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Elder

What Is It?
The elder shrub (Sambucus nigra L.) has long been famed as a source of the blue-black berries used to make elderberry wine and jelly. More important, its berries and flowers have been used medicinally for centuries to fight off respiratory infections and other ailments.

American elder (Sambucus candensis L.) is found in the eastern part of North America. What accounts for the plant's therapeutic properties is not well understood, but its healing effects are thought to originate in substances called flavonoids, which affect the body in a variety of ways. As antihistamines, flavonoids can be useful in the treatment of allergies. As antioxidants, they help counteract the cell destruction caused by toxic molecules called free radicals. And as antivirals, they aid the body in fighting off infection, which makes the elder a clinically very useful plant.

Although the effects of elder have not been clearly demonstrated in clinical trials, traditional medicine holds that elder is a diuretic (meaning it increases urination) and that it helps ease coughs. And many sources accept that the herb increases perspiration because of its long history and the results of animal studies.

Elder is part of the healing traditions of Greece and parts of Europe, and has also been incorporated into the Indian system of Ayurvedic medicine.

Health Benefits

Acting as an antioxidant, elder may protect the body against damage from free radicals. And although the action has not been conclusively proven, elder's long history as an herb used to promote sweating and urination may explain why it is believed to "flush out" colds and flu. It also has a reputation as an anti-inflammatory, but there is virtually no evidence to support this claim.

Specifically, elder flower may help to:

 

  • Fight flu and feverish colds. Sweating has long been used in many healing traditions to help "break" a fever. Because elder tends to produce perspiration, it may help the body to shed the viruses that cause colds and flu, although this is unproven. As drinking lots of fluids is known to hasten the duration of a fever, the diuretic effects of elder might help cold sufferers in a similar way.

    In addition, in one laboratory study, the combination of elderberry with St. Johnís wort and soapwort actually inhibited the growth of both the influenza virus and the herpes virus. A double-blind clinical trial of an elderberry preparation was proven to be an effective treatment for an influenza infection. Although the physicians performing the study used the commercial preparation Sambucol, it is possible that elder in other forms has anti-influenza properties as well.

     

  • Control cough. A cup of elder flower tea may help to break up the bronchial secretions of chest colds and relieve coughs. It's uncertain, however, whether this results from an action of the herb itself, or from the heat and steam produced by the tea, which loosen mucus and make it easier to expel.

     

    • Forms
    • liquid
    • capsule

    Dosage Information

    Special tips: --Store dried elder flowers in an airtight container that protects them from light and moisture.

    --To use commercial preparations containing elder, follow the package directions.

    --Elder is often sold in combination products for reducing fever, which blend it with yarrow flower and peppermint leaf.

    For flu, cold, or cough: 1 to 2 teaspoons liquid extract (mixed with water) or a cup of elder tea, three to four times a day.

    Guidelines for Use

     
  • To make tea, use 2 teaspoons of dried flowers per cup of water; drink as hot as possible.

     

  • Make fresh elder flower tea every time, rather than brewing large quantities.

    Be sure to check out our Dosage Recommendation Chart which lists therapeutic dosages for specific ailments at a glance.

    • General Interaction

     
  • There are no known drug or nutrient interactions associated with elder.

     

    • Possible Side Effects

     
  • With normal use, there are no side effects associated with elder. Although the ripe berries are edible, if they are eaten raw they may cause nausea and vomiting.

     

    • Cautions

     
  • The flowers and ripe fruit of elderberry are safe to consume, especially when dried or cooked.

     

  • Elder roots, leaves, and stems can cause diarrhea, nausea, and vomiting, and should not be taken internally. The stems actually contain the potentially fatal poison, cyanide--do not consume them.

     

    Ailments
    Dosage
    Flu
    4 tbsp. 3 times a day for 3 days of Sambucol, an elderberry juice syrup. Also, 1 cup elder flower tea 4 times a day may be helpful.
     

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