What the Experts Say –
The elder tree has a long history of traditional medicinal uses among herbalists, documented since ancient times. As early as the fifth century BCE, the writings of such luminaries as Hippocrates, Dioscorides and Pliny the Elder described the medicines derived from the fruit and flowers of the elder tree.
Elder has often been referred to as the “medicine chest of the country people” and has been used by Native Americans and herbalists of Europe. Elderberries have been used to make wine, cordials, preserves, and even vinegar. Its uses have included everything from infections to longevity.
References to elderberry are found in many pharmacopeias (an official list of medicinal drugs with their effects and uses) over the centuries, including the Italian, Dutch, Portuguese, Croat Slovak, German, Austrian, Swiss, and Hungarian; and the medicinal uses of the berry are almost as numerous as those who reported them!
Johann Bauhin (1541-1613) mentions their use for dysentery and diarrhea; Adam Lonicer (1528- 1586) and Johann von Muralt (1638-1733) describe their use for inducing perspiration; and Conrad von Megenberg (1309-1374) first mentioned elderberry juice to increase resistance to illness.
Sambucus nigra L., is the species on which most of the recent scientific research has been conducted. The research indicates that the flowers, leaves, and berries all contain constituents of pharmacological importance including flavonoids, lectins, and anthocyanins.
In recent years elderberry has become popular, promoted in the U.S. as a remedy for treating colds, influenza, cough, nasal congestion, and fever.
But how reliable are these claims?
According to Science Direct, The Journal of Functional Foods, Volume 40, January 2018, (pages 377-390):
“Elderberry is rich in nutrients, such as carbohydrates, proteins, fats, fatty acids, organic acids, minerals, vitamins, and essential oils.
Polyphenols, known for their free radical scavenging (antioxidant) activity, are the most important group of bioactive compounds present in elderberry in relatively high concentration. The high antioxidant activity of elderberry fruit and flowers is associated with their therapeutic properties.
Elderberry has for a long time been used in folk medicine as a diaphoretic, antipyretic, and diuretic agent. In recent years it was also found to have antibacterial, antiviral, antidepressant and anti-tumor and hypoglycemic properties, and to reduce body fat and lipid concentration.”
The Journal of The American Botanical Council also cites a clinical trial “supporting the use of a standardized elderberry syrup extract for the treatment of symptoms associated with influenza. Although based on small clinical trials, the data suggests a 50% reduction in both the severity and duration of symptoms.”
The American Botanical Council (ABC) is a nonprofit education organization that provides science-based and traditional information to promote the responsible use of herbal medicine. We dipped into their Clinical Guide to Elderberry to learn that they back up these claims and suggest using a standardized liquid extract for 3-5 days, starting at the first sign of flu symptoms.
Elderberry is traditionally taken as a syrup made from dried or fresh elderberries. At Elderberry Family Farms, we’ve taken elderberry to a whole new level, creating a complete line of elderberry products in multiple forms – syrups, cordial, jam, concentrates, and tea blends.
Getting the healthy benefits of elderberry into your daily diet never tasted so good!
Research Sources:
The American Botanical Council Clinical Guide to Elderberry
https://www.herbalgram.org/media/13294/elderberry-scr.pdf
The American Botanical Council Herbal Monographs and Articles
https://www.herbalgram.org/resources/other-monographs-and-articles
Science Direct, The Journal of Functional Foods, Volume 40, January 2018, (pages 377-390) https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1756464617306977?via=ihub
Phytochemistry, Volume 70, Issue 10, July 2009, (pages 1255-1261)
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0031942209002386?via%3Dihub
* These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.
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