Posted on February 17, 2012 by Michelle in Around the House, Money Saving Tips
Nature’s medicine chest gives us the elderberry. The medicinal properties of this plant have been appreciated for thousands of years. Its flowers, berries, leaves, and bark were traditionally used for treating colds, pneumonia, flu, sore throat… and many other ailments. Black Elderberry has strong immune-stimulating properties and it is one of the most powerful anti-viral remedies known to man.
The elderberry has gained proof in medical and scientific studies of it’s medicinal properties. According to the Journal of International Medical Research patients with confirmed cases of the flu who were given elderberry juice recovered twice as quickly and exhibited fewer symptoms as patients who received a placebo. Virologists in 2009 also led a study that showed it was equally effective in combating the H1N1 flu (swine flue). Dr. Madeleine Mumcuoglu made elderberries internationally famous through the well publicized research and laboratory studies conducted at the Hadassah Medical School of the Hebrew University in Jerusalem. It was demonstrated that Sambucus nigra species of elderberry was effective against a wide range of influenza viruses including human, swine and avian strains. This led to the development of a popular elderberry syrup preparation called Sambucol. Even if the preparation is taken too late to act as a preventative, controlled clinical studies have demonstrated that it could reduce the severity and duration of influenza by half.
Many of the benefits of taking elderberry are theorized to be a result of the ability of elderberry to balance and boost the immune system. When a person’s body and immune system are in balance the body is able to use its own natural defenses to fight off infections of any kind and stay healthy. Today as we eat highly processed foods, live with a daily exposure to pollution of all kinds, experience high stress, and increase our toxin loads the immune system is one of the most compromised body systems. If we balance the immune system many health issues disappear.
Of additional interest is the fact that elderberry is useful for treating bacterial sinusitis because it reduces excessive mucus in the sinus cavities, promotes better drainage, and reduces nasal congestion and swelling of mucous membranes. In that light, it seems that elderberry would be beneficial during a mucous producing cytokine storm. Elderberries many professed health benefits include:
- Immune System Booster
- Fights Cancer
- Improves vision
- Fights infections including influenza, herpes, viral infections, bacterial infections
- Lowers cholesterol
- Improves heart health
- Fights coughs and colds
- Protect against cell damage
- Impedes yeast infections
- Fights hay fever
- Helps with asthma
- Improves complexion
- Improves eczema
The action of elderberries comes from phytochemicals known as flavonoids. The class of flavonoid that elderberry is loaded with is anthocyanins. The elderberry is the most concentrated source of anthocyanins. Antrocyanins are powerful antioxidants which are responsible for giving many red and purple fruits their color. Blueberries contain the same anthocyanins but in much lower quantities.
Research by Dr. Rechkemmer, president of Germany’s Federal Research Institute for Nutrition and Food, show the purple-black pigment of the elderberry containing the anthocyanins promote the production of cytokines. Cytokines are the body’s protein messengers that keep the immune system healthy, balanced, and strong. These little proteins are essential for the immune system to function properly and protect the body from harm. Cytokines are sent by the body during an immune system response directly to the sight of the trouble.
In addition to this Flavonoids elderberries contain many other vitamins and minerals. This rich variety of nutrients help the body to get many of the nutrients it desperately needs to stay healthy.
Elderberries are small, dark berries that grow in clusters on elder trees (also called elderberry bushes). Elderberry bushes are a hardy plant growing native in many climates, often in the moist soil along roadsides and streams. They’re fast-growing and typically grow quite large and full, with compound leaves and tightly clustered bunches of tiny white flowers in late spring, followed by clusters of berries in late summer. The berries are a favorite of wildlife especially birds.
There are many different varieties of elderberry bushes, but I’ll focus here on the most common. The European Elder, or Sambucus nigra (also called Black Elder or Common Elder), is found throughout warmer parts of Europe and North America. The berries are black to dark blue, and it’s the type of elderberry most frequently used in recipes and retail extracts and syrups.
The American Elder, or Sambucus canadensis (also called Sweet Elder), is also used in recipes and said to be slightly sweeter than the Sambucus nigra variety. It’s found in many climates, including most of North America east of the Rocky Mountains. Depending on who you ask, the canadensis is technically a sub-set of the nigra variety, but nurseries tend to list them as a separate species, so best to think of it as its own species for the purposes of choosing which types to plant together.
The red-berried elder, or Sambucus racemosa, grows throughout the cooler parts of North America, but the berries, when ripe, are a bright red color. I have seen accounts saying the red do not taste as good. According to other sources, it is poisonous. So without being a horticulturalist or a doctor, my advice for anyone just starting would be to stick with blue, black or dark purple elderberries, and leave the reds alone.
The white flowers of the elderberry bush have been used in many things; pressed into tonics, brewed into wines and champagne, lightly battered and fried into fritters, or stirred into muffin or sponge cake mix for a light, sweet flavor.
The ripe berries, cleaned and cooked, can be made into many things: wine, jelly, tea, extracts, syrups, pies, jams, or used as garnish, dye or flavoring are just a few. The leaves, twigs, stems, roots and unripe berries of all elderberry plants are not edible, and contain toxins that can make a person quite sick. For home use concentrate on ripe berries and flowers only!
IMPORTANT CAUTIONS:
Avoid any kind of elderberry preparation if you have a known allergy to plants in the honeysuckle (Caprifoliaceae) family.
Don’t consume raw elderberries or uncooked elderberry juice, which may cause nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and gastrointestinal pain. It is understood that cooked elderberries are safe and completely free of any cyanide toxicity.
Don’t take elderberry if you are undergoing chemotherapy without consulting your doctor. Elderberry may increase the effects of some cancer chemotherapies, but may also increase adverse effects as well.
Patients using theophylline should consult with a medical professional before using elderberry preparations. The quercetin in elderberries may inhibit xanthine oxidase, and may also affect theophylline levels.
Elderberry may lower blood sugar levels. If you are a diabetic, monitoring and medication adjustments by a qualified health professional may be in order.
