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European Elder
- European Box Elder Tree, Elderberry, Sambucus
The medicinal herb European Elder as an alternative herbal remedy for skin conditions - European elder is a tree native to Europe and parts of Asia and Africa, and it also grows in the United States. There are several different types of elder, such as American elder, but European elder is the type most often used as a supplement.Common Names--European elder, black elder, elder, elderberry, elder flower, sambucus
Latin Names--Sambucus nigra
The leaves are pinnate with 5–9 leaflets (rarely 3 or 11). Each leaf is 5–30 cm (2.0–11.8 in) long, and the leaflets have serrated margins. They bear large clusters of small white or cream-colored flowers in late spring; these are followed by clusters of small black, blue-black, or red berries (rarely yellow or white).
Herbal Remedies and Medicinal Cures for Diseases, Ailments & Illnesses that afflict Humans and Animals
Aloe Vera •
Astragalus •
Bankoro •
Bilberry •
Bitter Gourd (Ampalaya) •
Bitter Orange •
Black Cohosh •
Cat's Claw •
Chamomile •
Chasteberry •
Coconut •
Cranberry •
Dandelion •
Echinacea •
Ephedra •
European Elder Tree •
Evening Primrose •
Fenugreek •
Feverfew •
Flaxseed •
Garlic •
Ginger •
Ginkgo •
Ginseng (Asian) •
Golden Seal •
Grape Seed •
Green Tea •
Hawthorn •
Hoodia •
Horse Chestnut •
Kava •
Lavender •
Licorice •
Malunggay Moringa Oleifera •
Milk Thistle •
Mistletoe •
Passion Flower •
Peppermint Oil •
Red Clover •
Ringworm Bush (Akapulko) – Cassia alata •
Saw Palmetto •
St. John's Wort •
Tawa Tawa •
Turmeric •
Valerian •
Yohimbe •
accept the bitter to get better
 European Elder Tree Berries | |||
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 European Elder Tree Flowers | |||
 Elderberry Trees | |||
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What European Box Elder Tree or Elderberry, Sambucus Is Used For
- Parts of the elder tree--such as the berries and flowers--have long been used for pain, swelling, infections, coughs, and skin conditions. *Today, elderberry and elder flower are used for flu, colds, fevers, constipation, and sinus infections.
How European Box Elder Tree, Elderberry Sambucus Is Used
- The dried flowers (elder flower) and the cooked blue/black berries (elderberry) of the European elder tree are used in teas, liquid extracts, and capsules.
What the Science Says about European Box Elder Tree or Elderberry, Sambucus
- Although some small studies show that elderberry may relieve flu symptoms, the evidence is not strong enough to support this use of the berry. *A few studies have suggested that a product containing elder flower and other herbs can help treat sinus infections when used with antibiotics, but further research is needed to confirm any benefit.
- No reliable information is available on the effectiveness of elderberry and elder flower for other uses.
- According to the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM), elderberry may help ease pain, swelling, infection, cough, skin conditions, flu, cold, fever, constipation and sinus infections. The University of Maryland Medical Center (UMMC) says there are few side effects associated with short-term use of elderberry. The Food and Drug Administration does not regulate elderberry; the National Institutes of Health (NIH) recommends consulting a physician prior to taking elderberry.
Side Effects and Cautions of European Box Elder Tree, Elderberry, Sambucus
- Uncooked or unripe elderberries are toxic and can cause nausea, vomiting, or severe diarrhea. Only the blue/black berries of elder are edible. *Because of elder flower's possible diuretic effects, use caution if taking it with drugs that increase urination.
- Tell your health care providers about any complementary and alternative practices you use. Give them a full picture of what you do to manage your health. This helps to ensure coordinated and safe care.
Folklore, Superstition, Legends and tales about magic referring to the Elder Tree, Sambucus
- Source verbatim from: www.answers.com
Many superstitions and legends are associated with the elder tree and shrub (genus Sambucus). In some cultures, it is identified with the tree on which Judas hanged himself as well as with the wood used for the Cross. In some parts of Scotland and Wales, it was believed that the dwarf elder grew only on ground that had been soaked in blood. Elder was not used for a child's cradle because it could cause the child to pine or be harried by fairies. In Germany it was considered unlucky to bring an elder branch into a house, because it might also bring ghosts, or, in England, the Devil himself.
However, elder was also believed to protect against evil, and it was thought that wherever it grew witches were powerless. In England gardens were sometimes protected by having elder trees planted at the entrance, or in hedges around the garden. In some parts of the United States, an elder stick was burned on the fire at Christmas Eve to reveal witches, sorcerers, and other evil wishers in the neighborhood. In the Tyrol, it was believed that an elder stick cut on St. John's Eve (June 23) would detect witchcraft.
Many old gardens in Britain retained into the twentieth century some of the protective elder trees. The folklorist James Napier recalled: "In my boyhood, I remember that my brothers, sisters, and myself were warned against breaking a twig or branch from the elder hedge which surrounded my grandfather's garden. We were told at the time as a reason for this prohibition, that it was poisonous; but we discovered afterwards that there was another reason, viz., that it was unlucky to break off even a small twig from a bourtree bush [old name for elder]."
