3 Powerful Health Benefits Of Elderberry + What To Look For In A Supplement
The elderflowers have the following actions and health benefits:
- Diaphoretic (help with fever management)
- Diuretic (can help with excess fluid)
- Anti catarrhal (reduces runny nose symptoms)
- Anti-inflammatory (reducing inflammation)
2. Elderberry can help support your immune system
Records of elderberry's health benefits and medicinal use date back to over a thousand years ago. Today however the internal use of elderberry has been approved by the German Commission E. This is a scientific advisory board of the Federal Institute for Drugs and Medical Devices formed in 1978. They give scientific expertise for the approval of substances used in traditional, folk and herbal medicine.
Elderberry has been shown to be effective at inhibiting the proliferation of 10 strains of influenza virus types A and B. It also holds promise in supporting anti viral actions with HSV-1.
The antiviral action comes from the ability of agglutinin (a substance in the blood that causes particles to coagulate) which interacts the viral coat-protein which then prevents the virus from entering cells and then replicating. Basically it stops the bad guy from getting in.
3. Elderberry can help when you have the ills and chills
Elderberry health benefits even extend to helping you when you have ills and chills by supporting the body to increase cytokine production. Basically it helps you fight things off more efficiently. Elderberry seems to help strengthen the cell membranes to prevent viruses from being able to penetrate our body cells (as we stated above) therefore stopping it from getting in and replicating - and then making us ill.
Elderberries have one the highest antioxidants of all the berries - which is important as we are often subject to free radical damage (FRD) which is a fancy term for just living. FRD is from stress, pollution, poor diet or un-wellness and can make us feel fatigued or just generally average.
They also impart an anti-inflammatory action which is of great help when we are under the weather. This action seems to come from the ursolic acid present within the plant. Elderberry health benefits don’t stop there, as they can also help with rheumatism and also assist with coughs, making this a powerhouse plant.
How to make elderberry jam
Obviously we love elderberry for its amazing health benefits and our Immunity Tonic and Switchel hold a high dose of our favourite berry. We have done all the picking and processing for you - you just have to decide how to have it - hot, cold or neat! But if you are lucky to have elderberries - you could try making an elderberry jam:
Elderberry Jam
1 cup of blueberries
1 cup of redcurrants
1 cup of elderberries
1/2 cup rosehips
1 Tbsp honey
Cinnamon to taste
- Place all berries and rosehips in a saucepan. Cover with a few centimetres of water and place a lid on top and bring to boil. Turn down to simmer until water has evaporated and berries are soft. Remove from heat and leave to cool.
- Puree the berries and add honey and cinnamon.
- Put in sterilised jar in the fridge for 2 weeks or give to a friend or family member.
What to look for in an elderberry supplement
