that has several forms of Elderberry products. An on- line order company that has herbal formulas of Elderberry and hundreds of other herbal remedies is Swanson Health Products. (I do not recommend any products or companies I have not found reliable, and am not paid for my endorsement.)

"Herbal Supplements" is a new label on this blog, and I hope to review other supplements on an intermittent basis in the future.

Writing and Images are the Copyright © of Ruth Zachary.