As much as we may try, it is difficult to completely avoid illness during cold and flu season. Fortunately, there is a natural supplement, elderberry, which has been scientifically shown to boost the immune system, help with inflammation, and reduce the duration of cold and flu symptoms.
Elderberry has been used for centuries as a well-known and vital component of natural medicine regimens in other countries and cultures. Many of us in North America have never heard of it or at least don’t know what it can do, but elderberry may safely and effectively help you lessen the duration and misery of colds and flus. Just as you stock up with tissues for that eventual cold and flu, it is worthwhile to be prepared with elderberry because its use is most effective when taken immediately upon the first sign of symptoms.
What Is Elderberry
Elderberry comes from the large shrub, European elder (also called black elder). Its berries and flowers are used as medicine. Native Americans traditionally used water from the flowers for skin and eye lotions, and the berries were used for foods and beverages. In Scandinavia and Germany, soup made from elderberry is a traditional winter meal, and the berries are often used in tarts, jams, and wine.
What Can Elderberry Do for You
Some evidence suggests that substances in elderberry can help us recover quicker from colds and flus and can help reduce swelling in mucous membranes, such as the sinuses, which can help relieve congestion of the nasal passages.
Elderberry appears to have anti-inflammatory and antiviral properties that make it effective for eliminating viral infections like colds and flus and reducing the inflammation that typically accompanies such illnesses. Choosing a pure, high-quality elderberry extract provides higher levels of anthocyanins, the group of flavonoids responsible for elderberry’s immune-supporting benefits. Studies show that anthocyanins help maintain healthy immune function and support the strength and integrity of vascular walls.
What the Science Says
A study published in the Journal of International Medical Research found that patients who received 15 milliliters of elderberry syrup four times daily for five days experienced relief from influenza A and B symptoms an average of four days earlier than those who received a placebo. The study concluded that elderberry extract appears to be an efficient, safe, and cost-effective treatment for influenza.
Studies from the European Cytokine Network and the Israel Medical Association Journal found elderberry extract effective against 10 strains of influenza and associated with higher antibody levels. Researchers believe elderberry activates the immune system by increasing cytokine production, making it beneficial for immune activation and inflammatory response.
The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine also reported elderberry extract to be effective against multiple flu strains, noting its low cost and lack of side effects. Another study from Bioscience, Biotechnology, and Biochemistry suggested that concentrated elderberry juice may help prevent illness by stimulating immune response and inhibiting viral infection.
The Best Way to Get and Use Elderberry
While whole foods are often ideal sources of nutrients, elderberry is best consumed as an extract or supplement. Raw or unripe elderberries, as well as leaves, seeds, and bark, contain compounds related to cyanide. Supplements eliminate this risk and ensure adequate intake. Elderberry can also be found in certain wines, jams, and baked goods.
Elderberry is most effective when taken at the first sign of illness. While some evidence suggests preventative use, most research supports its role in shortening illness duration once symptoms appear. Keeping elderberry on hand during cold and flu season allows for immediate use when needed.
Integrative Therapeutics’ Sambucus Black Elderberry Syrup is a highly regarded product similar to those used in clinical studies. Another option is Designs for Health’s ImmunoBerry, which combines elderberry with ingredients such as shiitake and maitake mushrooms, astragalus root, and wild cherry bark for synergistic immune support.
Whichever form you choose, elderberry extracts may help you stay healthy without relying on pharmaceutical options and their potential side effects. If you have questions, please contact our customer service team at customerservice@oakwaynaturals.com or call 888‑460‑3091.
Yours in health,
Dr. Gregg Gittins
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