Elder Flower Whole 100 g, 50 g, 25 g

Elder Flower Whole – 100 g ($19.99), 50 g (12.99), 25 g ($8.99)

Benefits:
Sinus Infections, Colds, Flu   Elderflower (and elderberries) are often used to make supplements, as well as cough and cold medicines. Though research is limited on their effectiveness, the research that does exist is promising. For instance, one review of available research on elderflower notes that products containing elder and other herbs are beneficial in treating sinus infections when used alongside antibiotics.3 Researchers also note that products containing elder may reduce mucus membrane swelling, promote drainage, alleviate headaches, and reduce nasal congestion. However, strong evidence is lacking, and additional clinical trials are needed.3

Elder products may also be useful in treating flu. One small study found that people taking elderberry products for 48 hours noticed a significant reduction in symptoms such as cough, fever, muscle aches, nasal congestion, and headache. That said, elder products should not replace proven treatments or vaccination.3

A key elderflower health benefit is that they are great for supporting healthy sinuses. This can help you if you catch the ills and chills as well as in the allergy season. Elderflower in particular helps to reduce and stop runny noses as it has anti-catarrhal properties. It also helps to reduce that blocked up and ‘deafness’ you can get from too much mucus in your sinuses – really helpful for those that are prone to chronic sinusitis.

Constipation   Drinking elderflower tea may relieve constipation. In one study, people drank an elderflower tea that also included green anises, fennel, and senna flower for nine days. Researchers discovered that elderflower tea helped relieve chronic constipation in as little as two days.3 Study participants who drank elderflower tea also noticed significant improvements in how quickly waste moved through their digestive system (colon, or large intestine, transit time) and had a daily bowel movement while drinking the tea. Further research is needed before making elderflower tea recommendations.3

Blood Sugar   Though limited, studies indicate that both elderflowers and elderberries are rich in bioactive compounds and may reduce blood sugar, assist with weight loss, and even improve blood pressure. One review found that the compounds in elderflowers stimulated glucose (sugar) metabolism and promoted insulin secretion.4 Insulin is a hormone your pancreas produces to help control the amount of glucose (sugar) in your bloodstream.

Researchers found that people who took supplements made from elderflowers and elderberries also experienced, on average:4

• 3% reduction in body mass index (BMI)
• Weight loss of seven pounds (3.2 kilograms)
• Over 5% decrease in systolic blood pressure
• Over 2.5% decrease in diastolic blood pressure

Their physical and mental well-being as well as their overall quality of life improved.4

Gingivitis   While research is limited, researchers in one review found that when people used Sambucus nigra in combination with other products three times per day, they experienced a decrease in gingivitis and inflammation. Significant results were seen after just four days of use.3

Participants’ gingival index scores—which rate gingivitis on a scale of 0-3—also decreased significantly after 14 days of use. However, it’s difficult to know the role elder played in these results, which is why additional research is needed.3

Detoxification   In Germany, black elder is a commonly used plant for promoting diaphoresis (increased sweating) and reducing chills when someone has a fever. Using elderflowers to treat colds is approved by the German Commission E. The German Commission E is a committee of scientists, toxicologists, pharmacists, and doctors—somewhat like the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.5

Though not approved for this use in the United States, many people believe elderflowers are effective diaphoretic agents that can help rid the body of harmful toxins. For this reason, elderflowers also have been used as diuretics (medications that help eliminate excess water and salt from your body).5

Skin  The health benefits of elderflowers mean they are high in antioxidants, anti-inflammatory and also helpful in supporting healthy skin healing and reducing skin irritations. This amazing flower is calming and can be used as a poultice on upset skin, or you could use a cooled elderflower infusion on the skin (or even add it to a bath).

Elderflower infusions have been traditionally used to support tired, itchy and irritated eyes as well. You could soak some cotton pads in an elderflower infusion and place them on your eyes to help calm them down or reduce irritation. Another idea could be to put the soaked cotton pads in the fridge before use to really cool and calm your eyes down! This is a great idea for those months with extra pollen and dust flying around!

