W h y E l d e r b e r r y ?
In a Mother's Words
"Elderberry has been my go-to immune booster ever since I had children and learned about its amazing health benefits. It has a long history of uses and is revered for its antioxidant and antiviral qualities. In Old World tradition, an elder bush was planted at the edge of a garden as the "protector" of the garden. I have to admit, I have often wondered if author J.K.Rowling of the famous Harry Potter series knew what she was doing when she made the most powerful wand, an elder wand.
Both the elder flowers and the berries have medicinal properties. In late spring-early summer, the elder bush produces beautiful white lacy flowers in flat-topped clusters that can span 6" wide. The flowers are edible and can be dried and made into tea or fried like a fritter in a light tempura-like batter which sounds pretty delicious. Elder flowers are a diaphoretic, which means they induce sweating and therefore help to relieve or lower fevers. The elder berries are produced later in the season, late summer-early fall. When ripe, the tiny berries are purplish-black and hang in heavy globular clusters.
Some of the key components of elderberries are Vitamin A, B and lots of C, bioflavonoids, beta-carotene, iron, potassium, and phytosterols. They also contain flavonoids, including quercetin, an antioxidant that helps prevent damage to your body's cells and is believed to deliver much of the therapeutic actions of the elderberry flowers and berries.
The elderberries' antiviral properties are so helpful in fighting colds and flus. It is also often used to treat upper-respiratory infections. At our house, we start taking a daily dose (1/2-1 Tsp.) of elderberry syrup at the first sign of a cold or flu. It is incredible at either knocking the cold out completely, or at least shortening its duration. We will also take it a little more regularly, a dose Monday through Friday with the weekend off, at times of the year when I know we are going to be exposed to more germs. For instance, when the kids go back to school, we need to get on a plane, or if our work environment has become infiltrated with sick people during the cold season.
Although all parts of the plant (leaves, flowers and berries) can be used to make teas, jams, syrup, wine and cordials, they can all be mildly toxic, as they contain a cyanide-producing substance. It is advised not to eat them raw, and only harvest the berries when they are completely ripe (purple-black)." -- Posted by Liz Wiley on 09.10.2015 from http://roundthebendfarm.org/2015/10/12/food-is-medicine-elderberry/
Hippocrates, the Father of Modern Medicine, called elderberry " the peoples' medicine chest."
North American elderberry (Sambucus Canadensis) and its compatible partner, aronia (Aronia Melanocarpa), also known as chokeberry, are both grown at The Bailey Farm. These two berries are rated as the highest capacity antioxidant small fruits according to the ORAC rating (measures the antioxidant capacity of foods) that grow naturally in our country. They are rated much higher than our more familiar berries -- blueberries, strawberries, raspberries, blackberries -- and for that, I consider elderberry and aronia the king and queen of the small fruits. Elderberry and aronia are also super high in Vitamin A, B, C, calcium, iron, phosphorus and potassium. Elderberry, in particular, has a long medicinal and mythological history. Medicinally speaking, this small and mighty berry is literally the Protector of our cells, just as the plant itself has been known through history as the 'Protector of the Garden.' Elder flowers and leaves also have beneficial medicinal properties, so it is no wonder the Elder plant has taken on mythological proportions. It is in the dark blue-black color of the elderberry/aronia where the extraordinary health benefits are found, elevating these berries to a class by themselves. But why elderberry? How do these berries benefit us?
According to James A. Duke, Ph.D, author of the bestselling Green Pharmacy Herbal Handbook, the therapeutic uses of the elderberry plant include preventing and/or treating
Elderberry must be processed, or cooked before ingesting. The basic differences between elderberry and aronia are
"Elderberry holds a bounty of flavonoids and triterpenes packed within its tiny fruit. These chemicals seem to be the key to elder's anti-inflammatory, antiviral and immune stimulating effects. New research points to elderberry's ability to block avian and human influenza viruses from connecting to cells throughout the body. Researchers are particularly pleased to see dangerous viruses like the swine flu virus included in the list of infections that elderberry prevents."-- http://www.thepracticalherbalist.com/holistic-medicine-library/elderberry-the-flu-fighter/
Additional References
http://www.thegoddesstree.com/trees/Elder.htm
http://www.thepracticalherbalist.com/holistic-medicine-library/elderberry-the-flu-fighter/
http://www.thealchemistskitchen.com/search?q=elderberry
http://www.marioninstitute.org/blog/2015/09/food-medicine-elderberry
http://roundthebendfarm.org/
http://sunflower-press.com/definitive-guide-elderberry/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aronia
"Elderberry has been my go-to immune booster ever since I had children and learned about its amazing health benefits. It has a long history of uses and is revered for its antioxidant and antiviral qualities. In Old World tradition, an elder bush was planted at the edge of a garden as the "protector" of the garden. I have to admit, I have often wondered if author J.K.Rowling of the famous Harry Potter series knew what she was doing when she made the most powerful wand, an elder wand.
