Elder: The Amazing Healing Benefits of Elder, the Premier Herbal Remedy for Colds and Flu 9780879837921, 0879837926

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Elder : The Amazing Healing Benefits of Elder, the Premier Herbal Remedy for Colds and Flu Keats Good Herb Guide Mars, Brigitte. NTC Contemporary 9780879837921 9780071401265 English Elders (Plants) --Therapeutic use. 1997 RS165.E47M37 1997eb 615/ .32392 Elders (Plants) --Therapeutic use.

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Small Tree, Big Medicine Used for centuries and steeped in legend, elder provides a host of amazing benefits as both medicine and food. Today elder is rapidly gaining popularity as a premier herbal remedy for colds and flu with impressive scientific research proving its effectiveness. But there's much more to the elder story and Brigitte Mars tells us all we need to know about this beautiful flowering shrubits blossoms, berries, leaves and bark and the health-giving syrups, teas, tinctures and lotions that it offers. Besides clearing the system of excess mucus, elder is useful as a mild laxative, diuretic and antiinflammatory. Acting as a gentle detoxifier, elder can aid in healthful weight loss. It smoothes and heals the skin and plays a health-enhancing role in almost every system of the body.

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Elder : The Amazing Healing Benefits of Elder, the Premier Herbal Remedy for Colds and Flu Keats Good Herb Guide Mars, Brigitte. NTC Contemporary 9780879837921 9780071401265 English Elders (Plants) --Therapeutic use. 1997 RS165.E47M37 1997eb 615/ .32392 Elders (Plants) --Therapeutic use.

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About the Author Brigitte Mars, an herbalist and nutritional consultant in Boulder, Colorado, has been working with natural medicines for over 27 years. The formulator of the popular "UniTea" line of herbal teas, she teaches herbalism at Naropa Institute, The Rocky Mountain Center for Botanical Studies and The Boulder School of Massage Therapy. She frequently contributes articles to The Herb Companion, Natural Health, Let's Live, and other magazines, and is a member of the American Herbalist Guild. This is her first book.

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A Keats Good Herb Guide Elder The Amazing Healing Benefits of Elder, the Premier Herbal Remedy for Colds and Flu Brigette Mars

Keats Publishing Inc.

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New Canaan, Connecticut

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Elder is intended solely for informational and educational purposes, and not as medical advice. Please consult a medical or health professional if you have questions about your health. ELDER Copyright © 1997 by Brigitte Mars All Rights Reserved No part of this book may be reproduced in any form without the written consent of the publisher. Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Mars, Brigitte Elder / by Brigitte Mars. p. cm. Includes bibliographical references and index. ISBN 0-87983-792-6 1. Elders (plants)Therapeutic use. I. Title. RS165.E47M37 1997 97-936 615'.32392dc21 CIP Printed in the United States of America Keats Good Health Guides are published by Keats Publishing, Inc. 27 Pine Street (Box 876) New Canaan, Connecticut 06840-0876 98 97 96 65 4 3 2 1

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Contents Elder: Small Tree, Big Medicine

1

Elder's Rich History

4

The Energetics of Elder

9

Parts of the Elder Tree

11

Elder: A Plant of Many Actions

18

Preparations and Dosages

23

Elderberry: an Antiviral Agent Par Excellence

27

Elderberry for Detocification

32

Modern Research on Elder Continues

36

Elder for Children

38

Elder in Oriental Medicine and Homeopathy

39

Elder as a Flower Essence and in Aromatherapy

41

The Nutrients in Elder

43

Elder and Other Herbs

50

Elder as an Alcoholic Beverage

52

Elder for Beauty Inside and Out

55

Other Uses of Elder

59

The Botany of Elder

63

Growing and Harvesting Elder

66

Lore about Elder

71

Cautions about Elder

78

Appendices

81

Index

86

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Elder: Leaf, Berry and Blossom

