Even the ancient Greek physicians used elderberry as a medicinal herb. Diocurides, one of the most famous pharmacologists of antiquity, recommended the root of elderberry for dropsy and its leaves for inflammation. However, that the inner bark of the plant, scraped from the bottom up, acts as an emetic and, scraped from the top down, acts as a laxative, has clearly proven to be a superstition. Today, elderberry is used primarily to treat colds.
Ingredients of elderberry
Care should be taken with raw, unripe elderberries, as they contain the toxic, prussic acid-secreting sambunigrin, which can cause nausea and vomiting. Sambunigrin is also found in high concentrations in leaves and bark. This substance loses its effect only when heated.
However, the fully ripe berries are harmless even when raw. In the flowers and fruits am also found flavonoids such as rutin or isoquercetrin as the main ingredients, the flowers also contain a small amount of tannins.
Medicinal properties of elderberry
In folk medicine, elderberry flowers are used internally as a diaphoretic remedy for colds. It is recommended to drink larger quantities of a hot tea infusion, especially towards evening. However, science has not yet been able to prove any active ingredient with a direct diaphoretic effect in elderberry. However, it is assumed that the medicinal plant increases the excitability of the sweat glands to heat stimuli – and in addition, sweating is probably simply triggered by the hot liquid. In addition, elderflowers have an expectorant effect on coughs and a diuretic effect.
Externally, they are used to make gargles and baths; this is probably where the astringent effect of the tannins comes into its own.
The tastiest variant of the vitamin– and mineral-rich fruits are probably juices and jams. The juice is also used in folk medicine as a diaphoretic, but also as a laxative or against sciatic pain and neuralgia. The use of leaves and bark is not recommended due to toxicity. Homeopathic preparations are administered according to the Homeopathic Pharmacopoeia for inflammation of the respiratory tract.
Elderberry tea preparation
Here are instructions for preparing a tasty elderberry tea:
- Pour boiling water over two teaspoons of elderflowers per cup.
- Let the tea steep for five minutes.
- Drink one to two cups as hot as possible several times a day, especially in the evening.
The tea is also suitable for the prevention of colds: for this purpose, one teaspoon of elderflower per cup; the infusion is then drunk moderately warm twice a day for two weeks.
Black elderberry: origin and harvest
Black elderberry (Sambucus nigra) grows along forest edges or clearcuts throughout Europe, as well as in parts of Africa and Asia. It occurs as a shrub or tree, and the yellowish white flowers smell aromatically sweet. They then turn into black berries the size of cherry pits.
According to the European Pharmacopoeia, both the flowers (Sambucus flos) and the berries (Sambucus fructus) and the leaves (Sambucus folium) are suitable for use.
They are harvested at different times: Flowers and leaves are picked when they begin to bloom in June, but the berries are picked when they are deep black.
