What is Elderberry?
Common Names: Sweet/Wild Elder, Tree of Music
Body System Affinity
Immune System, Cardiovascular System, Respiratory System, Elimination Pathways of the body, Kidneys, Digestive System
Herbal Actions
Antioxidant, Immunomodulator, Antiviral, Blood Building, Relaxant Diaphoretic, Alterative, Diuretic, Nutritive, Lymphatic, Cathartic and Emetic (in high doses, especially fresh berries), Anti-rheumatic, Mild Hypotensive, Decongestant
Energetics
Cooling, Moistening/Mixed, sweet, acrid, slightly sour
*indicated in conditions of irritation, constriction, heat, fever, and atrophy
The Elder genus of shrubs and trees is native to Europe, from southern Scandinavia to the Mediterranean, from Greece to Portugal, and across the sea into Morocco and Algeria. They are also native to some regions of western and central Asia, and naturalized in North America – especially the northeast. The berries and flowers have long been worked with in medicine, food, dye, and ritual!
Elderberry has been popularized (for good reason!) for their benefits on the immune system--in instances of both preventative and acute care. Studies have confirmed that elderberry helps boost the production of cytokines, which are protein messengers that intelligently help to regulate the immune and inflammatory responses. Elderberries are rich in anthocyanins, which possess more antioxidant capacity than either vitamin E or C and are attributed to the greatly increased immune system coordination that elderberry supports and triggers.
Antivirin, another constituent found in Elderberry, is an antiviral agent that helps to prevent viral infections by inhibiting their ability to replicate and invade cells.
For fighting cold and flu symptoms, Elderberry is best started within 24-48 hours of symptom onset. It has been observed that when working with Elderberry at the onset of exposure, people are likely to recover faster and have less severe symptoms.
The folklore surrounding Elder is steeped with magic and reverence. This is a plant that demands respect, in similar fashion to a wise elder in your community. A common belief was that elder trees were inhabited by a spirit known as the “Elder Tree Mother.” Before one cut any wood from the tree, it was necessary to kneel and ask for permission, or misfortune would ensue. As a result, there was a common belief that this spirit would haunt the owner of furniture made from elder wood or mindless foragers who made medicine from various parts of the plant without acknowledging the tree’s sentience, and waiting for permission before taking. Elder is a tree of the fae folk and has association with Pan, Lord of the Underworld. The name Sambucus comes from sambuka, or pan-pipes which were made from their hollowed out stems. It is said that the most haunting music comes from instruments made with Elder.