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Elder: Small Tree, Big Medicine There is hardly a Disease from Head to Foot but it cures; for besides the Vertues I have already mentioned, it is profitable for the Head-ach, for the Ravings and Wakings, Hypochondriak Mellancholy, the Fallingsickness, the Apoplexy and Palsy, Catarrhes, Toothach, Deafnesse, want of smelling, Blemishes of the Face and Head, Diseases of the Mouth and Throat, the Infirmities of the Lungs, Hoarseness, the Pleurisy and Ptisick, Women's breasts being sore, Swooning and Faintness, in Feavours, the Plague, Pox, Measles, Disease of the Stomack, the Wormes and other diseases of the Gutts, the Hemmorrhoids, the Stone, Diseases of the Matrix etc; and, as if such all-pervading power over illness was not enough, it is said that if a branch be put into the trench, where a Mole is, it will either drive him forth, or kill him there. Has there ever been a more wondrous tree? William Coles,1656 There is hardly a tree on earth that offers as much as the elder. Used for centuries and steeped in legend, elder provides a host of amazing benefits as both medicine and food. Adorned with beautiful white blossoms and juicy blue-black berries, the elder tree is a beautiful addition to any landscape. Elderberries have long been valued for their cleansing ability, enhancing the functions of the skin, kidneys, bowels and respiratory systems. Today elder

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is rapidly gaining popularity as a premier herbal remedy for colds and flu with impressive scientific research proving its effectiveness. Next time you feel a cold or flu coming on, you would do well to consider elder an ally. The Name Behind the Tree There are dozens of elder species, but in these pages we will focus on Sambucus nigra, the variety most often used in Europe, where it is a very popular herbal medicine, and Sambucus canadensis, the favored American species. The two species can be used interchangeably. Every part of the elder has a purpose. For several centuries, elder has been referred to as the "medicine of the country people." This honorable name was given to elder by Ettmueller, an 18th century scientist. The name elder comes from the Anglo-Saxon word aeld, meaning "fire"; the young hollow stems of this shrub were once used to blow air into a fire to get it burning. There is an Old Norse word, elda, and a Middle English verb, elderr, both meaning "to light a fire." The Latin name is Sambucus (pronounced Sam-bew-kus), derived from the Greek sackbut, an ancient musical instrument for which the wood of elder was used. Elder has also been called pan pipes or "the tree of music" as the pith would be pushed out of the young hollow stems to make a shrill musical sound. The word nigra refers to the luscious black berries and canadensis refers to its place of origin because it comes from Canada.

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Other names in the English language for elder include: blood elder, hour tree, danewort, eldrum, ellanwood, ellhorn, fever tree, hylantree (14th century), hylder, Viking elder and walewort.

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Elder's Rich History Elder has a long history of cultivation. Seeds found in Stone and Bronze Age diggings show a long history of human use. It has been found growing amongst Neolithic graves as well as in prehistoric village sites in Italy and Switzerland. Elder was used by the ancient Egyptians, Celtic tribes and early Greeks as a medicine. The druids considered elder a sacred tree, symbolic of birth and death. Beginnings and endings have always been associated with elder. In Israel, elder is found growing in sacred sites steeped in religious tradition such as around the synagogue in Safed and in the monastery and archdiocesan yards of the old cities of Bethlehem and Jerusalem. Hippocrates mentioned elder as a purgative around 400 B.C. Pliny (circa 2379 A.D.) recorded the use of elder by the Romans. Pedanius Dioscorides, a first-century army surgeon who traveled throughout the Roman Empire, also wrote about the medical value of elder. Elder was widely used in the early Italian medical schools. The great English herbalist Nicholas Culpepper (16161654) extolled elder by saying, ''The juice of the leaves snuffed up into the nostrils purge the tunicles of the brain." In 1644, a book written by Dr. Martin Blockwich called Anatomie of the Elder was

