Keeping the Flu at Bay with Elderberry

Since the cold and flu season is currently in full swing, I've been asked repeatedly, "What can I do to protect myself and my family from getting sick?"  Not that this will save me from repeating myself several times a day, but I thought it fitting to write about just one remedy that has been gaining national attention of late: Elderberry (Sambucus nigra). It grows naturally in the warmer parts of Europe and North America.  There are several different species, however it is the Sambucus nigra that is most often used in herbalism.

Wines, cordials, and marmalades have historically been made from both the berries and flowers of the Elder. Elderberries along with their flowers have also long been used in traditional European medicine to treat fever, joint pain, and as a cure for colds and the flu! I recently put together an herbal blend from an old Romani recipe that goes back hundreds of years - if not further - in which one of the primary herbs is Elder flowers.