Both the elder flowers and the berries have medicinal properties. In late spring-early summer, the elder bush produces beautiful white lacy flowers in flat-topped clusters that can span 6" wide. The flowers are edible and can be dried and made into tea or fried like a fritter in a light tempura-like batter which sounds pretty delicious. Elder flowers are a diaphoretic, which means they induce sweating and therefore help to relieve or lower fevers. The elder berries are produced later in the season, late summer-early fall. When ripe, the tiny berries are purplish-black and hang in heavy globular clusters.
Some of the key components of elderberries are Vitamin A, B and lots of C, bioflavonoids, beta-carotene, iron, potassium, and phytosterols. They also contain flavonoids, including quercetin, an antioxidant that helps prevent damage to your body's cells and is believed to deliver much of the therapeutic actions of the elderberry flowers and berries.
The elderberries' antiviral properties are so helpful in fighting colds and flus. It is also often used to treat upper-respiratory infections. At our house, we start taking a daily dose (1/2-1 Tsp.) of elderberry syrup at the first sign of a cold or flu. It is incredible at either knocking the cold out completely, or at least shortening its duration. We will also take it a little more regularly, a dose Monday through Friday with the weekend off, at times of the year when I know we are going to be exposed to more germs. For instance, when the kids go back to school, we need to get on a plane, or if our work environment has become infiltrated with sick people during the cold season.
Although all parts of the plant (leaves, flowers and berries) can be used to make teas, jams, syrup, wine and cordials, they can all be mildly toxic, as they contain a cyanide-producing substance. It is advised not to eat them raw, and only harvest the berries when they are completely ripe (purple-black)." -- Posted by Liz Wiley on 09.10.2015 from http://roundthebendfarm.org/2015/10/12/food-is-medicine-elderberry/
Hippocrates, the Father of Modern Medicine, called elderberry " the peoples' medicine chest."
North American elderberry (Sambucus Canadensis) and its compatible partner, aronia (Aronia Melanocarpa), also known as chokeberry, are both grown at The Bailey Farm. These two berries are rated as the highest capacity antioxidant small fruits according to the ORAC rating (measures the antioxidant capacity of foods) that grow naturally in our country. They are rated much higher than our more familiar berries -- blueberries, strawberries, raspberries, blackberries -- and for that, I consider elderberry and aronia the king and queen of the small fruits. Elderberry and aronia are also super high in Vitamin A, B, C, calcium, iron, phosphorus and potassium. Elderberry, in particular, has a long medicinal and mythological history. Medicinally speaking, this small and mighty berry is literally the Protector of our cells, just as the plant itself has been known through history as the 'Protector of the Garden.' Elder flowers and leaves also have beneficial medicinal properties, so it is no wonder the Elder plant has taken on mythological proportions. It is in the dark blue-black color of the elderberry/aronia where the extraordinary health benefits are found, elevating these berries to a class by themselves. But why elderberry? How do these berries benefit us?
- Prevent & treat upper respiratory infections and fevers; relieve nasal congestion and sore throat
- Antioxidants fight free radicals (flus, virus, cold); inhibit replication of many strains of human and animal flu
- Possibly cancer-fighting
- Stimulates the immune system by increasing production of cytokines
- Preliminary trials suggest activity against herpes and HIV viruses
- Possibly useful in treating hay fever by making the mucous membranes less reactive to allergies
According to James A. Duke, Ph.D, author of the bestselling Green Pharmacy Herbal Handbook, the therapeutic uses of the elderberry plant include preventing and/or treating
- Bronchitis, colds, coughing
- Breathing problems, flu, herpes, mucous membrane inflammation, sinusitis, sore throat
- Folk uses: Arthritis, boils, bruises, constipation, eczema, fever, headache, laryngitis, obesity, pain, sores, swelling
Elderberry must be processed, or cooked before ingesting. The basic differences between elderberry and aronia are
- Elderberry is mild-tasting and is a smaller berry than the aronia berry; heat to 130 F before ingesting
- Aronia, while possessing all the health benefits of elderberry, may also contain cancer-fighting agents; is known to speed cancer recovery in patients
- Aronia is bitter tasting; can be ingested raw because cyanide toxins found in elderberries are not present in aronia, although I process it along with elderberries when I make syrup and shrub tonics
"Elderberry holds a bounty of flavonoids and triterpenes packed within its tiny fruit. These chemicals seem to be the key to elder's anti-inflammatory, antiviral and immune stimulating effects. New research points to elderberry's ability to block avian and human influenza viruses from connecting to cells throughout the body. Researchers are particularly pleased to see dangerous viruses like the swine flu virus included in the list of infections that elderberry prevents."-- http://www.thepracticalherbalist.com/holistic-medicine-library/elderberry-the-flu-fighter/
Additional References
http://www.thegoddesstree.com/trees/Elder.htm
http://www.thepracticalherbalist.com/holistic-medicine-library/elderberry-the-flu-fighter/
http://www.thealchemistskitchen.com/search?q=elderberry
http://www.marioninstitute.org/blog/2015/09/food-medicine-elderberry
http://roundthebendfarm.org/
http://sunflower-press.com/definitive-guide-elderberry/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aronia
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