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published in England. It was translated from Latin by an army doctor named C. de Iryngio. There was enough enthusiasm about elder gained from both medical and folkloric literature to fill 230 pages! In the book, Dr. Blockwich says, "What the more sober and learned Chymists have attributed to their manifold Medicinal Mercury, Antimony, Vitrol, we may admit, admire and acknowledge in our Elder." Also in the 17th century John Evelyn wrote in his Herbal, "If the medicinal properties of its leaves, bark and berries were fully known, I cannot tell what our countryman could all for which he might not fetch a remedy from every hedge, either for sickness or wounds." Evelyn also claimed that elder would help assist longevity and was effective "against all infirmities, whatever." In 1656 a book called The Art of Simpling by William Coles claimed, "The common people formerly gathered the leaves of Elder on the last day of April, which to disappoint the charmes of witches, they had affixed to their doores and windowes. I doe not desire any to pin their faithes upon these reports, but only let them know there are such which they may believe as they please." It is said that for this reason, elder was planted outside Westminster Abbey. Hot elderberry wine was sold on London street corners until the end of the 19th century to warm and cheer the passersby. It was dispensed from beautiful copper and brass urns erected on pedestals. A charcoal fire kept the wine warm. Elder flower ointment (Ungentum sambuci) was commonly used topically to treat human conditions such as hemorrhoids, chilblains (a milder version of frostbite) as well as treating horses wounded in battle. During World War I, Ungentum sambuci was

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used by the English organization, the Blue Cross, to treat both humans and horses. At The London College of Surgeons, green elderberry ointment was mixed with camphor and lard and used as a topical application for hemorrhoids. Whenever the great Dutch physician Hermann Boerhaave (16681738) passed by an elder tree, he lifted his hat in its honor. Early America also had a rich connection to the elder tree. Sambucus canadensis was the elder tree most often used by Native Americans. Algonguin Indians applied scrapings of elder bark to sores and swellings. They drank a tea of the leaves and stems to treat jaundice. The Chickasaw Indians soaked the branches mixed with cedar in water and made a compress for headaches. The Delaware people used elderberries for problems of the blood and liver. The Houmas boiled the bark and made a topical application for inflammation and pain. They also made a tonic wine from the fermented berries. The Iroquois boiled the inner bark to make a tea to relieve pain, treat measles and to improve kidney function. A poultice of the bark was also applied to prevent infection, speed the healing of wounds and treat headaches. If it was believed that vomiting might improve a patient's condition elder bark would be given in a larger quantity. The Iroquois used a decoction of elder pith as an internal remedy for gonorrhea and also to treat heart disease. They used a poultice of the berries to reduce fever and swellings caused by the mumps. The twigs were administered to children when a laxative was needed. The Iroquois also applied the powdered root and bark to heal a newborn's navel. Berries were fed to those convalescing to improve their strength. Creek women applied an elder root poultice to

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swollen breasts. Cherokees made elder leaves and flowers into a salve to treat burns, skin eruptions and boils in order to help prevent infection. Menominee and Cherokee peoples used the flowers to reduce fevers. Meskwakis used the root bark tea to expel phlegm, bring on labor and relieve headaches. They also used the inner bark of the young shoots as an insect repellent and the flowers to relieve fever. Seminoles used the root bark as a purifying emetic after funerals. The Algonquin, Mohegans and Delaware peoples used the flowers to treat infant colic. Mohegans used the bark as a laxative. Pima Indians found the flowers helpful to induce sweating and thus lower fevers. Thompson Indians used the fresh bark topically for toothaches. There are records of elder bark and root being used as a cathartic or emetic by the Algonquin, Carrier, Cherokee, Chippewa, Gitskan, Iroquois and Ojibwa peoples. The Cherokees also used elderberry juice to treat rheumatism. Chickasaw Indians prepared an infusion of the branches and applied cloths soaked in the tea to ease severe headaches. Paiute and Shoshone tribes used the flowers for colds, fevers and coughs. Choctaw Indians found that the seeds and roots eased liver complaints. Many tribes used the berries as a food supply and included it in their pemmican, a mixture of nuts, meat and dried fruit which served as a suitable food when travelling and hunting. The Iroquois cooked elderberries and served them with corn bread. They would sun-dry the berries and store them for winter food supplies. The Meskwaki prepared the berries as a conserve. The wood of the tree was useful in bow making. Straigth stems would be selected and dried, and from this arrows were made. The Iroquois would soak their

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corn seeds in an infusion of elder flowers and other herbs before planting to improve germination. American pioneers used the root and bark as a tea for edema and the leaves as a headache poultice. Elderberries were listed in the United States Pharmacopoeia from 1820 to 1831 and the flowers from 1831 to 1905. Elder is still an official herb in the British Pharmacopoeia. Elder is grown on most German properties and the German Office of Health recommends elder flower tea for the treatment of colds with fever. Father Kniepp, the Bavarian nature leader who was born in 1821, recommended elderberry jam "for winter use by those who take little exercise, and are condemned to a tranquil, sedentary life."

