The book “Practical Herbalism” calls it the universal remedy.
In the 17th century, John Evelyn, a British researcher, declared, “If the medicinal properties of its leaves, bark, and berries were fully known, I cannot tell what our countryman could ail for which he might not fetch a remedy [from the elderberry], either for sickness or wounds.”
Those are pretty big promises from such a small berry! But, experience after experience and study after study are proving those statements to be quite true.
History
In recorded history, the use of the elderberry goes back as far as Hippocrates but could extend even farther. The history on this herb is so powerful that people in Medieval Ages thought one would die within three days of chopping down an elderberry bush! Of course, as experience would prove otherwise, that idea died out and gave way to superstitious beliefs that the berries would bring good luck or had mystical powers for ridding you of bad spirits.
I don’t know about spirits, but I do know that elderberry is a powerful healer in the physical realm!
Usages
Got the flu? Reach for the elderberry first! One of the most popular and most successful reasons for having elderberry around is to ward off the flu or shorten its duration if you’ve already contracted it. When a virus invades your body, it cannot multiply on its own – it must take over healthy cells within your body. When you consume elderberry, the antiviral agents within actually attack the virus by coating it before it can reach your cells to multiply. It stands to reason, then, that you would be better off with some elderberry in your system before the flu virus reached you to begin with.
Elderberry was used in 1995 to treat the flu epidemic in Panama and has been further researched in fighting the “bird” flu and the “swine” flu!
Some other illnesses that are treated by elderberry include (but are not limited to):
- bronchitis / coughs / other respiratory ailments
- all inflammatory bowel diseases
- constipation AND diarrhea
- fever
- allergies
- burns / rashes / minor skin problems
- bacterial infections
- helps lower cholesterol
- improves vision
- improves heart health
- boosts immune system function
- hemorrhoids
As you can see, so many issues can be treated with elderberry. You will be well on your way to a complete first-aid kit even if you only add this one herb!
How To Buy
You can purchase elderberries in nearly any form for a multitude of uses. Here are just a few:
- Wholes Elderberries (dried) from MoreThanAlive
- Berry Well is a fruity syrup packed with elderberries and more to make a great remedy
- Ultra Immune gel capsules contain the powerful elements of elderberry, stabilized Allicin (the good stuff in garlic), and olive leaf to give you an amazing immune boost.
- Sambucol – this is a company that specializes in making health-promoting products from elderberries
- Elderberry Tea
- Elderberry Capsules
Preparations
I have two favorite ways to prepare elderberries – tea and tincture.
Tea is probably pretty self-explanatory – pour some hot/boiling water over some elderberries, steep for a few minutes, strain, sweeten and enjoy. I usually just use the “eyeball” method of measuring, but if you want to get technical you can use 2 teaspoons of berries to 1 cup of water. Many use this as a remedy to overcome the fever as it induces sweating. Make a large batch of the tea and consume several cups in the late afternoon and evening.
The tincture is a bit more advanced but you can store this in the refrigerator and have it around longer than a tea. A tincture also includes another ingredient called food-grade vegetable glycerin. I purchase mine at Azure Standard because they have the best pricing on the glycerin and the shipping. I usually get two one-gallon jugs per order and that lasts me about a year.
Ingredients:
- 1 cup water
- 1 cup glycerin
- 4 teaspoons elderberries
Instructions:
- Start with a large pot that has a nicely fitting lid.
- Measure your berries and liquids into the pot and cover. (The ratio here is 2 teaspoons of herb to 1 cup of liquid, just in case you want to make a larger batch.)
- Heat the mixture over very low heat for 2 to 3 hours.
- Strain the berries out – I bought a very large mesh strainer for this after years of using the regular little ones and what a difference it made in the process!!
- Pour into a large glass jar and close tightly.
- Store in the refrigerator for two weeks. (I have stored my for longer – up to 2 months sometimes – with no problems.)
- Dosage: I give my children approximately 2 teaspoons every few hours when they are sick or in the morning and at night when they have been exposed to a sick person or are just getting over something.
I would really like to use the sealed-simmer method at some point but it takes advance planning as the mixture needs to simmer for a few days. I never seem to plan that far in advnace and find that I need something right away when the kids start coming down with something! There are also alcohol tinctures but I have never made one.
Another way to use elderberries would be in a poultice and there are as many ways to make poultices as there are people who make them! You can pour a small amount of hot water over a hand-full of berries in a bowl and mash them a bit. Transfer this to some cheese cloth or a piece of well-layered gauze and fold the berries inside, somewhat like an envelope. Apply the poultice to the effected area as hot as you can stand it without burning yourself.
There are many other ways to use this wonderful herbal cure-all but these should get you started!
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Jennifer — This is wonderful information! I am going to tell my natural health friends about your website. Thank you — it’s so well-done.