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Herbs: Elderberry- whole

Common Names: Elderberry, black elder, common elder, pipe tree, bore tree, ellhorn
Latin Name: Sambucus nigra

Elderberries are tasty flu fighters. They contain compounds that inhibit the enzyme flu viruses from penetrating our cell membranes and also prevent the virus from invading respiratory tract cells. Taken early enough, as a tea or tincture, you may be able to head off an upcoming illness before it becomes a full-blown flu. They are especially good for bronchitis, colds, coughing, and influenza. Also contains substances that ease inflammation and pain and soothe the intestines, thus making them useful in all inflammatory bowel diseases. It is known to have a gentle laxative action, and their mild tonic action helps to arrest diarrhea.

Excerts from Practical Herbalism

From the days of Hippocrates through to the Middle Ages and into the 19th century, Elder has been famous for its medicinal properties. In 1644, a book entitled The Anatomie of the Elder, by Dr. Martin Blockwich, dedicated some 230 handcrafted pages to the medicinal virtues and uses of nearly every part of the Elder – its flowers, berries, leaves, ‘middle bark’, pith, and roots. It sets forth that as every part of the tree was medicinal, so virtually every ailment of the body was curable by it, from toothache to the plague. It was used externally and internally, and in amulets (these were especially good for epilepsy, and in popular belief also for rheumatism), and in every kind of form – in rob and syrup, tinctures, mixture, oil, spirit, water, liniment, extract, salt, conserve, vinegar, oxymel, sugar, decoction, bath, cataplasm, and powder. Some of these were prepared from one part of the plant only, others from several or from all. Their properties are summed up as “desiccating, conglutinating, and digesting,” but are extended to include everything necessary to a universal remedy. The book prescribes in more or less detail for some seventy or more distinct diseases or classes of diseases. Blockwitch seems never at a loss for an authority, from Dioscorides to the Pharmacopeias of his own day. His examples of cures are drawn from all classes of people, from Emylia, Countess of Isinburg, to the tradesman of Heyna and their children.

King’s describes the uses of Elder in more specific terms.
“...The expressed juice of the berries evaporated to the consistence of a syrup is a valuable aperient and alterative; one ounce of it will purge.”

Elderberries provide a classic country remedy in the form of an excellent homemade wine. It is quite tasty, and improves with age. When taken hot with honey, just before going to bed, it is an old-fashioned and well–established cure for a cold.

Indicated Usages - Internal:

Indicated Usages - External:

Excerpts from The ABC Herbal

Both elderflowers and elderberries contain substances which ease inflammation and pain. Elderberries soothe the intestines and have been used for all inflammatory bowel diseases. They have a very gentle laxative action, which may explain their decongestant properties. They also have a mild tonic action to help arrest diarrhea. Many other herbalists besides myself have observed a strong connection between bowel problems and respiratory congestion. There also appears to be a strong connection between bowel obstructions and fevers in children.

From Our Reading and/or Experience...

• Elderberries are a food, and thus we keep it in the kitchen. Though they are not as moist or as sweet as raisins, we add them to many food recipes as we do raisins (hot cereals, vegetable dishes, stir-fry, waffles and pancakes and granola).
• It can be used to benefit anyone: men, women (including before, during or after pregnancy, and nursing) and children.
• It can be used as often as you would like, and in any way you choose.
• As is the case with most dried fruit, Elderberries should be stored in a dark, dry, and cool place. These suggestions will delay the loss of its highly valued nutritional and medicinal properties.

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