Extraordinary Elderberries
Elderberry, specifically Sambucus nigra, is one of my favorite medicinal plants. It has been used for its many health benefits for hundreds of years. These berries might be tiny but they are loaded with healthy antioxidants and vitamins which are especially supportive to our immune system.
Elderberries are rich in flavonoids, especially anthocyanins. This is what gives the berries their deep purple color. There has been extensive research done showing that the anthocyanins in elderberries increase the production of cytokines in our body. Cytokines are proteins that act as messengers or cell signalers within our immune system.
Elderberries have also been shown to contain antiviral agents that are strong enough to deactivate viruses. In order for a virus to multiply, it needs to be able get inside a healthy cell. Viruses are sneaky and are coated with something called hemagglutinin spikes. These little spikes help the virus to be able to pierce the cell wall. The spikes are covered with enzymes which the virus then uses to break down the healthy cell wall. Elderberries contain high concentrations of bioflavonoids which seem to inhibit the action of this enzyme. This actually deactivates the virus and causes it to be unable to pierce the cell wall and replicate. A study in PubMed mentions the antiviral properties of elderberry and its effectiveness against the influenza virus. Eur Cytokine Netw. 2001 Apr-Jun;12(2):290-6.
Eating raw elderberries is not the best way to boost your immune system, however. Consuming them in raw form may induce nausea, stomach upset, or diarrhea. The berries must be heated first. My favorite way to use Elderberry is in a syrup. This syrup may be taken daily prophylactically during cold and flu season. If cold or flu symptoms develop, the dose may be increased to every 2 – 3 hours until symptoms resolve.
If you are interested in adding Elderberry to your arsenal this cold and flu season, Organic Elderberry Syrup will be available at Sparkle Health by advance request as well as custom immune-boosting herbal tea blends. If you would like to learn more about using herbs to support your immune system, schedule an appointment today.
