Elderberry 100 g, 50 g, 25 g

Elderberry – 100 g ($15.99), 50 g ($10.99), 25 g ($7.99)

Benefits:
Elderberry is one of the most effective herbs for preventing and treating colds and upper respiratory infections, eczema and other skin disorders, and to reduce pain and inflammation. It may also be helpful for patients with diabetes, as it fosters increased glucose uptake out of the blood into the tissues. Elderberry stimulates the immune system and has shown some activity in preliminary trials against viruses such as herpes simplex and HIV.

In folk medicine, elder flowers are used internally as a tea for colds and fever. Elder flower also serves as a gargling mixture for respiratory disorders such as coughs and head colds. It has been used by nursing mothers to increase lactation. Elderberry has been used for swelling and inflammation. Homeopathic remedies exist for inflammation of the respiratory tract. Elderberry is approved by the German Commission E for coughs and bronchitis as well as for fevers and colds. It also may be good for hay fever and sinusitis.

Asthma, bronchitis, influenza, and sinusitis. Elderberry contains substances that disarm the neuraminidase enzyme of flu viruses, preventing them from penetrating healthy cells. It has been shown to be effective against eight strains of flu virus; vaccines are usually only effective against one or two types. Once infected, elderberry has been shown to speed recovery by as many as three days. A clinical trial of elderberry syrup (Sambucol) found that it cured 90 percent of flu infections within seventy-two hours. In the same trial, patients receiving a placebo needed six days for recovery. Later these same investigators found that 15 millilitres of the same syrup four to five times a day shortened symptoms by four days. Those using the elderberry also were less likely to use other symptom-relief medications. Elderberry also relieves nasal congestion, fever, and sore throat.

Recommended Use
Elderberry is best used in the form of Sambucol, a patented herbal medicine from Israel that is active against various strains of viruses. The daily dose is 10 to 15 grams. It also comes as tinctures and is used in teas. It is preferable to use Sambucol rather than unprocessed elderberries. Some reported side effects include dizziness, headache, convulsions, and rapid heartbeat. Large dosages of elderberry juice can also cause uncontrollable diarrhea. Uncooked or unripe berries can cause nausea and vomiting. The stem of the plant should be avoided due to its cyanide content. Elderberry should not be used with patients who have diabetes or low blood iron. The herb seems to form a complex with iron, which may become toxic in the blood.

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, grey, 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 fence-rows. 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.