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GNLD's Herbs For Wellness !!!

Other names:
Black Elder, Boor Tree, Bountry, Ellanwood, Ellhorn, European Alder

Elderberry has been used in connection with
the following conditions:

• Bronchitis
• Cough

Elder is taken for symptomatic relief in all sorts of upper respiratory ailments.  As an herbal compress, it is also used for swelling and inflammation; but its effectiveness for these problems remains unproven.

What It Is - Why It Works

The source of Elderberry wine (which is NOT medicinal), Elder is found throughout most of Europe.  The elder plant is a tree or bush that reaches a height of over 20 feet, with strongly perfumed, yellowish-white flowers and black-violet berries that yield blood red juice.  The bark, leaves, berries, and roots of the elder plant are all considered medicinal when harvested at the proper time.

Elder soothes coughs and inflammation by increasing bronchial secretions.  It also noticeably increases sweating.

Related cousins are the blue elder (Sambucus cerulea), Mexican elder (Sambucus mexicana), black berried elder (Sambucus melanocarpa)--all of which are edible.  Also, the toxic red fruited elder (Sambucus pubens) and very bitter (but not poisonous) Pacific elder (Sambucus callicarpa).  All produce white or yellowish-white flowers in late spring or early summer.  These develop into light green berries which change color just before ripening.

The blue elder (Sambucus cerulea) grows in the western United States from the Rockies to the Pacific, although it is also seen in extreme West Texas and New Mexico.

The cooked ripe berries of the edible elders are harmless, but raw elderberries can cause nausea if eaten in excessive quantity.  Unripe berries and all parts of the elder plant itself are mildly toxic.  The ripe berries are rather distasteful eaten raw, although you can develop a taste for them.  Wine made from the uncooked berries is neither toxic nor distasteful.  Still, some people prefer to cook the berries before making wine.  This renders the juice quite delicious as is, but it cerainly improves when made into wine.

When making elderberry wine, if at all possible, preserve the wonderful color of elderberry wine by placing the secondary fermentation vessel in a closet or other dark place.  Similarly, either bottle the wine in dark bottles or store the bottles in a dark place.

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