Elder is a key herb in the traditional Western pharmacopoeia. It's used mainly to fight viral infections, especially those affecting the respiratory tract. Elder's antiviral properties make it an essential and original therapeutic tool.

When combined with anti-influenza herbs that reduce secretions, congestion and irritation, elder tincture quickly overcomes viral infections. This herb tones the emunctories and the immune system. Furthermore, it fortifies the mucosa of the nose and throat, thus increasing resistance to infection.

It's generally taken in tincture form at the start of infection, or as an infusion, along with peppermint. Both the flower and fruit have medicinal properties.

_{Photo by @krnel}

Other common names include elder, elderberry, European elder, European elderberry and European black elderberry. The scientific botanical name is Sambucus nigra. Other names include Arbre de Judas, Baccae, Baises de Sureau, Black-Berried Alder, Boor Tree, Bountry, Common Elder, Elder, Elder Berry, Elderberries, Elderberry Fruit, Ellanwood, Ellhorn, European Alder, European Black Elder, European Elder Fruit, European Elderberry, Fruit de Sureau, Grand Sureau, Hautbois, Holunderbeeren, Sabugeuiro-negro, Sambequier, Sambu, Sambuc, Sambuci Sambucus, Sambugo, Sauco, Saúco Europeo, Schwarzer Holunder, Seuillet, Seuillon, Sureau, Sureau Européen, Sureau Noir, Sus, Suseau, Sussier.

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Key Points

• highly edible fruit
• poisonous leaves and stems
• effective to treat respiratory ailments like the cold and flu
• anti-viral properties

History

The term elder is thought to come, not from the meaning of old, but from the Anglo Saxon aeld which means fire. This is because the hollow stems of the branches were used as belows to blow air into fire.

Where is it found?

Elderberry is common to Europe, from Scandinavia down to north Africa and to west Asia. It's both native and introduced into most of North America.

It can be found growing in hedges, scrubs, waste-grounds, disturbed area, roadsides and woods.

What's it used for?

Elderberry fruit is edible, and is a good forage food for animals like mule deer, elk, sheep and small birds. It's used as a nesting habitat for some birds like hummingbirds, warblers, and vireos.

The dark blue/purple berries are mildly poisonous in their unripe state, but are safe when cooked to make jam, jelly, chutney and syrup. It's also used as a flavoring in wine making and to flavor food.

Leaves can be used to make an insecticide spray. It can also treat fungal infections like leaf rot and powdery mildew. The fruit and bark can be used to make a black dye. The leaves can be used to make a green dye. The blue coloring from the fruit can be used as a litmus test which turns green in alkaline solution and red in acidic solutions.

Common medicinal uses are for colds, flus, fever, bronchitis and other respiratory issues. Some use it for boosting the immune system to treat HIV/AIDS. It can also treat disorders of the mouth (like gum inflammation), gastrointestinal tract (constipation) and skin, and to treat sinus pain, back and leg pain (sciatica), nerve pain (neuralgia), and chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS).

Other uses includes hay fever (allergic rhinitis), cancer, as a laxative for constipation, to increase urine flow, to cause sweating, heart disease, high cholesterol, headache, toothache, and weight loss.

Are there any risks?

Safe for constant use for 12 weeks. Safety for longer periods are not known. Unripe fruit can cause nausea, diarrhea or vomiting.

Elderberry might cause the immune system to become more active, and might increase autoimmune symptoms of those with autoimmune disease like multiple sclerosis (MS), lupus (systemic lupus erythematosus, SLE), rheumatoid arthritis (RA), or other conditions. It can therefore affect medication that decreases the immune system.

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References:

• Sambucus nigra
• Sambucus nigra - L.
• ELDERBERRY

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Previous posts on Getting to Know Herbs:
Northern Bayberry | Lady's Mantle | Hyssop | Burdock | Catnip | Lavender | Yarrow | Marshmallow | Skullcap | Codonopsis (Poor Man's Ginseng) | Schisandra | Rhodiola | Canadian Goldenrod | German Chamomile | Blue Vervain | Blessed or Holy Thistle | Common Horehound | Cayenne | Ashwagandha | Gotu Kola | Common Verbana/Vervain | Holy Basil | Sweet
Annie | Globe Artichoke | Butterfly Weed / Pleurisy Root | Joe-Pye Weed / Gravel Root | Valerian | Malva/Mallow | Boneset | Elecampane | Lungwort | Cramp Bark | Motherwort | Common Plantain | Eleuthero (Siberian ginseng) | Black Cohosh | Common Bearberry | Mahonia Mountain Grape (Oregon Grape) | Blue Cohosh | Goldenseal

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