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The Energetics of Elder In natural medicine, people and plants are viewed as connected to each other as well as to the environment. Elder flowers are considered neutral, bitter, drying and cooling. They are also slightly sweet. This is part of what empowers elder to cool a fever, heal infection and help dry mucus secretions. Thus elder is suitable for damp conditions such as excess mucus and fluid congestion. Thorton's 19-century Family Herbal declared that elder helps to "promote all the fluid secretions." The Doctrine of Signatures believes the way plants look and grow give hints as to how they may affect the body. For example, kidney-shaped beans really are good for the kidneys and beet juice (which is red) truly does benefit the blood. As for elder, the branches of the young plant are hollow tubes that correspond to the tubes in the body such as the blood vessels and the pores of the skin. Thus, according to The Doctrine of Signatures, elder helps to open and affect the tubes of the body in a positive way. 1 The tubes of our respiratory system are opened by the use of elder. Elder is helpful for people who wake up in the night unable to breathe, perhaps even turning blue in the face. Elder also affects the tubes of our nervous system, calming anxiety. The tubes of

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the kidneys are also affected in a positive way, and diuresis is increased. By cleansing the kidneys, conditions such as swelling of the ankles and legs can be lessened. Elder flowers have a special affinity for the blood, lungs, liver, kidneys, bladder, bowels and skin. The bitter bark of elder has an effect upon the stomach and colon.

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Parts of the Elder Tree Flowers One of the safest and most commonly used parts of the elder are the cream-colored blossoms. They are expectorant, mildly laxative, diuretic and diaphoretic. They have traditionally been used as part of a spring blood-purifying formula. Throughout history, elder flowers have been administered as a tea for treatment of lung infections, measles and scarlet fever. The elder flower is rather musk-scented. Some feel that its perfume is somewhat psychoactive. and this may be the reason why so much lore and legend surround it. Elder blossoms are often used in herbal salves for tropical application to the skin. Other common herbs included in such salves are comfrey leaves (Symphytum officinale), calendula (Calendula officinalis) blossoms and plantain (Plantago major) leaves. Elder blossoms are frequently made into a tea, sometimes with eyebright (Euphrasia officinalis) and used as an eyewash for conjunctivitis. Elder flowers are mixed with rosewater and applied to the eyes to improve vision. Elder flower tea is a popular "spring tonic," taken first thing in the morning for several weeks. Elder flowers have also been used as a traditional herb in smoking blends. Nursing mothers have long loved the soothing ben-

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efits of elder blossoms when applied to sore nipples. Simply cover the dried blossoms with olive oil and gently heat for 20 minutes. Strain, cool and apply as needed. Gently towel off before giving the baby the breast. Leaves Elder leaves are primarily used for topical applications as an emollient and vulnerary. They were traditionally mixed with tallow and made into an ointment for hemorrhoids, burns, bruises, sprains, chilblains, wounds, hives, eczema, tumors and gout. Elder leaf salve is reported to be as effective as cortisone creams. Elder is most beneficial in moving the stagnation associated with black-and-blue marks. Soaking cuts in a tea of elder leaves before applying the salve is another common first aid application. If your eyes feel heavy, steep a handful of elder leaves in two quarts of water. Lie down and place a cloth soaked in the tea over your closed eyes. Elder leaves can be used in foot baths to soothe tired swollen feet. They also can be warmed and applied to a headache brought on by stress. Elder leaves contain the alkaloid sambucine, a precursor of hydrocyanic acid, which is somewhat toxic. Thus, the leaves are used only topically in ointments for sprains or bruises. Bruised leaves can be rubbed on the body or worn under a hat to prevent being pestered by insects. Cooled strained leaf tea can be applied to plants to discourage aphids. Internally, elder leaves are used only with caution to cleanse the bowels, to promote sweating and to increase urination.