Healthy Blood Supply  Another health benefit of elderflower is that it supports a healthy blood supply, so it can be used as a tonic. As a cold infusion it can help support the detoxification pathways and in particular help with constipation.

It is also helpful for those that are wanting to look after their skin. If waste products are not able to be eliminated via the bowel or kidneys they often try to go out via the skin. Bitters and elderflower can help support a better elimination process and healthier looking skin as elder also acts as a diuretic.

Fever  Due to it’s wide range of health benefits, elderflowers have been used traditionally to help manage fevers. They are often found in tea blends that support a healthy immune system alongside peppermint and thyme. The active properties within the flower induce sweating by working on sweat gland activity, which can help with promoting a fever.
The amazing thing about elderflowers is that when they are heated (like in a tea) they help to promote a fever and sweating but in a cold infusion they can cool you down. The plant adapts to your needs!

Anti-Inflammatory   A good thing to know about elderflower’s health benefits is that both the leaves and the flowers help to impart anti-inflammatory properties. This can be helpful when you are feeling under the weather, suffering from seasonal allergies, or looking to reduce inflammation within your lifestyle (e.g. from processed foods or too much alcohol). The anti-inflammatory properties can be traced back to the presence of ursolic acid within the plant. Elder is also high in antioxidants and has nutritional health benefits also.

 

Elderflowers vs Elderberries
Elderflower health benefits include supporting healthy respiratory systems, in particular helping reduce runny noses (catarrh) and have also been used to support healthy fever management. Traditionally herbalists recommend taking elderflowers daily in the allergy season to reduce symptoms. They can also be used topically as they impart anti-inflammatory properties, so they’re great for calming irritated skin.

Elderberries are a deep dark red and appear in the cooler months. When wild harvesting elderberries please be mindful to not over harvest (just like with the elderflowers) and also remember that you can’t eat the berries when they are green or raw as they are slightly toxic (this changes when the berry is heated). Elderberries have many great health benefits too – they have strong anti-viral properties and hold vitamins such as A and C.

Some key elderflower health benefits include:

• Helping sinuses
• Healthy blood supply
• Used for fever
• Anti-inflammatory
• Used topically for skin health

Botanical Name: Sambucus nigra
English: Black Elderberry, Dried Elderberry, Dried Elderberry
Also, known as: Black Elder, Holunder, Sureau, Sauco, Sambreo, European elder, Boretree, Pip tree, Devil’s wood, Sureau, Schwarzer Holunder, Sambuco, Sabugueiro, Saúco, Sabuco, Khamaan Kabir, Black Elder, Boor Tree, Bountry, Elder, Common Elder. Elder Berry, Elderberries, Elderberry Fruit, Ellanwood, Ellhom, European Alder, European Black Elder, European Black Elderberry, European Elderberry, European Elder Fruit, European Elderberry, Fruit de Sureau, Grand Sureau, Hautbois, Holunderbeeren, Sabugeuiro-negro, Sambequier, Sambu, Sambuc, Sambuci Sambucus, European elderberry, Organic elderberries
Habitat: Habitat: North Africa, Europe, and Asia
Origin: Ukraine

General Information:
Sambucus nigra, is a large shrub or small tree, to 20 feet, with coarse, gray, furrowed bark. Pinnate, compound leaves arranged in opposite pairs White, star-shaped flowers grow in clusters, 4 to 10 inches wide, in late spring to midsummer. Compound pinnate leaves up to 8” long are dark green. Each leaf contains 2 to 8 serrated, ovate to. Elliptic leaflets up to 5” long Leaves have an unpleasant aroma when cut or crushed. Tiny white flowers in large flattened umbel-like cymes up to 10” across bloom in June-July Flowers have a musky fragrance Flowers give way to clusters of glossy black elderberry fruits, each to 3/8” across in late summer. It is particularly noted for its aromatic late spring flowers and its edible fruits (elderberries). The fruits (elder berries) are three seeded drupes (edible only when ripe and preferably cooked). Drooping berries produced in the fall.
Grows in moist woodlands, thickets, and fencerows. Elder is tolerant of pruning and can be cut to the ground in late winter to help keep the shrub healthy.
Flowers and berries are wild harvested or collected from commercial plantations. The inflorescences are picked on a dry, sunny day (to preserve the pollen) and are carefully placed upside down to dry so that the flowers can be collected. The fruits are picked when black and fully ripe.

