The cooler weather has hit us and with it comes cold and flu season. One of my favorite herbs is elderberry, especially during the winter months. He has been in the family stable all year round for a few years now. If any of us feel even the hint that something is going on, we take a dose of elderberry.
Now that the colder months have arrived and we’re all coming out of a two-year hibernation, that’s what it feels like. It is a daily dose of 1 ml to keep the immune system healthy and strong.
Did you know that elderberry is one of the most widely used herbs in the world, and for good reason.
Elderberries are traditionally used for upper respiratory infections and flu. Studies have been done to support these traditional applications.
Indigenous peoples used it to treat fever and rheumatism, while the ancient Egyptians used it to improve their skin and heal burns.
Historically, the flowers and leaves have been used for pain relief, swelling, inflammation, stimulating urine production and inducing sweating.
Nowadays we used the berries because of their properties to support the immune system.
Most studies conducted concern the effectiveness of elderberry for shortening the duration of colds or flu
“These data suggest a significant reduction in the duration and severity of cold in air travelers.”
“Elderberry extract appears to provide an efficient, safe and cost-effective treatment for influenza.”
In addition, they have many nutritional benefits. Elderberries are:
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Rich in vitamin C. There are 52 mg of vitamin C per cup of fruit, which is 57% of the daily value
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Rich in dietary fiber. Elderberries contain 10 grams of fiber per cup of fresh berries, about 36% of the daily value
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A good source of phenolic acids. These compounds are powerful antioxidants that can help reduce the damage caused by oxidative stress in the body.
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A good source of flavonols. Elderberry contains the antioxidant flavonols quercetin, kaempferol and isorhamnetin.
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Rich in anthocyanins. These compounds give the fruit its characteristic dark black-purple color and are a strong antioxidant with anti-inflammatory effects.
There have been some studies on the positive effect of elderberries on heart health
Studies have shown that elderberry juice can lower blood fat levels and lower cholesterol. Additionally, a diet high in flavonoids such as anthocyanins has been found to reduce the risk of heart disease
There are currently no safety data on pregnancy and lactation, and no side effects have been reported. Talk to your doctor before taking this.
Studies
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4848651/
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/15080016/
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/ptr.2729
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23953879/
This is for information only. Always check with your doctor before starting any supplement or herb.