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Berries The culinary, nutritional and medicinal properties of elderberries are legion. They lack the usual tartness of other berries such as strawberries. Drying them improves the flavor. Dry them carefully to prevent mold from growing. Dr. Bernard Jensen recommends elderberry tea as a remedy for ovarian and menstrual problems. When made into a syrup elderberries help to coat and protect the throat. Elderberry jam is reported to cleanse the kidneys. Use elderberry tincture for the treatment of rheumatism. The high potassium content of elderberries makes them a prime food or supplement for those suffering from angina or high blood pressure. Use elderberries to build the blood and treat anemia. Elderberries are used medicinally for catarrh, sore throats, fever and asthma. When cooked with a sweetener into a thick syrup known as a rob they offer the same health benefits. Elderberries are excellent in pies, cobblers, jam, chutney, muffins and puddings. Elderberries are rich in vitamin C, calcium, phosphorus and betacarotene. The berries may be dried and used in winter. Avoid green, unripe berries. The berries should be cooked before eating, remove the seeds when making jam or wine. Elderberry jam is sometimes served as a alternative to cranberry sauce, accompanying turkey or game. Only the blue elderberries are edibleSambucus canadensis and S. carulea (found in North America) as well as the European variety S. nigra. The red elder Sambucus pubens has toxic red berries and flowers that are conical rather than flat-topped clusters. "Blue is true and red is dead," is a popular expression among herbal harvesters.

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Elderberries, which ripen in September and October, are relished by many varieties of birds. As an herb used by people, they are somewhat laxative and diuretic. They have been used for centuries in the treatment of rheumatism, neuralgia, facial tics and epilepsy. Recently, elderberry (Sambucus canadensis) is being used as a natural food coloring. It may be used in both food and beverages to give an appealing color without the side effects of chemical colorants. Its color is more stable under conditions of heat and light than the S. nigra variety. Bark The pharmaceutical name for elder bark is Cortex sambuci. It is toxic in large amounts or if used for an extended period of time. It is best aged for a year before using internally, much like the herb, Cascara sagrada. European bark is considered safer than that collected in America. Sambucus canadensis is too high in hydrocyanic acid and sambucine for internal use. Elder bark is greenish-gray and warty looking when it is young. As it gets older it becomes black and cracked. It has been used as a purgative and emetic since the days of Hippocrates. It contains volatile oils, albumen, resin, fat, wax, chlorophyll, tannic acid, viburnic acid, grape sugar, starch and pectin. It is considered pungent, dry and warming. Elder bark is rarely used internally these days because of its potential toxicity. The flavor of elder bark is sweet at first and then becomes nauseatingly bitter. As a medicine, elder bark primarily affects the liver, kidneys, stomach and

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intestines. Small doses are gently purgative while larger amounts can cause vomiting. It has been employed in the treatment of arthritis and epilepsy. The yellow color of the inner bark is probably what gave herbalists of the past the idea to use elder for the treatment of jaundice. For acute constipation and fluid retention, elder bark has been employed for centuries. The bark is collected in autumn from young trees, dried in moderate sun heat and taken inside at night to prevent moisture forming on it. When it dries it becomes soft and corky on the outside and smooth white on the inside. Elder bark is contraindicated during pregnancy and for people with a yin-deficient condition (lacking moisture). For others it should only be used with great caution. Wood Elder has a hard white wood that is resilient yet easy to hollow out. Carpenters have long employed it, enjoying its close grains and the fact that it polishes easily. The wood has a pleasant musky smell. The wood has also been used for fishing rod parts, fishing floats, needles for net weaving, shoemaker's pegs, combs, bows, skewers and small toys. The hollowed-out twigs have been used as flutes, shepherd's pipes, taps for maple trees in syruping, blow guns and elk calls. Elder twigs are very flexible and thus used to make baskets. Native Americans had several innovative uses for the wood. The Shasta Indians used it to make, a special knife to out the umbilical cord of a newborn.