In some parts of Europe, this superstition was so strong that before pruning the elder, the gardener would say, "Elder, elder may I cut thy branches?" If no response was heard, it was considered that permission had been given, and then, after spitting three times, the pruner began his cutting. Another writer claimed that elderwood formed a portion of the fuel used in burning human bodies as protection against evil influences, and drivers of funeral hearses had their whip handles made of elder for a similar reason.
In some parts of Scotland, people would not put a piece of elderwood into the fire. Napier observed one instance where "pieces of this wood were lying around unused when the neighbourhood was in great straits for firewood; but none would use it, and when asked why? the answer was: 'We don't know, but folks say it is not lucky to burn the bourtree."'
Elderberries gathered on St. John's Eve were believed to ward off witchcraft and to bestow magic powers. If the elder was planted in the form of a cross upon a new grave and it bloomed, this was a sure sign that the soul of the dead person was happy.
Various magic powers against illness were claimed for elder. In Massachusetts, elder pulp in a bag worn around the neck was thought to cure rheumatism. Elsewhere elder was also used as an amulet, small pieces being cut up and sewn into a knot and hung around the neck or sewn in a knot in a piece of a man's shirt. Elder was also believed to be of medicinal value for deafness, faintness, strangulation, sore throat, ravings, snake and dog bites, insomnia, melancholy, and hypochondria.
Medication Interactions of Elder berry
According to the UMMC, elderberry can react with numerous prescription medications. Elderberry has diuretic properties, and users should not combine it with other diuretics because of the risk of dehydration. Those who take diabetic medications that lower blood sugar should not take elderberry, because elderberry has blood sugar-lowering capabilities that can lead to hypoglycemia, a complication of diabetes characterized by extremely low blood sugar. Elderberry may also increase the side effects of chemotherapy drugs and interfere with the drug theophylline, an asthma medication, and immunosuppressants like prednisone.
News About Elder Tree
The Many Health Benefits of Elderberry
Thousands of years ago, in ancient Greece, Hippocrates would gather elderberries, crush them, and apply the poultice to treat wounds. Elderberries were so widely used across Europe for their health-promoting properties that the “father of medicine” himself referred to them as his “medicine chest.” If he only knew…
European elder is a tree native to Europe and parts of Asia and Africa, and it also grows in the United States. There are several different types of elder, such as American elder, but European elder (Sambucus nigra, or Black Elder) is the type most often used as a nutritional supplement. European elder grows as either a large bush or small tree, and is characterized by clusters of dark-red berries that turn black when ripe.
- Health Benefits
Parts of the elder tree—such as the berries and flowers—have historically been used for immune stimulation, against pain, swelling, infections, coughs, and skin conditions. Current folk or traditional uses of elderberry and elder flower include flu, colds, fevers, constipation, and sinus infections.
- How Elderberries Work Their Magic
Elderberries are rich in antioxidants—substances that may help prevent or delay some types of free radical damage to cells. Free radicals can cause “oxidative stress,” a process that can trigger cell damage. Oxidative stress is thought to play a role in a variety of diseases including cancer, cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, and eye diseases such as cataracts and age-related macular degeneration. Antioxidants are free-radical scavengers that have been shown to counteract oxidative stress in laboratory experiments.
Elderberries are a terrific source of polyphenols, such as anthocyanins and flavonoids. These are potent antioxidants. Polyphenols are found in many plants and gives some flowers, fruits, and vegetables their color.
- Colds and Flu
If you’re like most people, you know at least one person, maybe even yourself, that’s gotten sick with an upper respiratory infection when they fly on a plane. Statistics from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention back this up—about 20 perent of all air travelers experience respiratory infections that require them to seek medical care.
Elderberry to the rescue! A study was recently published in Nutrients that followed air travelers for two years. One group was given a proprietary elderberry formula, and the other group took a placebo. If participants in either group contracted a cold, those who took the elderberry formula were sick for only 5 days, versus 7 days in the placebo group. The elderberry group also reported far less severe symptoms and experienced better overall health after their travels.
The same elderberry formula used in this trial was previously the subject of a clinical study by Dr. Christian Krawitz at the University of Giessen. In that study, the formula was found to have clear inhibitory effects against influenza A and B viruses, as well as against four bacteria known to cause upper respiratory infections.
- Blood Circulation
Vascular disease includes any condition that affects the circulatory system. The inner layer of the blood vessels is referred to as the endothelium. According to a recent study in Free Radical Biology and Medicine, elderberry anthocyanins can protect the inner layer of blood vessels from oxidative stress. The researchers concluded that elderberry extract “conferred significant protective effect against oxidative insult.” This is an important finding because the more protected the blood vessels are against oxidative stress, the greater their integrity and structure, which improves blood flow throughout the body.
- Diabetes
According to the American Diabetes Association, a staggering 29 million Americans have diabetes. It’s no wonder that researchers are scrambling to find treatments to help manage what is fast becoming an epidemic. Traditionally, elderberry is one of many herbal treatments that have been studied to help manage blood glucose levels. For example, according to a recent study in Phytotherapy Research, substances such as naringenin and linoleic acid in elderberry juice may activate insulin-dependent uptake of glucose, which could help manage diabetes. Herbal treatments for diabetes holds promise—the World Health Organization recently called for more research to be done.
- Precautions
Because of elder flower’s possible diuretic effects, use caution if taking it with drugs that increase urination.
Tell all your health care providers about any complementary health approaches you use. Give them a full picture of what you do to manage your health. This helps to ensure coordinated and safe care.
