The elder tree (Sambucus nigra) is an ancient medicinal plant, its ubiquity in our hedgerows perhaps belying its great value. Surrounded by much folklore and legend (like so many other efficacious plants) it is said to be inhabited by a jealous spirit called the 'Elder Mother'. So make sure, if you take any part of the tree, to thank the Elder Mother for her benefaction.
The flowers and fruits of the Elder are both mainstays of the Medical Herbalist's dispensary and are good native remedies for upper respiratory tract conditions of all sorts. However, the riches of the elder tree can be also be used successfully as home remedies for those winter snuffles.
The frothy and headily fragrant flowers (including the all important pollen) which are such a feature of our early summer hedgerows, when dried and taken as tea, are anti-catarrhal, easing swelling in the mucous membranes - a miserable feature of colds, hay-fever and sinusitis. It is well worth gathering yourself a batch of flower heads when they appear next spring – dry them carefully in order to preserve the all important pollen, as this is thought to contribute to their overall efficacy.
As with many traditional cold remedies (Yarrow is another) elderflowers will promote sweating and urination. This helps the body to eliminate the toxins produced by the cold virus. This is a much older method of dealing with colds and infections and contrasts sharply with the modern approach of taking medication to dry up cold symptoms, although even I have to admit that this is sometimes necessary to allow the continuation to some extent, of normal life, but I am not sure it is always the healthiest thing to do in terms of helping your body's natural response to a cold.
The theory behind this approach, is that the body, as part of its immune response, is eliminating the products of infection through the mucous membranes – hence our snotty noses. Increasing sweating and urination assists this eliminative process and so can hasten the end of the cold.
Drinking lots of water when you have a cold will also help to flush the body, although you might find your symptoms will worsen in the short term, but they will improve more quickly afterwards if you can keep this up.
Resting is also very helpful, it really is what your body wants to do – it is trying to fight off an infection after all and we should give it all the help we can. We all try to carry on regardless through colds and I am not sure this is always the best policy, although again the dictates of modern life often demand this.
I studied herbal medicine with a lady whose demeanor was formidable (but who actually was very kindly) and who had been a director of a rather famous firm (I shan't say which, but you would have heard of them). She would send staff home who came to work with a cold and telling them to take bed rest, drink herbal teas, take tissue salts and not come back for two days. Her view was that they would be more use in the workplace if they were given the opportunity to rest and take measures to get well in the short term, rather than coming in snuffly, under par and infectious for days on end. I always thought that this was rather enlightened approach and one which I felt should be more widely adopted.
However, I digress – what more of the wonders of the elder tree? Those ripe berries we started with (don't use the green ones) aren't only used to make the intoxicating wine that often used to sit in sideboard cupboards to be offered as a 'medicinal' tipple to great aunts and visiting clergy. Elderberries have always been laid down in the Autumn to be used in the winter – as a syrup they are a great soother for fractious coughs. They are also full of marvelous antioxidants and vitamins, so can help you keep infections at bay, if you feel a cold coming on.
However the elderberry has only just recently revealed one of its other secrets to modern science, (through which there is more and more confirmation of traditional medicinal plant uses). It has been found that elderberries contain a substance called sambucol. Most excitingly, this is thought to be potentially more effective against a wider spectrum of 'flu viruses than the pharmaceutical drug Tamiflu and moreover, produces fewer side effects (1). A truly wonderful discovery, as not many plants are thought to be effective against viruses and not much, plants or otherwise is effective against 'flu (other than vaccination).
To preserve this medicinal treasure, why not make elderberry syrup (there are lots of recipes on line and one on my blog at www.naturesbestmedicine.info). Or try and make an alcoholic tincture using vodka – again look on line for the method. A teaspoon of either can be added to hot water to drink when a cold or 'flu threatens.
The season to pick elderflowers has passed, but you might not be too late for the berries if you are quick. However there are some commercially made elderberry preparations around – your health food shop should be able to help you.
But - if you are wanting to make your own, get down to the hedgerows - begin by asking the permission of the 'Elder Mother' and pick yourself an elderberry 'flu remedy!
This information is only meant for educational purposes and not for self-treatment – always check before using herbs for interactions with orthodox drugs, cotra-indications if you have existing medical conditions or if you are pregnant or lactating. Always make sure that you pick the right plant, from an uncontminated source
Catherine Schofield BSc BA MSc MNIMH (Member of the National Institute of Medical Herbalists)
Consulting Medical Herbalist
main web site www.naturesbestmedicine.info
email [email protected]
Tel: 07947128709
(1) Adele Nozedar (2012) The hedgerow handbook: Recipes, Remedies and Rituals.