Elderberry Health Benefits
Elderberry is native to parts of Asia, Africa, and Europe. It has been known to man ever since the prehistoric era in ancient Egypt.
People have found out that elderberry can be used as natural medicine.
Sambucus is actually a genus of flowering plants from the family Adocaxeae, and the flowers and berries are the potent natural medicines.
This plant had berries, deciduous leaves, and white flowers, i.e. elderflowers which convert from green color to red color to black color as they ripen.
Other names for Sambucus nigra are European black elderberry, European elder, black elder, and European elderberry. The flowers have 0.3 % of essential oil made of alkanes and free fatty acids.
Also, the fruit contains anthocyanins, rutin, phenolic acids, kaempferol, and quercetin. In addition, elderberry is abundant in flavonoids, potent antioxidants which prevent cellular damages and anthocyanidins (chemical compounds with immunostimulant impacts.)
Elderberries are abundant in vitamin B6, potassium, iron, vitamin C and vitamin A. Raw berries contain less than 1% each of fat and protein, 18 % carbs, 80 % water.
It is said that this potent plant combats inflammations in the body, helps with sinus problems, treats constipation, relieves nerve pain, treats colds and flu. Christine Ruggeri, CHHC talks on this topic.
Christine Ruggeri, CHHC says: “Elderberry has a long, rich history of use for medicinal benefits by numerous cultures. It fights infections including influenza, herpes, viral infections, and bacterial infections.
A study published in the Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine concluded that elderberry could be used as a safe treatment for influenza A and B.
This is due to its efficacy on all strains of influenza virus that were tested, the clinical results, its low cost and the absence of side effects. Most every part of the elderberry can be used — the flowers, bark, roots, and leaves are often used for their amazing health benefits.”
The health benefits of this plant are the followings:
Serve as relief for cold and flu, lowers blood glucose, serve as sinus infection aid, encourages healthy skin, eases allergies, acts as natural laxative and diuretic.
You can find elderberry online or in local health stores. Also, you should know that you can consume it in the form of capsules, juice, sprays, tea, tablets, jelly and jams, pills, wine, syrups, in ointments, and as a powder.
Also, you should know that you can make elderberry syrup at home. How? Read on to find out
Homemade Elderberry Syrup
Necessary Ingredients
- Organic dried elderberries – 2 cups,
- Dried or fresh organic ginger root – 1 tablespoon,
- Cold water – 3.5 cups,
- Raw honey – 1 cups,
- Organic cinnamon powder – 1 teaspoon OR 1 cinnamon stick.
How to Prepare It
Take one saucepan, pour the water and add the ginger root, cinnamon, and elderberries. You need to boil it then lower the heat. Cover it and let it simmer for 45 minutes.
After, remove the saucepan from the heat, mash the berries and then strain through a strainer into a glass bowl. Next, you should sweeten it with honey and put it in a sterilized glass container.
Dr, Josh Axe, DC, DMN, CNS talks on this topic. He says: “This herb can deactivate the flu virus and naturally boost immunity. The flowers and berries of elderberry are said to boost the immune system, treat flu and relieve sinus pain.
Elderberry attacks flu viruses and reduces bronchial inflammation. A preliminary study found that when 15 milliliters of elderberry syrup was taken four times daily for five days, it relieved symptoms of influenza an average of four days earlier than those taking a placebo. “
Ways to Consume Elderberry
You should know that you can drink the elderberry tea by adding one tablespoon of dried flowers or berries to 8 ounces of water. Remember that cooked, ripe berries of most of the Sambucus species are edible.
However, you should know to eat them raw, since they have the cyanide-including chemical. Bear in mind that the elderberries and elderflowers might lead to allergic reactions, so if you notice a mild reaction stop with their use immediately.
If you are breastfeeding or pregnant, do not use them as well.
People who should not use elderberry are those who suffer from an autoimmune disease, people who are undergoing chemotherapy, people with organ transplants and those who take immune-suppressing medications, diuretics, laxatives, and drugs for diabetes.
Source:
Healthy Food House