Do not stop taking any medications prescribed by your physician unless your healthcare provider directs you to do so.
Antioxidant-Rich Elderberry Can Help with Weight Loss
- By Carl Thompson Become a fan (Research writer for IPRONA)
Effective, safe weight loss is about more than dieting. It's about maintaining a healthy lifestyle: good nutrition and often, regular exercise. But sometimes the ability to stay active can be hampered by injuries or fatigue -- and one of the main causes of such discomforts is inflammation. Luckily, elderberry can help: the fruit is among the top sources for antioxidants, which play a proven role in reducing inflammation. A dose of elderberry may help keep you on your feet and on track with your fitness and weight loss goals.
This natural substance is anything but a recent fad: the healing qualities of European black elderberry, (Sambucus nigra), have been known for thousands of years. The ancient Greek physician Hippocrates called it his "medicine chest." In the Northern Europe of the middle ages, it was considered the staple of countless salves, balms, extracts and elixirs; a curative so vital that an entire book, Anatomy of the Elder, was devoted to its use -- and has recently been reissued for modern readers.
- Reducing inflammation, improving circulation
The most notable use of elderberry today has been as an ally against colds and flu: a host of studies have proven the fruit's antiviral and antibacterial properties. But recent research also points to its ability to reduce inflammation, a beneficial effect primarily due to the presence of the natural pigments, called anthocyanins, that give the elderberry its dark color.
These natural antioxidants are highly effective at destroying the free oxygen radicals increasingly created during exercise. The oxidation that results from free radicals can cause tissue and DNA damage, and has also been linked to the development of degenerative diseases such as type-2 diabetes, heart disease and some cancers.
A 2013 study, conducted by a team of German researchers and published in the British Journal of Nutrition, found that elderberry was among a range of plant extracts that significantly reduced inflammation. Researchers worked with a group of obese women on a program of exercise over the course of eight weeks. The study tracked how these women's bodies dealt with circulatory issues and inflammation. One group of women was given a placebo, and the other capsules made from plant-derived antioxidants, such as elderberry extract. Those given antioxidant capsules had markedly less inflammation and oxidative stress. They also showed significant improvement in microcirculation to the skin.
That's great news for people trying to improve their health and lose weight in a natural and safe way. Given elderberry's ability to improve the microcirculation to the skin, this means you'll also benefit from a palpable glow of health, looking younger and fresher (since one of the known causes of premature aging of the skin is poor microcirculation).
- Powerful extract
Black elderberry is readily available in a number of soluble and drinkable forms, which are a better bet than the fresh variety, according to nutrition experts. That's because a standardized commercial concentrate is made to maximize the potency of the fruit, and will tend to use the nutraceutical-rich Haschberg variety of elderberry. A high-quality, 15 per cent membrane enriched extract, for instance, is an optimal choice. It's created using a process that standardizes the natural variations in the contents of fresh berries that result from varying soil, climate, and seasonal conditions.
Yoga, walking, dancing, fitness classes or trips to the gym: there are endless ways to get up and move. However exercise, with its multiple benefits, is but part of a quest for overall health. Being able to maintain a fitness program and move freely without pain or inflammation is not only a boon to weight loss, it may well help keep up morale as well. With natural antioxidant tools like elderberry extracts, which counter any harmful effects of exercise, the quest just got even easier.
Missourians pushing elderberry as superfruit
- BY GEORGINA GUSTIN
Hartsburg, MO. • First it was the ruby red, Middle Eastern pomegranate. Then came Brazilian açaí, followed by the Himalayan goji berry.
In the past few years, a procession of "it" fruits has marched into American groceries, each bursting with antioxidants and vitamins, their respective industries say, and each as exotic and tempting to health-conscious consumers as the last.
Now, some Missouri farmers hope, the next member in this healthy fruit parade will be a deep purple, BB-sized orb that hails from more familiar terrain.
"We want to turn the elderberry into Missouri's superfruit," said Terry Durham, standing near some elderberry bushes last week. "We can create an industry right here."
An indigenous fruit that grows wild throughout much of North America, parts of Europe and North Africa, the elderberry has been deployed in folk remedies for centuries. But it was just in the past couple of years that Durham and his fellow elderberry fans saw its commercial prospects brighten.
"We didn't realize the health benefits until now," Durham said.
Four years ago, Durham planted a few acres on land he leased from friend-turned-business-partner Roger Lenhardt. Today he grows elderberries on 22 acres, making his farm the largest in the country. Within two years, Durham hopes production will more than double to 50 acres.
"There'll be fruit as far as the eye can see," he said. "This is just the beginning."
Homegrown effort
Most of the elderberries consumed in the U.S. are imported from Europe, Durham said, and are usually turned into wine or juice. There are small commercial growers in the Northeast, the Pacific Northwest and Canada, but most growers and researchers say they believe Missouri is well ahead of them, both in knowledge and volume.
"The University of Missouri has been doing research for about 12 or 13 years, and that's really put us in the forefront," said Joe Wilson, who started growing elderberries on his farm in Nevada, Mo., two years ago. "We're leading in production, too, but it's so small right now. It's like saying I have three pennies and you have two."
Durham, the driving force in Missouri's fledgling elderberry industry, is determined that will change.
