Tis’ the Season for Colds and Flu-5 Ways To Use Elderberry

Creating a homestead that is self sustaining is one of our major goals here at Chosen Weeds.

 

I am very purposeful about the plants that will be growing on the farm.  They need to fill multiple p fill multiple purposes including, but not limited to;  medical, food, attracting beneficial insects and other animals,  good for the soil, and if they are aesthetically pleasing,well, that is just icing on the cake.

 

Plus I am always reminded of the clip from Monty Python and the Search for the Holy Grail

 

 

Now that you have had a good laugh, let’s get down to business.

 

Elderberry fills many of the above qualifications.   The berries and flowers are the the edible parts of the plant (the leaves, branches, and twigs contain trace amounts of cyanide). The berries are black or very dark blue and have a sharp, sweet flavor (the berries need to be dried in order to dissipate a volatile chemical that has a rather off putting taste and can cause diarrhea and vomiting).  This makes them highly preferred for desserts, syrups, jams, jellies, spreads, and as the base for various cocktails and beverages.  The flowers attract many beneficial insects including bees.  While this is all well and good, the main reason we have started growing elderberry is for its medicinal purposes.

 

I will get to that in a second, but I found the history of elderberry quite interesting and is worth a mention.

 

History of Elderberry

 

Elderberry has a long history in Europe and is associated closely with the Celtic fairy lands and other mystical lands well known in the European tradition.  Thus it holds a place of respect.  The “most popular among pagan traditions modern and old is the myth of the Elder Mother, a spirit who inhabits the Elder tree and holds the power to work a variety of magics in this world [2].”  It is said to have “the ability to protect; induce vivid dreams, particularly of the Faerie realms; to heal; and to exorcise or remove negative spells and influences are among Elder’s pagan attributes[2].”

 

In the Christian tradition, the elderberry is said to be the tree that Judas Iscariot hung himself from.  It has even been said that it was the tree used to crucify Christ.  Thus, it has become a symbol of sorrow and death.

 

Hippocrates, the ancient Greek known as the “father of medicine,”  described the plant as his “medicine chest” because of the wide array of health concerns it seemed to cure.

Medical Uses

 

Elderberry  has been a part of traditional medicine for hundreds of years.  “The flowers have a long-standing reputation as a treatment for all kinds of inflammatory and congestive conditions of the respiratory system, especially when these are accompanied by fever [3].”

 

 

Elderberry extract, when used within the first 48 hours of onset of symptoms,  has actually been found to reduce the duration of the flu with symptoms by an average of four days. While researching for this article I found out that during the 1995 Panama flu epidemic, the government actually employed the use of the elderberry to fight the flu [4].

 

 

Elderberry is chock-full of antioxidants and flavonoids, more so than blueberries, cranberries, goji berries, and blackberries [4].

It is these “flavonoids in the extract that bind to the H1N1 human influenza virus as well as the H5N1 avian influenza virus. A 2009 study randomized patients into two groups: One group was given four doses of 175-milligram proprietary elderberry extract daily, and the other group received a placebo daily for two days. The extract-treated group showed significant improvement in most flu symptoms while the placebo group showed no improvement or an increase in severity of symptoms. Researchers conclude that the extract is effective in controlling influenza symptoms [5].”

 

 

Five Ways to Use Elderberry

 

Colds and the flu/reducing fevers

“An infusion can be made to treat coughs, colds and flues, asthma and hayfever. The diaphoretic action helps to reduce fevers and thus it has often proven useful in cases of measles, scarlet fever and other infections [3]”

Dried Elder Berry Infusion:
Put 1-2 ounces of dried berries in a quart jar and fill to the top with boiling water. Steep overnight. Drink it, a half cup at a time [6].

 

Elderberry Syrup

 

A homemade syrup can be made to boost immune function and help recover from the flu (via Wellness Mama).

• 2/3 cup dried black elderberries (about 3 ounces)

• 3 1/2 cups of water

• 2 Tablespoons fresh or dried ginger root

• 1 teaspoon cinnamon powder

• 1/2 teaspoon cloves or clove powder

• 1 cup raw honey

Instructions

1. 1. Pour water into medium saucepan and add elderberries, ginger, cinnamon and cloves (do not add honey!)

   2. Bring to a boil and then cover and reduce to a simmer for about 45 minutes to an hour until the liquid has reduced by almost half. At that point, remove from heat and let cool enough to be handled. Mash the berries carefully using a spoon or other flat utensil. Pour through a strainer into a glass jar or bowl.

   3. Discard the elderberries (you can compost them or I give them to the chickens) and let the liquid cool to lukewarm. When it is no longer hot, add 1 cup of honey and stir well.

   4. When honey is well mixed into the elderberry mixture, pour the syrup into a quart sized mason jar or 16 ounce glass bottle of some kind.

   5. Standard dose is ½ tsp to 1 tsp for kids and ½ Tbsp to 1 Tbsp for adults. If the flu does strike, take the normal dose every 2-3 hours instead of once a day until symptoms disappear.

 

 

Skin Irritations

 

“Externally an infusion of Elder-flowers can be added to the bath-water for a wonderfully refreshing bath that soothes irritable nerves and relieves itchy skin [3]”.

 

Eye Inflammation

 

“ A cool infusion can be used as an eyewash for sore or inflamed eyes[3].”

 

Earaches

 

“Earache may be relieved by means of a poultice made from the flowers. For this purpose a small linen bag is filled with flowers, briefly dipped in hot water and squeezed to press out any excess liquid before it isuid before it is applied to the aching ear[3].”

 

 

 

If you want to forage for elderberry, make sure you are IDing the correct one.  Check out this post HERE.

 

 

Let’s start a discussion about elderberry.  Have ya all used it before?  Comment below about your results.

 

Sources:

1. http://www.foragingtexas.com/2008/08/elderberry.html
2. https://www.thepracticalherbalist.com/holistic-medicine-library/elderberry-myth-and-magic/
3. http://www.sacredearth.com/ethnobotany/plantprofiles/elder.php
4. https://draxe.com/elderberry/
5. http://omicron-pharma.com/pdfs/ElderberryClinicalOJPK_Published.pdf
6. https://www.facebook.com/susun.weed/posts/10153898890169198