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English Name: Elderberry Botanical name: Sambucus nigra Urdu Name: گنڈولا Uses All parts of the Elderberry plant have been used medicinally for centuries, going back to the early Egyptians and further. The Egyptians used the flowers for improving complexion and for burns. Native Americans used the elder, sambucus canadensis, as a tea to relieve respiratory infections and arthritis. The leaves and flowers were used in poultices for wounds and burns. The bark of the shrub, after it had been aged, was used as a laxative. In Europe the berries have been used to make wines to cure colds. Elder (Sambucus nigra) is listed in the British Pharmacopoeia. Elder Flower Water (Aqua Sambuci) is an official preparation. Germany, the Office of Health lists elderberry as an aid to the immune system for colds and flu. The German Commission E has evaluated the elder flower. USP - only the flowers have been official. Parts of the plant used medicinally - Bark, leaves, flowers, berries, roots. The use of elder for flu and for inflammation and as an antioxidant will be discussed first. Below that will be listed other medicinal uses. The major use of elderberry today is for relieving the symptoms and shortening the days to cure common colds and flu. The berry juice and the blossoms as a tea are used for respiratory infection, and for relieving asthma, bronchitis, and sinusitis. The flowers are used for hayfever, sinusitis with catarrhal inflammation (inflammation of mucous membranes). They act as a diaphoretic (increases perspiration) and reduce fever. The berry (wine, tea, juice), used warm, is for sore throat, influenza, and stops chills. It may or may not increase perspiration like the flowers. Leaves - (taken internally) act as a diaphoretic. Bark - acts as a diaphoretic. There has been one small study in Israel (1992), testing the use of Elderberry syrup in people with the flu. These patients were showing the first symptoms of influenza. Half of the group was given elderberry syrup and the other half received a placebo (no medication or herb). In those receiving the elderberry, fever, cough, muscle aches were reduced in one-fifth of the patients in 24 hours. The 2nd day 75% of the patients were feeling better and by 3 days, 90% of them felt completely cured. While those on the placebo - 8% felt better in 24 hours and it was 6 days before 90% of that group was cured. It appears that elderberry acts in several ways to help the body fight viruses. It stimulates the immune system to produce more antibodies. Elderberry extract contains anthocyanins (chemicals that give color to the berry) which stimulate the production of cytokines (chemical communicators - stimulate production of blood cells, including white blood cells) It acts against how the virus penetrates cells. Viruses, to reproduce, must enter living cells. Once inside, the virus uses the cell's resources and abilites to replicate itself. To get through the cell membrane, there are spike-like projections, hemagglutinin (allows the virus to bind to cells), on the coating of the virus. Also, there is an enzyme, neutraminidase, on these spikes, that works to break down the cell membrane. Elderberry (flavanoids) inhibits the enzyme and disarms the spikes. The virus cannot enter the cell. All other tests of elderberry on viruses have been in test tubes and mice. Extracts of elderberry have inhibited both Type A and Type B influenza viruses. (7 different strains of influenza) The respiratory syncytial virus - RSV (main cause of bronchitis and pneumonia in infants and children under 1 year) has been inhibited by the S. racemosa species of elderberry. Black elderberry extract has even been tested against West Nile Virus. The test was done at the Kimron Veterinary Institute. The virus was neutralized in vitro tests. It is not known whether the extract will work in humans to stop infection by the West Nile Virus |
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