He recently launched a cooperative, called River Hills Elderberry Producers, which is collecting wild and cultivated berries from growers around the state, processing them into juices and jam, and selling the products under the River Hills Harvest label. The group built a purple-roofed barn that will house a processing facility, which will be the first elderberry-dedicated facility in the country, Durham believes.
"We knew that the value in the juice was the way to go," Durham said, "and we wanted to own our own processing."
Durham and his colleagues also have started to preach the elderberry gospel.
This summer, he and university researchers conducted their fifth elderberry workshop to teach people how to grow and commercialize elderberries. The conference drew growers from 13 states and Canada.
"The first year we had eight people, then we had 32, then we had 64," Durham said. "This year we had 100."
After the conference, Durham and friends hosted the first Elderberry Festival on the farm. They built a stage under an old sycamore tree, a dance floor in the grass, and invited conference attendees and friends to camp to listen to bluegrass and celebrate the festival's namesake fruit.
"The flowers were blooming and the lightning bugs were out, all over the field," Lenhardt said. "It looked like a Hollywood marquee."
- Testing for benefits
Researchers at the University of Missouri and Missouri State University began studying elderberry production in 1997, launching the Elderberry Improvement Project with a government grant. They took more than 60 exemplary elderberry bushes from around the country and tested them for yield and health, then narrowed the field down to two promising varieties.
"We tested them for many years, and the testing is pretty involved," said Patrick Byers, a regional horticultural specialist with the University of Missouri Extension, and a lead elderberry researcher. "Two looked very good, and we're in the process of making those available in the Midwest."
The next step, Byers said, is to expand on research that demonstrates the berries' health benefits. So far, research has shown that the fruit has high levels of antioxidants, can boost immunity, can lower cholesterol and has some anti-viral properties. (The leaves and stems of the shrub are toxic; only the berries are edible, researchers say.)
But before producers tout the elderberry's "nutraceutical" promise, researchers want to know more.
"For centuries we've known elderberries possess healthy qualities. The question is: What exactly is going on?" Byers said. "...What is it about elderberries that is healthy?"
The makers of the popular pomegranate juice, POM Wonderful, were recently charged by the Federal Trade Commission with making health claims that the government said the company's research didn't adequately support. So, growers and producers of elderberries say they want to be especially cautious.
The more immediate challenge is taming a wild fruit — finding systems that will make the plants more consistent and reliable. Research and experience has given growers some management techniques, but difficulties remain with even ripening and pests.
"It's still a puzzle to get a good crop year after year," said Denis Charlebois, a researcher with the North American Elderberry Alliance. "People manage to do a good product, but growing it consistently is difficult."
Growers have the ability to mechanically plant 1,000 plants an hour. But there is no way to mechanically harvest the berries, so everything has to be picked by hand. (It takes 2,000 berries to make a pound, and 20 pounds to make a gallon of juice. River Harvest's juice retails for $12 per 11-ounce bottle.)
But a mechanical harvester is under development, and the berries yield quite a bit of juice. "It's a small berry but they can be quite productive," Byers said. "Some have yielded 8,000 pounds per acre."
For the state's estimated 25 elderberry farmers, however, the appeal of growing the fruit goes beyond yield.
Durham and Wilson interplant other native species in their elderberry fields in an effort to create a native permaculture — a sustainable, diverse agriculture of native plants.
"It's a unique opportunity in agriculture because we rarely grow native fruit," Durham says. "It's meant to grow in this environment."
He and Lenhardt walk along a row of bushes, each wearing Elderberry Festival T-shirts. They say the elderberry's time has come. "We can sell a lot of this stuff," Lenhardt says. Durham then adds: "We just need more people to grow it."
Elderberry Tonic for Cold and Flu Prevention
- Source:http://www.motherearthnews.com/real-food/elderberry-tonic-for-cold-and-flu-prevention-zbcz1508.aspx
- By Lyndsay Dawson Mynatt
Elderberry, Sambucus, is a seasonal berry that fruits in time for the prevention of cold and flu season. A member of the Honeysuckle Family (Caprifoliaceae), elderberries are perennial shrubs with pithy stems that are typically found in valley bottoms or along streams.
Leaves are oppositely arranged on the stems with 5 to 9 strongly pointed and sharply toothed leaflets that are 2-5 inches long.
Flowers are white with many tiny flowers in clusters.
Fruit is in the form of pea-sized berries that ripen from green to dark blue or black with a waxy coating.
- Health Benefits of Elderberries
North American, European, Western Asian and North African cultures have known the medicinal properties of the elderberry plant for thousands of years. The health benefits of the plant are widespread:
- • Antioxidant
- • Lowers Cholesterol
- • Improves Vision
- • Boots Immune System
- • Improves Heart Health
- • Fights Bacterial and Viral Infections
Most notably, the fruit ripens in time to make an elixir to prevent and treat the common cold and flu.
- Elderberry Tonic Recipe
(adapted WellnessMama.com)
Tip: Freeze freshly picked elderberries in clusters after harvesting to simplify the de-stemming process.
