Elderberry herbal products come from the elder tree, romantically referred to as the ‘tree of music’, since its hard wood was used by the Romans for making musical instruments and the branches are still used today by Italians to make a type of flute, the sampogna.
Advertisement
But the elder tree has more to offer than music. Its fruit, flowers, bark and roots have also long been sought after for hair-dyeing, as ingredients in jelly, preserves, juices and wines, and for medicinal benefits. Used by the Native Americans, Romans and Greeks, elder tree produce was traditionally used to relieve constipation, rheumatic pain, infections, colic, coughs and skin conditions. Today elderberries are primarily used in the treatment of the common cold and ‘flu, and other mucus-producing ailments.
The elderberry is native to Europe and it thrives in woods, hedges and waste ground. It varies considerably in size and shape, growing from bushy shrubs to trees nearly 50 feet in height. The plant’s botanical name is Sambucus nigra but it is also known as black elder, ellanwood and black-berried European elder.
The plant can be identified by clusters of purple berries hanging from branches interspersed with drooping masses of flat-topped, creamy-white, fragrant flowers. The flowering tops are harvested in late spring and the berries are picked in early autumn. It has been said that the English summer has not arrived until one sees the elder flowers in full bloom, and that summer ends when the berries are ripe.
Parts used
Root, bark, leaves, flowers and fruit
Active constituents
The flavonoids, including quercetin, are believed to account for the therapeutic effects of elderberry flowers and berries, and the soft resin and viburnic acid is considered the active principle of the bark. Other active compounds include:
Alkaloid
Chlorophyll
Cyanogenic glycoside
Fat
Grape sugar
Gum
Mucilage
Pectin
Starch
Tannins
Vitamins A and C
Volatile oil
Wax
Medical actions
Anti-inflammatory
Diaphoretic
Diuretic
Medicinal use of elderberries
Common cold
Sore throat
Inflammation
Influenza
Urinary problems
Kidney problems
Dropsy
Oedema
Rheumatic ailments
Constipation
Arthritis
Elderberry juice is also a cleanser and especially good as a tonic for the reproductive and glandular system. Dried elderberry blossoms can be used as a kidney tea and in promoting perspiration. A tea made from the leaves and young shoots act as a diuretic, thus assisting in the elimination of excess water from the body. According to research, an extract from the leaves, combined with St. John's wort and soapwort, inhibits the herpes simplex virus.
Available forms in South Africa
Elderberry root powder and elderberry flower powder.
Dosage
Tea
Flowers: Steep 3-5 grams of the dried flowers in one cup of boiling water for ten to fifteen minutes. Drink three times per day.
Fresh bark and root: Steep 1 level teaspoon to 1/2 cup boiling water. Drink no more than one cup at a time.
Other herbal preparation of elderberry should be taken according to product recommendations.
Safety
There are no known side effects of elderberry herbal preparations, although caution should be taken when using your own elderberry plants, as some parts of the plant may be poisonous when consumed fresh.
Bookmark with:
What are social bookmarks?