 

How to use:
We make these suggestions to help you get the best benefit from the herbs that you’re choosing to improve your health. Also we make these ideas and recommendations so that consuming them easier and better fit into your lifestyle by adding them to the food that you already eat.
For the full health benefit, it is best to consume (or use the whole herb in poultices) the whole herb. All of the compounds in the herb act best together, as nature intends. Extracts draw out the most prominent beneficial compounds and may concentrate them. What is not extracted can be helpful in ways that we do not yet understand.

Cut Pieces or Powdered Herb:
There are different ways to use cut pieces or powdered herb.
Food Preparation: You can add powdered or pieces of herb (if the pieces you buy are bigger than you like, a coffee or herb grinder will quickly reduce) to any yogurt, smoothie, apple or other sauces, spreads, salads or other foods more familiar to you that don’t use heat. Heat can be damaging to the beneficial compounds in the herb. Other options like oatmeal, scrambled eggs, pasta sauce, soup, cookies and anything else that fits your lifestyle, but minimizing (by adding near the end of cooking) the heat is helpful.
Also, for children, you can mix powdered herb with honey or glycerin to make paste. The thicker the paste, the more potent and herbal in taste. The sweet taste of honey and glycerin will help medicine go down. The resulting liquid is called an electuary.
For seeds in general, but especially small seeds, it’s best to grind these to break the protective hulls a short time before consumption. This makes all the benefits available, rather than some remaining locked inside the hulls that are unbroken by insufficient chewing.
To make adding herbs even easier, you could add a week’s worth of your chosen herb(s) to an amount of, for example, yogurt that you would eat in a week. Mix thoroughly and eat this each day of the week. SO you make once /week and just eat each other day.
Hot Infusion: The basic method for dried herbs and flower is, take 2-3 tablespoons of dried herb in a cup or teapot. Pour hot water over it and cover it with lid for 10-30 minutes. The heat from making tea can degrade some of the beneficial compounds in the herb. This method minimizes this effect. For the full health benefit, it is recommended to consume what is left over after making tea.
Decoctions: Decoctions are suitable for roots, barks, large seeds & berries, and other dense material. The simple way to make decoction is, in a saucepan, add 1 tablespoon of dried herbs to 1 cup of water, Bring the water to boil, reduce heat and simmer for 30-60 minutes with the pot covered. Squeeze out as much as liquid as possible. Best practice is to drink the liquid and also consume the solid material that remains. Herb pieces can also be used.
Powdered Herb:
There are different ways to use powdered herb.
Capsules: HerbsCrafters makes capsules guaranteed to be filled with the pure herb with no filler or any other products. You can also use powdered herb to make your own capsules at home. These capsules are best taken with liquid to aid in digestion and absorption and to ensure it doesn’t stick in your throat.
Poultice: Poultice can be made with an herbal powder and liquid (mostly water) to form a paste which is then applied to the skin. This method is very helpful for skin conditions.
Herbal shot: Powdered herb can be mixed with water, fruit juice or other liquid to make herbal shot.

Tips:
You can sweeten your herbal decoctions with bit of honey, natural fruit juice, stevia leaves powder or licorice root powder.

Precautions:
You should consult with a qualified healthcare practitioner before using any herbal products, particularly if you are pregnant, nursing, or on any medications.
All information on this website is for educational purpose ONLY.
This information has not been evaluated by Health Canada.
This information is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.

How Much To Use
It is common that 10g of a fresh herb = 1g when dehydrated.
Recommended daily amount: 1-3 tsp of dried elderflower, 1-3 times/day. This can be added to food or to make tea.