Ingredients
- • 2/3 cup Elderberries (fresh or frozen)
- • 3-1/2 cups of water
- • 2 tbsp fresh or dried ginger root (or powder)
- • 1 tsp cinnamon powder
- • 1/2 tsp cloves or clove powder
- • 1 cup raw honey
Instructions
1. Pour water into a medium saucepan and add elderberries, ginger, cinnamon and cloves.
2. Bring to a boil and reduce to a simmer until the liquid reduces to almost half (about 45 minutes to 1 hour).
3. Remove from heat and let cool for 15 minutes. Pour through a strainer into a glass jar or bowl.
4. Discard the elderberries (feed to chickens or compost) and let the liquid cool to lukewarm.
5. Add 1 cup of honey and stir well. (Note: honey is added after the mixture has cooled to keep raw enzymes intact).
6. Pour mixture into glass jars to be stored in the fridge for up to three months. Recommended Doses
Prevention (can be taken daily)
1. Kids (13 months-12 years old): 1/2 to 1 teaspoon
2. Adults: 1/2 to 1 Tablespoon
Recovery
Take the normal dose every 2-3 hours until symptoms disappear.
Don’t get caught off guard by cold and flu season this year. Prepare this easy elderberry elixir for a natural alternative for flu prevention and recovery.
Special Notes:
1. NEVER give Elderberry Tonic to infants 12 months/under.
2. Elderberries can be used as any other berry for pies, jams, breads, stuffing, etc.
3. Consuming raw elderberries causes extreme GI distress in many people. Try a few berries raw before overindulging. from WellnessMama.com)
Tip: Freeze freshly picked elderberries in clusters after harvesting to simplify the de-stemming process.
Beat A Cold With This Homemade Elderberry Elixir
- By Lisa M. Rose (Rodale's Organic Life)
Forage this tasty berry, and make it into an all-natural, affordable syurp that’s proven to shorten the duration of a virus.
It’s 4 a.m. You wake up, chilled and feverish. In denial, you toss and turn, hoping that you haven’t caught that cold going around the office. Instead of ignoring the symptoms, reach for this homemade elderberry elixir. Medical research has shown that taking an elderberry-based tincture within the first 48 hours of a virus’ onset can shorten the duration of symptoms by as much as four days. Keep a stockpile of this syrup on hand for whenever illness strikes. It tastes way better than the cherry-flavored stuff, it’s all natural, and in under an hour you can make a batch large enough to keep you and your family healthy all winter long. Or if you’re too sick to make a bottle, there are store-bought versions like Urban Moonshine’s Herbal Immune Zoom that are quite nice, too.
- DIY Elderberry Elixir
Elderberry (Sambucus nigra) is abundant across North American, and its berries can be foraged from the wild across much of the United States. No time for foraging? Order dry elderberries online from reputable herbal sources like Mountain Rose Herbs, or choose to buy local from an herbalist in your area.
Makes 1 quart
- •1 cups dry or fresh elderberries
- •2 cups water
- •2 tablespoons fresh ginger, peeled and chopped
- •1 cup 40 percent alcohol
- •1 cup raw local honey
- •1 quart size canning jar
- Small bottles for dispensing
1. In a large saucepan, combine the water, elderberries, ginger. Bring to a boil, reduce heat, then simmer for 20 minutes. Press and strain elderberry-ginger mixture into a quart-size canning jar. Stir in 1 cup honey and 1 cup alcohol to preserve the mixture. Shake well to mix. Divide into smaller containers, if you like. The elderberry elixir will keep in the refrigerator for 6 months.
2. At the first signs of a cold or flu, take 2 tablespoons of elderberry every hour for up to 5 days.
Elderberry: a Workout Partner with Triple Benefits
- Source:http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/carl-thompson/elderberry-health-benefits-exercise_b_8171086.html
- By Carl Thompson (Research writer for IPRONA)
Looking for a great workout partner who can get you through bouts of low energy, help you recover faster and keep you healthy? Elderberry's got you covered. Concentrated elderberry extract has long been known for its immune-boosting, cold and flu-fighting abilities -- an athlete's best ally for keeping healthy all season.
But recent studies show that elderberry has even more benefits for athletes. Rich in anti-oxidants and magnesium, elderberry can enhance physical performance, shorten recovery time and combat cell damage and aging. Furthermore, it's been shown to possess antimicrobial properties that protect athletes from illness.
- Protection from free radicals
Take a dose of elderberry before and after a workout for its antioxidant benefits, which combat the damaging effects of free radicals. Free radicals rob healthy cells of electrons, raiding and destabilizing them in the process. Research has found a link between exercise and the increased production of these harmful radicals: during heightened physical activity, the body's intake of oxygen can increase by as much as 1,500 per cent, leading to a proportional increase in the production of free radicals. In addition, the inflammation created by muscle damage (which causes muscle soreness after a workout), also creates free radicals, further delaying recovery.
Antioxidants donate electrons to free radicals, thereby stopping the radicals from stealing these electrons from other cell components. The antioxidants, however, remain stable even after losing an electron -- which is one reason they're so important to our overall health. By reducing the level of free radicals in the body, they can help reduce post-exercise muscle damage and soreness, and enable athletes to train more often, increase endurance and gain competitive edge. Elderberry's specific antioxidant power comes from the presence of anthocyanins -- the plant compounds that give the berry its dark pigmentation. A 2014 study shows that elderberry is also a superior source of antioxidants compared to other fruit. The antioxidants derived from elderberry were shown to be 10.7 per cent more effective than black chokeberry as scavengers of free radicals.
