Elder’s energetics
warming
drying
Elder’s Properties
Immunomodulating
Antiviral
Antibacterial
Immune stimulant
Elder (Sambucus nigra, S. canadensis). These are the 2 species of elder you’ll find around these parts most often.
It’s referred to as “the medicine chest” because of it’s wide-range of beneficial actions and availability.
They grow wild and in abundance in our area around waterways and moist areas. And in late May and through most of June you’ll find them by the large beautiful creamy white umbel flowers they put off.
You’ll find them growing in ditches everywhere there is a stream, river or a creek.
folklore
Important to the Celtic people, the Druids made flutes from the elder branches to communicate with the souls of the dead.
Referred to as the “Elder Mother”, it’s said to have protective qualities. So it was planted near the door of homes or branches were hung over the door, to act as a guardian against evil spirits.
And as the Elder Mother, it was believed to be a guardian of gardens and planted near the entrance of the garden.
The useful parts of the Elder Shrub
The entire shrub was once used medicinally. The berries, flowers and leaves are what’s used most often these days. And they carry many of the same constituents.
The berries, as well as the flowers and leaves, offer relief from upper respiratory infections and can help alleviate allergy symptoms too.
The elder flower has calming effects, acts as a diuretic, promotes sweating (diaphoretic), offers skin protection, and boasts antioxidant properties.
These properties are hugely beneficial for the cold and flu season. Or use them to promote skin, eye, and ear health.
The elder berry, which everyone knows best, can stimulate immunity and is also an immunomodulator. And like other berries with a beautiful dark vibrant color are full of antioxidants.
As an anti-viral, scientific studies have shown it to be effective at lessening symptoms and shortening the duration of the flu and its symptoms. They may inhibit viruses from penetrating our cells, thanks to a specific protein they contain. Thus stopping its replication.
Packed with anti-inflammatory properties, they fight arthritic pain and to help the eyes.
The elder leaves work in many of the same ways at the berries with more of a green taste. But, they are a bit more potent than the berries as well.
How to use Elder
The flowers make a wonderful tasting tea. Use it fresh or dried. Just remember the flowers are what create the berries. So be sure to leave some flowers to ensure you have berries later in the year.
This makes a fabulous tea, cold or hot. Or use it as a wash or compress for the skin and eyes.
Make an infused oil to use directly on the skin or to create a lotion or salve. Or you can make a tincture for topical or internal use.
The berries that come in the late summer can be monotonous to pick.
So, the best way I’ve found to harvest the berries is to put the entire umbel in a brown paper sack and put it in the freezer.
Then in several hours or the next day, you can use a fork to pull the berries from the umbels. If you get a little bit of stem in with the berries, that’s fine.
You can make a tea or infusion. From the infusion you can make an elderberry syrup. Take this by the spoonful when the first sign of flu symptoms begin to show. Or add an ounce or so to fizzy water and enjoy it cold.
And they’re a great addition to your fire cider. The immune stimulating and anti-viral properties are perfect for this pre-emptive herbal goodness.
The seeds in the berries can make some folks nauseous. Cooking or heating the berries can lessen or eliminate this effect altogether. Anytime I use elderberries, I strain them to remove the seeds and the remainder of the berries simply because I’m only after the liquid. Then I feed what I strain out to our chickens, who love it.
The elder shrub is amazing. It can stop a virus in it’s tracks. Helping you stop it before it starts or shorten the duration of the symptoms. I’ll take either one.
And as a great tasting medicine it’s an easy sell for everyone, including kids.
So as you run through May and June, keep an eye out for those lovely creamy white umbels. This way you know where you can find your elderberries come late August or September!
Or, because it’s a native in our area, it’s super simple to grow. The chickens ate our tree to the ground 2 years in a row. Somehow, this year, it was spared. You can see it in the picture you above, next to our wellhouse.
How do you use elderberries? Have you tried elder flower tea? I want to know all the things!!! Tell me in the comments below. I can’t wait to hear how you’ve used the Elder.
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