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The Yorock Indians used a stick of elder to measure graves. The Snake Indians used the hollowed stems to store crickets as winter food supplies. The pith was used by Native Americans as a moxibustion sort of treatment, where the herb is burned to cause heat on a particular part of the body. Modern-day biologists still use elder pith to hold scientific specimens as it can easily be sliced. The pith has also been used for electrical experiments and in toy making. The hollowed elder stalk has also been used as a smoking tube, especially for the inhalation of specific herbal medicines in both early America and Europe. Elder wood is sometimes used to make garden fences as it is more durable in the ground than iron bars. In Europe it was common for people to make toothpicks out of elder wood to prevent a toothache. It is possible that such medicinal toothpicks improved blood circulation. Elder wood doesn't burn well fortunately, a boon for protecting the species; the more elder growing, the better. Elder Fungus There is a fungus that occasionally grows on the bark of elder trees in damp, shady areas, known as Judas ear. Its botanical name is Hirneola auricula-judae. It is soft, purplish in color, resembles the shape of an ear, is somewhat rubbery and can be gelatinous when fresh. It is eaten as a vegetable in China. In Chinese medicine it is known as mu erh or yun-erh. The herbalist Gerard regarded it as having a binding and dry-

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ing effect. It is usually available dried, but billows up when soaked in water. Elder fungus has been used to treat dropsy and has been employed in Europe as a remedy for sore throats and mouth and uvular inflammations. It has also been found to reduce blood levels of cholesterol. It is used in Chinese medicine for urinary tract problems, traumatic injuries and bleeding hemorrhoids.

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Elder: A Plant of Many Actions Elder has an amazing range of healing properties. It would be difficult to think of any other herb that can serve so many functions and help the body find the balance of health in so many ways. A list of its actions follow: Alterative. Alteratives increase blood flow to the tissues, improving metabolism and detoxification. Elder's alterative action helps to improve many skin afflictions including boils, eczema, acne and erysipelas. Elder improves the secretions involved with many bodily functions. Parts used: flowers, berries, young shoots. Anticatarrhal. The mucus-reducing activity of elder may be due to its high potassium content, but in any case this plant helps to clear up bronchial mucus, hay fever and sinus congestion. Both flowers and berries help to dry up a runny nose. When the flowers are taken before hay fever season they help to lessen its severity. A gargle made of elder blossoms steeped in vinegar can be used to treat sore throats and tonsillitis. Elder has even successfully treated catarrhal deafness and children's croup. A tea made of elder flowers can ease hoarseness and make the voice clear. Parts used: flowers, berries.

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Anti-inflammatory. Elder flowers help soothe an inflamed respiratory tract irritated by hay fever and sinusitis. Elder has even been used to calm the agony of gout. Cool, strained elder flower tea makes an excellent application to inflamed eyes. Elderberries taken internally as a tea, tincture or syrup help to soothe irritated bowels or colitis. Topical applications are also helpful for glandular swellings. Parts used: flowers, berries. Antirheumatic. Elder flower and vinegar fomentations can be used topically for painful joints, muscle soreness and stiffness. Elderberry juice is an ancient remedy to help neuralgia, rheumatism, gout and sciatica. Parts used: flowers, berries, leaves. Antiseptic. A wonderful agent for colds, elder helps to fight infection. Elder leaves have also been used topically to treat dog bites. Historically, elder was used to treat syphilis. Parts used: flowers, berries. Antispasmodic. Easing muscle cramps as well as psychological stress, elder tea has been used for headache, eyelid twitching, palsy, epilepsy, stroke, paralysis and the spasms that accompany asthma. Affected body parts can also be rubbed with elder flower infusions. Parts used: flowers, berries. Antiviral. Elderberry, an age-old remedy for colds and flu, helps the body fight infection. See page 27 to learn more about recent research. Part used: berries. Aperient. Mildly laxative, elder has long been used in teas and cordials to aid the digestive process. Parts used: flowers, berries. Astringent. By tightening and toning tissues, elder helps dry excessive secretions such as phlegm. Part used: flowers. Calmative. A small glass of mildly sedating elder-