- Rich in magnesium
Elderberry is also high in magnesium, a vital mineral that the body counts on for no less than 300 biochemical reactions. And the Haschberg variety of the European black elderberry -- of which the Italian company Iprona AG is the largest processor worldwide -- is known for a particularly high concentration.
Magnesium assists with nerve and muscle function, helps keep the immune system working, helps maintain a uniform heartbeat, and contributes to bone strength. It also helps regulate blood glucose levels and aids in the production of energy and protein. And combining magnesium with antioxidants may also result in less build-up of lactic acid, further shortening recovery time after a workout or major physical effort.
Iprona´s unique membrane ultra-filtration technology enriches the polyphenols and retains the magnesium, vitamins and trace elements present in the fresh elderberry fruit. Conventional chemical extraction processes only concentrate single compounds -- at the expense of many other healthy nutrients.
- Respiratory health
Breathing easy is always a factor in athletic performance. Another study, conducted in Australia, indicated that just a 600 mg-900 mg dose of a membrane filtered elderberry formula (the Haschberg variety) significantly reduced both the length and severity of colds. Those who took part in the study also experienced a benefit to their overall health due to the anti-oxidative and antimicrobial potency of this particular strain of elderberry, coupled with the high magnesium content in the extract.
Whether reducing soreness and muscle damage or staying flu-free, elderberry is a go-to health booster for any athlete. It's just one of the many natural substances rich health- and strength-giving nutrients. Available in fresh or powdered forms, it can be ingested as a lozenge or mixed into drinks or yogurt. And as science is showing us, this traditional ingredient, long known for its health benefits, is ever better for us -- and for enabling us to handle the rigors of our modern lives -- than we could have known.
Elderberry: The power fruit
- By Chris Kilham
Father Hermann Josef Weidinger conveys the contentment of a man who has performed great works.
Austria's most beloved herbal healer, the 82-year-old Catholic priest has penned a dozen books, and more than 100 botanical products bear his imprimatur. High on the list of his most favorite plants is elderberry.
"Elderberry cleanses the digestive system and promotes healthy elimination," he explains. "I believe that elderberry protects the body from serious diseases, and it balances the emotions. Elderberry is good for the soul."
Father Weidinger's reverence for elder Sambucus nigra, recalls the Austrian folk expression "tip your hat to the elder," connoting the respect that should be extended to the bush whose berries and flowers are used for health purposes. This reverence can be traced back to 400 BC when Hippocrates called elder his "medicine chest." Renowned classical healers Theophrastus, Dioscorides and Galen also declared the elder and its rich purple berries among nature's greatest healing plants. Employed for a plethora of ills from arthritis and asthma to colds and constipation, elderberries occupy an esteemed position in European plant medicine.
But elderberry is not lost in a romantic past of bygone herbalists. Today at Germany's research center for food, agriculture and forestry, Dr. Gerhard Rechkemmer is investigating the anthocyanins - purple antioxidant pigments - in elderberry. His research shows that elderberry enhances immune function by boosting the production of cytokines.
"In vitro the anthocyanins in elderberry show very high antioxidant activity. But they are extremely hard to track in blood plasma, so we do not know exactly what they are doing in the body."
When asked if he thinks that further elderberry research will reveal additional health benefits, Rechkemmer nods. "I believe so, but we must go beyond belief to certain knowledge."
With scientific examination of elderberry's biological activity underway, Austrian elderberry production is increasing rapidly due to strong market demand. At 8,000 tons of cultivated elderberry per year, Austria's commercial production is strong. Much of this is due to the work of Kurt Kaufmann, a seemingly indefatigable elderberry proponent who has organized one thousand Austrian growers into a co-op, and built Berenfrost, an immense non-profit berry freezing facility where elderberries are cooled immediately after harvest.
"In September at harvest, the elderberries must be cooled immediately, or they spoil. Here at Berenfrost elderberries are chilled to -20A,C in less than 24 hours."
I ask Kurt how much tonnage of berries he can take in on one day. "We can handle about 600 tons per day, but last year one day we took in 1,600 tons in 24 hours."
I ask him if he sleeps.
"Not during harvest," he replies with a wide smile.
Austria's Haschberg variety of elder produces a high yield of sweet, richly purple berries. After freezing at Berenfrost, the berries move into the food and beverage industry, where they are used in juices, jams, fruit yogurts and wines. Demand is also growing for high anthocyanin elderberry extracts for the nutraceutical field. Amidst this berry boom, Doctors Werner Pfannhauser and Michael Murkovic at Austria's University of Graz have conducted research showing that elderberry extract reduces oxidation of LDL cholesterol and exhibits a beneficial antioxidant effect in the body.
These results do not come as a surprise. In vitro, anthocyanins from elderberry demonstrate unusually high antioxidant activity- much greater in fact than highly touted bilberry.
"I am certain that elderberry is beneficial," notes Murcovic.
Endocrinologist Dr. Sepp Porta describes an exciting stress study he conducted using elderberry concentrate on a group of volunteers.
"We only gave these people the elderberry for 10 days," he notes with expressive hand gestures. "We put them through typical stress tests, and the results were so remarkable, I checked them over and over."
In the study, various bio-markers of stress, including glucose, magnesium and other plasma chemical levels, were analyzed. "What we found was that elderberry has this extraordinary effect for reducing stress," notes Porta. It is for this reason that researchers from the US Air Force sit with us. Elderberry may hold promise for stress reduction among military personnel.
