Everything comes full circle sooner or later. Lately, the news, the Internet and other sources have flooded us with alternative health solutions, rather than always relying on the mainstream medicines. Although this “new” trend to seek “natural” cures and disease management seems to have sprung out of nowhere, it actually has been around for ages.
Old folklore and folk medicine and Indian medicine all came from natural sources since they didn’t have modern drugs. Incidentally, many of today’s drugs have been directly derived from the herbs and plants that are the basis of folk medicine.
Elderberry is one that has been touted lately in the media. New to many of us, it has actually been around for centuries to ease symptoms of colds and flu. The berries themselves have anti-viral properties.
The elder tree has been a symbol of the cycle of life and death for centuries. Flowering shrubs can grow upwards of 20 feet tall or more. There are many types of elderberry plants but the berries and leaves of the European elder are the most studied and commonly used.
Today, the berries are used for many therapeutic applications. However, it is important to remember that herbal remedies use a cooked form of the berries because, eaten raw, the berries have toxins that can cause stomach ache and vomiting. When cooked, honey and sugar is usually added to make a syrup. Sometimes, clove, cinnamon and other warming and tasty herbs that are anti-septic and support the immune system are added. If you don’t want the extra sugar, elderberries can be taken as a tincture form as an alcohol extract.
The leaves should never be ingested because they can be purging but they can be used as a topical medicine. They have properties that promote wound healing as well as emollients that soothe the skin. Besides wounds, they can ease irritation from abrasions, bumps and bruises.
HYPE. For years, grandmas have sworn by elderberry syrup to lessen symptoms and duration of colds and flu. Many claim that they may be as effective as Tamiflu, a pharmaceutical that lessons the duration of these viruses when given at the onset of symptoms.
It is also believed that a component in elderberry juice may inhibit viruses from infecting cells, especially cells in the respiratory tract.
FACTS. Let’s look at some of the facts that support the powers of these small, deep purple berries. Elderberries have antioxidant properties and have high levels of vitamin C and A, zinc, iron, tannins (amino acids), flavonoids (phytonutrients found in many plants of vibrant color) and other trace nutrients. They all come together as immunostimulants that fight various viruses, including colds and flu.
In addition, the berries improve chronic fatigue syndrome, constipation, hay fever, headaches, high cholesterol, sinus infection, sciatica, toothaches and upper respiratory infections.
Studies have proven that the syrup does decrease flu symptoms. When used early, those who took 15 mL of elderberry syrup four times per day for five days were rid of symptoms four times faster than those who didn’t.
Australians did a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial on the effectiveness of elderberries to lessen virus symptoms. The folks in the placebo group were sick several days longer and had worse symptoms than those who took 600 to 900 milligrams of elderberry syrup per day. A study in Norway also supports this fact.
These findings support Grandma’s advice that elderberry makes cold symptoms less crappy. The syrup also provides substantial relief for congestion and mucus in the upper respiratory tract.
The science behind elderberry’s effectiveness is that it makes it harder for a virus to enter a new host cell. It doesn’t attack the virus directly, but instead it blocks the enzyme used by the virus to weaken the cell membrane of the host cell. If it’s more difficult for a virus to enter a cell, then it takes more time to reproduce, giving the body’s immune system a leg up on attacking the invader.
WORD OF CAUTION. Since elderberry is an immune stimulant, it can raise levels of anti-pro-inflammatory cytokines. Some cases can cause an overwhelming immune response with elevated cytokines which then start to cause negative effects. So, elderberry is best used to stimulate the immune system at the onset of symptoms instead of later in the disease.
Also, when purchasing elderberry, make sure you buy from a reputable company. This is true when buying all herbs and supplements. With the popularity of these natural products lately, many companies have gotten on the band wagon.
So, how do you know which companies are legitimate? Look for the seal of approval from third party companies that test supplements for safety. The criteria these companies use are: making sure they are free from toxic or harmful ingredients; verifying that they contain the ingredients that the manufacturer says it does; and making sure that the equipment where the supplements are manufactured meet the national and international standards.
The seal of approval should be from NSF International, the U.S. Pharmacopeia Convention or Consumer Lab.
Unfortunately, the supplement industry is not regulated past their labeling requirements. Although it is technically illegal to print one thing on the label and to put something else in the bottle, the FDA does not have a process to verify that the contents actually match the label.
Of course, the absence of one of these seals of approval does not mean it is a bad product, but looking for one of the seals does give a one-step higher degree assurance of an authentic product.
Elderberries have been used to better our health for a long time. They were even mentioned in Hippocrates’ writings. That’s good enough for me to have some on hand the next time a cold or flu decides to pay a visit.
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