Black Elderberry is a plant that grows here in the beautiful Pacific Northwest. It is safe for the whole family to use and even safe in pregnancy!
The Latin name is Sambucus nigra, and plant family is Caprifoliaceae (3).
Elderberry helps to boost the immune system and fight off bacteria as well as viruses.
It has been studied extensively in a laboratory setting along with randomized double blind placebo-controlled trials. In one study elderberry was found to bind and prevent H1N1, human influenza A, infection in vitro (1). A randomized, double-blind, placebo controlled trail utilizing 68 patients who suffered from influenza Type A and influenza Type B were found to have symptoms resolve 4 days earlier compared with the placebo group (2).
Who doesn’t want their flu to be over and done with as early as possible?
Additionally, those of us who suffer from low iron levels have a friend in elderberry as this wonderful plant can also be used as an effective blood tonic to help with anemia.
You can find elderberry in various forms: capsules, tea, syrup, chewable tablets, wine, tinctures, and more. Of all of these the elderberry syrup is my favorite because it tastes so good!
The way elderberry is prepared has a significant impact on the potency and therefore its efficacy. The syrup that I typically use with my patients has the equivalent of 14,500 mg of fresh berries per serving. Not all syrups are created equally. Some syrups are very concentrated while others are less so. This goes for many herbal remedies; which vary in potency from brand to brand.
Many people choose to make elderberry syrup at home to boost the immune system. It is important to have a professional to help guide you in your choices when using it to treat illness.
Never eat the uncooked berries because it can cause nausea and vomiting (3). Always consult with your doctor before taking any herbal medicine to see if it is right for you or if it may interact with any other medications that may be taking.
1) Bill Roschek Jr.a, Ryan C. Finkb, Matthew D. McMichaela, Dan Lic, Randall S. Albertea,
“Elderberry flavonoids bind to and prevent H1N1 infection in vitro.” Phytochemistry, Volume 70, Issue 10, July 2009, Pages 1255–1261.
2) Z Zakay-Rones, E Thom, T Wollan, J Wadstein “Randomized Study of the Efficacy and Safety of Oral Elderberry Extract in the Treatment of Influenza A and B Virus Infections” Journal of international Medical Research, Published April 1, 2004
3) Wood, Mathew. The Book of Herbal Wisdom using plants as medicine. Berkeley:North Atlantic Books, 1997.