Austria's largest elderberry producer Josef Holler smiles at Porta's words. "We are involved in a very good thing. It is good for people's lives. This is satisfying." He raises a glass of dark red Austrian wine for a toast to the noble elderberry, and we all drink to that.
Elderberry: a Workout Partner with Triple Benefits
- Source:http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/carl-thompson/elderberry-health-benefits-exercise_b_8171086.html
- By Carl Thompson
Looking for a great workout partner who can get you through bouts of low energy, help you recover faster and keep you healthy? Elderberry's got you covered. Concentrated elderberry extract has long been known for its immune-boosting, cold and flu-fighting abilities -- an athlete's best ally for keeping healthy all season.
But recent studies show that elderberry has even more benefits for athletes. Rich in anti-oxidants and magnesium, elderberry can enhance physical performance, shorten recovery time and combat cell damage and aging. Furthermore, it's been shown to possess antimicrobial properties that protect athletes from illness.
- Protection from free radicals
Take a dose of elderberry before and after a workout for its antioxidant benefits, which combat the damaging effects of free radicals. Free radicals rob healthy cells of electrons, raiding and destabilizing them in the process. Research has found a link between exercise and the increased production of these harmful radicals: during heightened physical activity, the body's intake of oxygen can increase by as much as 1,500 per cent, leading to a proportional increase in the production of free radicals. In addition, the inflammation created by muscle damage (which causes muscle soreness after a workout), also creates free radicals, further delaying recovery.
Antioxidants donate electrons to free radicals, thereby stopping the radicals from stealing these electrons from other cell components. The antioxidants, however, remain stable even after losing an electron -- which is one reason they're so important to our overall health. By reducing the level of free radicals in the body, they can help reduce post-exercise muscle damage and soreness, and enable athletes to train more often, increase endurance and gain competitive edge. Elderberry's specific antioxidant power comes from the presence of anthocyanins -- the plant compounds that give the berry its dark pigmentation. A 2014 study shows that elderberry is also a superior source of antioxidants compared to other fruit. The antioxidants derived from elderberry were shown to be 10.7 per cent more effective than black chokeberry as scavengers of free radicals.
- Rich in magnesium
Elderberry is also high in magnesium, a vital mineral that the body counts on for no less than 300 biochemical reactions. And the Haschberg variety of the European black elderberry -- of which the Italian company Iprona AG is the largest processor worldwide -- is known for a particularly high concentration.
Magnesium assists with nerve and muscle function, helps keep the immune system working, helps maintain a uniform heartbeat, and contributes to bone strength. It also helps regulate blood glucose levels and aids in the production of energy and protein. And combining magnesium with antioxidants may also result in less build-up of lactic acid, further shortening recovery time after a workout or major physical effort.
Iprona´s unique membrane ultra-filtration technology enriches the polyphenols and retains the magnesium, vitamins and trace elements present in the fresh elderberry fruit. Conventional chemical extraction processes only concentrate single compounds -- at the expense of many other healthy nutrients.
- Respiratory health
Breathing easy is always a factor in athletic performance. Another study, conducted in Australia, indicated that just a 600 mg-900 mg dose of a membrane filtered elderberry formula (the Haschberg variety) significantly reduced both the length and severity of colds. Those who took part in the study also experienced a benefit to their overall health due to the anti-oxidative and antimicrobial potency of this particular strain of elderberry, coupled with the high magnesium content in the extract.
Whether reducing soreness and muscle damage or staying flu-free, elderberry is a go-to health booster for any athlete. It's just one of the many natural substances rich health- and strength-giving nutrients. Available in fresh or powdered forms, it can be ingested as a lozenge or mixed into drinks or yogurt. And as science is showing us, this traditional ingredient, long known for its health benefits, is ever better for us -- and for enabling us to handle the rigors of our modern lives -- than we could have known.
Fight Cold And Flu The Natural Way With Elderberry
- By Carl Thompson
News of the upcoming flu season includes an unsettling statistic: as of early November only 39 per cent of the U.S. population had gotten a flu vaccine, according to the Center for Disease Control.
One reason is that flu season has been relatively mild so far this year, but that's likely to change. An annual research project forecasts that flu season is likely to peak in February, as the temperature drops and the air becomes more cold and dry. How can we protect ourselves from this inevitable onslaught of flu and colds? One proven, natural way is with regular doses of elderberry, a fruit known for its health-giving and preventative powers since ancient times.
Recent studies have confirmed that elderberry can bolster immunity, counter flu and cold symptoms, and is particularly beneficial when dealing with respiratory infections. While synthetic pharmaceuticals focus on dealing with infections after they have developed -- and may have negative side effects as well -- elderberry has natural stopping power.
The fruit's potency lies in the pigments that give the berry its nearly black color. The darker the color, the richer the pigments, scientists have found -- which means that these dark fruits -- particularly in the European Haschberg variety of black elderberry -- are filled with natural healing power. Formed in groups of molecular chains known as anthocyanins, these pigments have been found to be capable of preventing viruses from reproducing and infecting new cells. They also kill many of the bacteria that cause chest and respiratory infections.
A recent two-year study conducted in Australia (soon to be published) found that extract from the European elder (Sambucus nigra L.) also shortened the duration of cold and flu symptoms. When a group of long-distance air travelers were divided into two groups, with one (154 people) taking a placebo and the other (158 people) taking a propriety elderberry extract, the group given elderberry showed far better results.
