Looking for a natural remedy that has a long history of medicinal use? There’s evidence that the elderberry plant may have been cultivated by prehistoric man. There are also recipes for elderberry-based medications dating back to Ancient Egypt.
Elderberry (Sambucus Nigra) tree
Elderberry Benefits Used for its antioxidant activity to lower cholesterol, improve vision, boost the immune system, improve heart health and for coughs, colds, flu, bacterial and viral infections and tonsillitis. Elderberry juice was used to treat a flu epidemic in Panama in 1995.
Elderberries (Sambucus) have been a folk remedy for centuries in North America, Europe, Western Asia, and North Africa, hence the medicinal benefits of elderberries are being investigated and rediscovered. Elderberry is used for its antioxidant activity, to lower cholesterol, to improve vision, to boost the immune system, to improve heart health and for coughs, colds, flu, bacterial and viral infections and tonsillitis. Bioflavonoids and other proteins in the juice destroy the ability of cold and flu viruses to infect a cell. People with the flu who took elderberry juice reported less severe symptoms and felt better much faster than those who did not.
Beneficial components in Elderberries. Elderberries contain organic pigments, tannin, amino acids, carotenoids, flavonoids, sugar, rutin, viburnic acid, vitaman A and B and a large amount of vitamin C. They are also mildly laxative, a diuretic, and diaphoretic. Flavonoids, including quercetin, are believed to account for the therapeutic actions of the elderberry flowers and berries. According to test tube studies these flavonoids include anthocyanins that are powerful antioxidants and protect cells against damage.
Health Benefits of Elderberries
Elderberries were listed in the CRC Handbook of Medicinal Herbs as early as 1985, and are listed in the 2000 Mosby’s Nursing Drug reference for colds, flu, yeast infections, nasal and chest congestion, and hay fever. In Israel, Hasassah’s Oncology Lab has determined that elderberry stimulates the body’s immune system and they are treating cancer and AIDS patients with it. The wide range of medical benefits (from flu and colds to debilitating asthma, diabetes, and weight loss) is probably due to the enhancement of each individual’s immune system.
At the Bundesforschungsanstalt research center for food in Karlsruhe, Germany, scientists conducting studies on Elderberry showed that elderberry anthocyanins enhance immune function by boosting the production of cytokines. These unique proteins act as messengers in the immune system to help regulate immune response, thus helping to defend the body against disease. Further research indicated that anthocyanins found in elderberries possess appreciably more antioxidant capacity than either vitamin E or vitamin C.
Studies at Austria’s University of Graz found that elderberry extract reduces oxidation of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol. Oxidation of LDL cholesterol is implicated in atherogenesis, thus contributing to cardiovascular disease.
Elderflowers are also used for their health benefits. Are Elderberries poisonous? Most species of Sambucus berries are edible when picked ripe and then cooked. Both the skin and pulp can be eaten. However, it is important to note that most uncooked berries and other parts of plants from this genus are poisonous. Sambucus nigra is the variety of Elderberry that is most often used for health benefits as it is the only variety considered to be non-toxic even when not cooked, but it is still recommended to cook the berries at least a little to enhance their taste and digestibility.
BENEFITS OF ELDERBERRY FOR IMPROVING IMMUNE SYSTEM
Elderberry is a shrub that has been used medicinally for centuries. Sambucus nigra, or black elderberry bush, is the version most commonly used to make syrup and lozenges. Extracts of elderberry have antiviral, anticancer, and anti-inflammatory properties. Elderberry is also high in flavonoids. People take elderberry syrup as a remedy for colds, flu, and bacterial sinus infections. The plant medicine works by reducing swelling in mucus membranes. Some studies suggest elderberry extract reduces the duration of the flu. If it works for flu infections recente inhoud recente inhoud, it may help your immune system against coronavirus (COVID-19) infection.
Elderberry benefits are numerous, however, the remedy may interact with certain prescription medications. Always check with your doctor or pharmacist before adding any new remedy to your regimen. Elderberry may interact with the following medications.
DIURETICS: Elderberry is a diuretic so taking it with a prescription diuretic will increase the effects.
LAXATIVES: Elderberry has laxative effects, so it should not be taking with other laxative mediations.
STERIODS: Elderberry stimulates the immune system so it should not be taken with steroids and other medications designed to suppress the immune system. People who are on immunosuppressive drugs after having undergone organ transplantation should not take elderberry.
CHEMOTHERAPY: Elderberry may interfere with chemotherapy and should not be taken with it.
DIABETES MEDICATIONS: Elderberry lowers blood sugar so it should not be taken with medications that treat diabetes.
THEOPHYLINE: Elderberry may reduce blood levels of this medication prescribed to treat asthma and respiratory conditions.
Booster
This organic elderberry syrup is homemade with fresh, wild harvested elderberries. The perfect combination of elderberry, raw honey, and spices enables your immune system to perform at its best. There are no added sugars creating the purest form of elderberry syrup available on the market.
Elderberry syrup is clinically proven to boost the immune system, and is especially effective on the cold and flu. There are multiple clinical studies that prove elderberry’s effectiveness in reducing the severity of symptoms, as well as reducing the length of illness by 2-4 days.
In addition to the immune boosting effects, elderberry is also know to aid in relief of urinary tract and bladder infections, allergy symptoms, and digestive health. The syrup is infused with cinnamon, cloves, ginger, and honey for taste and added health benefits. The honey also acts as a natural preservative, giving a longer shelf life.
Elderberry Boost doesn’t have any added sugar, it is thinner than most commercial products, and has a consistency more comparable to juice than a syrup. It is very effective and a healthier alternative. It is recommended that adults take 1 tablespoon daily and children 1 teaspoon daily for overall wellness. When sick, the same dosages can be taken every 2-3 hours until symptoms disappear.
