Elder

Latin name: Sambucus Nigra

Family: Caprifoliaceae (Honeysuckle Family)

Folk Names: Tree of Music, Tree of Medicine, Black Alder,  Common Elder, American Elder, Antelope brush, Blue elderberry, Danewort or Dwarf Elder, Red-fruited Elder, European Elder, Boor tree, Old Lady, Old Gal, Lady Elder,  Sweet Elder, Tree of Doom. 

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DESCRIPTIVE CHARACTERISTICS 

Part of the Plant Used

Flower, Leaf, Berry

CONSTITUENTS

• Flowers 
  • Triterpenes, fixed oils (free fatty acids),  phenolic acid, pectin.
•  Leaf
  • Triterpenes, cynegetic glycosides, flavonoids, fatty acids, alkanes, tannins.

THERAPEUTIC ACTIONS

• Flower
  •  Diaphoretic, anticatarrhal, antispasmodic.
•  Leaf
  • Purgative, expectorant, diuretic, diaphoretic, emollient, external vulnerary.
•  Berry
  •  diaphoretic, diuretic, laxatives, anti-rheumatic. 

Clinical: For early or late stage colds, flu, fevers specifically those hot and dry in nature. Used both internally and externally. Elder flowers, mixed with equal parts of mint and yarrow blossoms, are excellent internal cleansers for detox of colds and flu. The tea of flowers combined with an equal part of sassafras is a good remedy for clearing the skin of blemishes such as acne.  Elder flower oil supports healing of skin abrasions such as cuts, scrapes. Elder flower may also be used for nasal irritation, chronic sinusitis, spasmodic croup, night sweats and skin eruptions from metabolic disturbances. It is a mild diaphoretic for children. Berry juice is often used as a remedy for rheumatism, neuroglia, common cold and flu.

• Leaf used for topical bruises, sprains, wounds, chilblains.
• Ointment may be effective for tumors.
• Effective against 10 strains of influenza and reduce symptoms to 3 or 4 days.
• Flower indicated for inflammatory conditions of upper respiratory, hay fever or sinusitis.
• INCREASES CYTOKINE PRODUCTION.
• May inhibit viral activity.

Folk: Arthritis, boils, bruises, constipation, eczema, fever, headache, laryngitis, obesity, pain, sores, swelling.

Energetics: Acrid, bitter, cool energy.

Meridians/Organs: lungs, liver.

HERB-DRUG INTERACTIONS

Seeds can be irritating to the gastrointestinal tract. The unripe fruit, leaves, root, bark can cause nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, dizziness, tachycardia and convulsions due to sambunigrin compounds. No drug interactions have been reported. 

Dosage

INFUSION: Pour one cup of boiling water over  two teaspoons of dried or fresh blossoms and infuse for 10 minutes. Drink hot three times a day. 

JUICE: Boil fresh berries in water for 2 to 3 minutes, then express juice. If preserving, add one part honey to 10 parts juice and bring to a boil. Take one glass diluted with hot water twice a day.

OINTMENT:  Heat 3 Parts fresh Elder leaves with six parts melted Vaseline until the leaves are crisp, strain and store. 

TINCTURE: 2 to 4 ml three times daily (1:5 at 40% ETOH)

DROP DOSE: 10 to 60 drops, 1 to 4 times per day.

Combinations + Other Uses: 

• With St. John’s Wort and Soapwort root (Saponaria officinalis) exhibited antiviral activity against influenza A and B and herpes simplex type I.
• Willow for pain relief.
• Eye wash – cold, strained infusion for sore or inflamed eyes.
• Mouthwash Gargle – use the cooled infusion for mouth sores, sore throat, tonsillitis.

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