After taking daily doses of 600 to 900 milligrams of elderberry extract for 15 days, they showed half the rate of respiratory infection, reported being sick for only half as long, and had symptoms that were half as severe as those who did not take the extract. Moreover, they also reported better health overall.
The study's findings verified with modern science what centuries of healing traditions have long understood about elderberry's impact on colds and flu. But the Australian study was also noteworthy as it factored in the atmosphere of airplanes -- cold, and dry. The same environment has been shown to play a role in our vulnerability to colds and flu as well.
It turns out that the colder and drier the air, the more susceptible we are to respiratory infections. As we come into contact with cold air -- whether by breathing it in or via skin contact -- our core temperature is reduced. As a result, the blood vessels in the protective mucous tissues of our respiratory system constrict -- and that makes it more difficult for the immune system to respond to invading bacteria and viruses.
A recent study also found that cool, dry air also allows cold and influenza viruses to survive longer outside the body than they do during summery conditions. An apt example is found in a simple sneeze. One sneeze produces about 40,000 droplets of mucous, which exit the mouth and nose at 62 miles an hour and can travel a distance of 52 feet.
A virus contained in droplets can survive for up to 24 hours if it lands on a hard surface in a cold and dry environment with an ambient temperature of about 41 degrees Fahrenheit and humidity between 35 to 50 per cent. In these conditions, the rate in which colds and influenza are passed from one individual to another thus increases significantly.
Given these findings, seeking natural preventatives and health-boosting options seems more pertinent than ever. And given that there are up to five million cases of severe respiratory illness in the world in a given year, according to the World Health Organization, it may be a good time to turn to nature's pharmacy. So the next time you hear a sneeze (or a cough) nearby, consider adding elderberry to your medicine cabinet, and you'll be well prepared for the coming season.
Healthy Living cooking series begins for 2016
- (Staff Report)
KANNAPOLIS — The New Year often allows time to reflect on lifestyle choices that can lead to a happier, healthier life.
The Healthy Living Cooking Series, offered by N.C. State University’s Plants for Human Health Institute (PHHI), focuses on disease prevention and healing through food choices and preparation methods.
Aubrey Mast, Extension associate in nutrition, at PHHI at the N.C. Research Campus in Kannapolis, will lead the three-part series, to be held Wednesdays, 1 to 3 p.m., Jan. 27, Feb. 3 and 10.
Because cooking demonstrations and sampling are an integral part of the series, the classes will be held in the Community Kitchen at Cabarrus Health Alliance (CHA), 300 Mooresville Road, Kannapolis.
The series is free and open to the public, but space is limited, so registration is required. Reserve a spot by calling 704-250-5400 or emailing phhi_info@ncsu.edu.
Mast incorporates research-based information about food crops studied at the Plants for Human Health Institute and the health-related findings of her colleagues.
Topics covered include prebiotics and probiotics, gut microflora, inflammation, pH, preservation and fermentation.
Each week will include a lecture, discussion and a cooking demonstration and tastings using whole food ingredients.
Participants will take home recipe cards and samples of the prepared dishes to help them integrate these healthy choices into their meal planning and preparation.
While PHHI has researched more than 20 food and herb crops, including favorites such as blueberries, sweet potato and watermelon, some of the crops may be less familiar. The health benefits, however, may entice class participants to consider new foods or new preparation methods.
An example of a more obscure crop is elderberry. Elderberries have been a folk remedy for centuries, but have also been the focus of research by PHHI scientists, as the beneficial plant compounds are analyzed more closely.
Fruit extracts from elderberries (Sambucus nigra and Sambucus canadensis) demonstrated bioactivity that inhibited the initiation and promotion stages of carcinogenesis — essentially, elderberries have anticancer properties.
Elderberry syrup and elderberry tea are two common methods of elderberry consumption. Elderberries can be found in health food stores dried, as a tincture, or as a syrup.
Elderberry Tea
1/2 cup dried elderberries
2 cups water
2 Tbsp. honey
Boil. Steep for 10 to 20 minutes. Drain elderberries. Enjoy hot or cold.
The N.C. State University Plants for Human Health Institute is leading the discovery and delivery of innovative plant-based solutions to advance human health.
N.C. Cooperative Extension is the outreach component of the institute, which is part of the N.C. Research Campus, a public-private venture including eight universities, one community college, the David H. Murdock Research Institute and corporate entities.
that collaborate to advance the fields of human health, nutrition and agriculture. Learn more at www.plantsforhumanhealth.ncsu.edu.
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Stems of the Elder Tree, Sambucus
Trunk of the elder Tree
Bark of the elder tree
Shoot with lenticels
Tiny Elder Tree shoot
Core of the Elder Tree branch
Damaged by Myodes glareolus
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Flora / Flowers of the Elder Tree
Sambucus Nigra Flowers
Flowers
Sambucus Nigra
Sambucus Nigra
Sambucus Nigra
Sambucus Nigra
Flowers and green fruit
The Elderberry: Fructus / Fruits of the Elder Tree
Fruits of the European Elder Tree (Sambucus Nigra)
Green Elder berries
Green fruit
Elderberry bunch
Sambucus Nigra - Europeon elder Tree berries
Elder Berries
