All about Elderberry

Elderberry: Sambucus nigra or S. Canadensis

Antiviral Elder

The lovely tree Elderberry is high on my list for most useful plants, and for good reason. Of hundreds of beneficial plants, I turn to time-and-again to elder during cold and flu season. Elder is renowned for its immune strengthening antiviral abilities and for its capacity to give a person a measure of protection against bacterial and viral infections.

With centuries of history behind it, Elderberry harbors the spirit of a woman, according to our grandmothers of yore. This fairy woman is somehow kindly and helpful, but most often she demands respect from anyone wishing to harvest the elder fruit. Cultures across ancient Europe, Ireland and Scotland used to bring offerings to the Elder woman, or Hulda mutter, in return for the privilege of harvesting berries and flowers. 

Harvesting Elderberry

Elder trees grow all along the U.S. Eastern seaboard, but be careful you don't confuse them with the viburnum or wild hydrangea that bloom at the same time. These flowers look similar to elder, but a viburnum blossom is much more compact than a loose elder blossom, and by checking the leaves you'll see a marked difference, too. An Elder tree has long, pointy and serrated (pinnate) leaves while a viburnum's are rounded and squat.

Elder flowers are a creamy color and blossom in the late spring/early summer here on Martha's Vineyard. Elder flowers are known for lowering fever, especially in children. They also make a lovely light-colored syrup; both the syrup and tincture are used widely by herbalists to treat the common cold, influenza, upper respiratory congestion, hayfever and sinusitis. The deep purple berries are profuse in autumn and are easily gathered as long as you can reach them. The berries grow in clumps and can be snipped off (after requesting permission from the Elder Woman!) and tinctured, dried, frozen, or cooked; in fact, they must be cooked or dried, as raw berries taste rank and unpleasant. The berries also make a wonderful cordial, liqueur, or wine.

Elder Leaf

And here's the biggest surprise... most people aren't aware how to use the leaf. It is quite useful, though toxic if taken internally, so it is strictly an EXTERNAL remedy. It is a strong vulnerary, meaning it heals wounds such as lacerations, burns, and other first-aid emergencies. I use it in all my first aid ointments. Simply harvest the leaf any time it is growing, as long as the leaves are healthy and robust; avoid sagging or dried-up leaves late in the summer.

Chop the leaves as you would any other leaf such as comfrey and add it to your oil to infuse. It will help turn your salve into a lovely green (instead of golden) color.

Ways to Use Elder in Remedies

Be sure to experiment with all the ways to use elder berry, leaf and flower:

Elder berries: in syrups, teas, decoctions, rinses, honeys, oxymels. Because the berries are expectorant, they are at home in remedies such as cough syrups and anti-tussive remedies such as lozenges. If making an infused honey, use dried berries instead of fresh.

Elder flowers: in cordials, teas, infusions, rinses, ice cubes, oils, salves, foods, smoothies, powders, honeys, oxymels. The flowers serve as a decongestant and are very mild, so they're especially useful for children for allergies and colds, even safe enough for infants who struggle to breastfeed because of a stuffy nose. Give the child a strong elderflower tea by dipping your finger in a cup of the infusion and letting them suck on it.

Elder leaves: in oils, salves/ointments (do not take the leaf internally). The leaf is a strong vulnerary and should be added to first aid oils and ointments. It combines well with comfrey, yarrow, and plantain for an excellent wound salve.

Excerpted from Holly's The Essential Herbal for Natural Health and The Healing Kitchen