Elder berry

Elder (Sambucus nigra), also known as Common or Black Elder, is a flowering shrub that shares its family tree with about 30 cousins that belong to the Adoxaceae family. However, for many years, elder was listed as a member of the Caprifoliaceae family, most likely because its flowers bear a striking resemblance to those of honeysuckle.This native of Europe and North America shares another common characteristic with its true relatives— they all produce berries that range in color from deep violet or red to bluish-black. An important distinction to be made between them, though, is the fact that many species produce poisonous berries. So, a bit of Herbal Know-How: When speaking of elder berries, or what we commonly refer to simply as elderberry, we’re speaking of Sambucus nigra, exclusively. [Note: The flowers, which are also edible, are obtained solely from Sambucus canadensis.]

Respect Your Elders

There are several interesting tales ingrained in botanical history that center on the wood of this small tree. For one thing, the mature timber is reputed to be quite sturdy, which may be why Judas allegedly chose an elder branch to hang from in the hope of attaining absolution for his betrayal. Apparently, this event later provided the inspiration for coming up with the moniker “Judas' ear fungus,” the name given to a mushroom that prefers to reside in dead elder wood. It’s also said that the Cross of Calvary was carved from elder, as this old rhyme suggests:

“Bour tree-Bour tree: crooked rongNever straight and never strong;Ever bush and never treeSince our Lord was nailed on thee."

The wood is also revered for its mystical powers. In fact, although it was once used to ward off “evil” witches, it is a preferred wood to fashion wands from by modern Pagans and Wiccans today. However, a word of warning: According to Dutch folklore, elder is home to Hylde-Moer, or the Elder Mother. As such, cutting down an elder tree without first obtaining permission from its guardian would invoke spiritual possession of the offending woodsman, as well as any object made from the wood. Therefore, it might be prudent to recite the following ancient chant before making a strike:

"Old girl, give me some of thy wood and I will give thee some of mine when I grow into a tree."

The soft pitch of young elder branches can be easily removed, leaving behind a thin tube or pipe. It’s a foregone conclusion that this was once a popular pastime for young lads since Culpepper once wrote, "It is needless to write any description of this [tree], since every boy that plays with a pop-gun will not mistake another tree for the Elder." At the risk of undue speculation, it’s possible that these handmade popguns were the forerunners of toy whistles and various musical instruments still popular with children today. However, it is a known fact that the dried pith of elder was traditionally used to make shoemaker’s pegs, pins for fish netting, and to fashion carpenters’ rules. It is still used by master watchmakers today to clean tools before using them on small watch parts.Food & Medicine from a Fruit


Like many other berries and fruits, elderberry has earned a reputation for lending its tart flavor to many culinary dishes. The berries can be baked in pies and tarts, or rendered into jams, jellies, preserves, and even ketchup. Of course, every country dweller has sampled elderberry wine at some point. It’s unknown whether or not Native Americans appreciated the gastronomic benefits of elderberry, but it is clear that they used the berries to concoct remedies to treat fever, herpes, and arthritis pain. They also used elderberry to fight flu, a claim that has real merit today. In fact, numerous studies have shown that the extract made from elderberries may be more effective than vaccinations at combating at least 10 strains of flu, including influenza Type A and B. In addition, many study subjects have experienced significant relief of symptoms in half the time it normally takes the virus to subside without medical intervention.Interest in exploring the properties of elderberry was pioneered by Madeline Mumcuoglu, Ph.D., an Israeli virologist who wanted to study the mechanism behind the extract’s reputed ability to counter the flu virus. She discovered that the extract inhibited invading viral cells from penetrating and infecting healthy cells with the neuraminidase enzyme, thereby preventing replication of the virus in the body. In addition, she and her team found that viral enzymes became neutralized when elderberry extract was introduced either in vivo or in vitro, meaning inside or outside of the body, respectively. The medicinal properties of elderberry pack a two-fold punch that gives credence to it being an old-fashioned remedy for fever and pain associated with colds and flu. First, elderberry is rich in antioxidants, namely the flavonoids rutin and quercetin. These agents stimulate the immune system to increase production of cytokines, specifically IL-1 beta, TNF-alpha, IL-6, and IL-8. The berries also yield anthocyanins, water-soluble compounds that provide an anti-inflammatory effect, which may explain why elderberry effectively reduces pain and fever.What about side effects? There are none known. In fact, elderberry is considered safe and effective for children, as well as adults.


Profile On Elder Berry