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berry juice or brandy is sometimes taken at night before bed to aid sleep. Elder can also be used to ease migraine headaches. Parts used: flowers, berries. Carminative: Elder helps to decrease gas and improve digestion. Part used: flowers. Cathartic. Elder has a history of being used as a remedy for acute constipation. Parts used: leaves, inner bark. Decongestant. Elder helps to move phlegm and clear sinus congestion, inner ear infection, hay fever and bronchial congestion. Part used: flowers. Diaphoretic. Because it promotes perspiration by relaxing the pores, elder is a traditional remedy to help the body release toxins through the skin. It increases blood circulation and body heat near the surface of the skin. It has been used to treat blemishes, acne, herpes, psoriasis, measles and chicken pox. Parts used: flowers, berries, leaves. Digestive. Elder as an after dinner tea is considered a beneficial digestive aid. Parts used: flowers, berries. Disutient. Elder has been used throughout history to dissolve tumors and abnormal growths. Parts used: flowers, leaves. Diuretic. Elder enhances kidney activity and helps to clear heat or infection through the urinary system. Parts used: flowers, berries, inner bark, leaves. Emetic. Elder can help relieve the body of toxins and allergic offenders by inducing vomiting. Part used: inner bark. Emollient. Used externally to soothe, soften and protect the skin, elder makes an excellent ointment for burns, sores and hemorrhoids. Parts used: flowers, inner bark, leaves. Expectorant. By promoting the discharge of mucus from the respiratory passages, elder can help relieve

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sore throats and coughs. Parts used: flowers, berries, leaves. Febrifuge. Elder lowers fever by increasing perspiration so that heat leaves the body through the skin. This is a safe, effective method that helps the body in its healing process. Elder has been used to treat measles and malaria. The cooled tea can be used as a sponge bath to help cool a feverish person. Elder flowers soaked in vinegar were used to sponge the swollen glands of unfortunate Bubonic plague victims. It was believed that if elder tea were taken at the onset of the plague, it could curtail it. Part used: flowers, berries. Galactagogue. Since it increases milk production elder tea is an ally for nursing mothers. Part used: flowers. Hydragogue. Elder is able to discharge watery fluids through the intestines and help relieve edema. Part used: inner bark. Laxative. Flowers and berries have a milder bowel-stimulating effect than the roots and bark. Parts used: flowers, berries, roots, inner bark. Nervine. Enjoy elder as a tea before bed. It calms the spirit and emotional body. Historically, a decoction of elder flowers was prepared and applied to the legs and arms to induce a deep sleep. Elder flower tea was also given to those suffering from epilepsy. Parts used: flowers, berries. Purgative. Elder increases bile secretions, which causes intestinal peristalsis. Use cautiously as elder leaves can be a very intense way to clean the bowels. Fresh flowers are more purgative than dried ones. Parts used: flowers, inner bark, leaves. Rejuvenative. Elderberry wine and jam have long been given to the elderly to help them feel younger. Parts used: flowers, berries.

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Relaxant. Elder helps to relax bronchial spasms as well as asthma. On an emotional level, elder soothes nerves, calms anxiety and helps to lift one's spirits when feeling blue. Use elder to calm a sick, irritable person in need of a good night's sleep. Elder is also helpful in cases of anxiety and shock. Parts used: flowers, berries. Restorative. Rejuvenating to both body and mind, elderberries are a restorative tonic for building the blood back up after childbirth. Elder flowers taken as a tea or snuffed up the nose may also help to restore the sense of smell. Elder flower tea has also been used to restore a person who has fainted. Parts used: flowers, berries. Stimulant. Elder is a gentle stimulant that helps to quicken various body actions by improving circulation. Part used: flowers. Tonics. Elder is considered a tonic for the respiratory system and digestive tract. It can help increase the strength of a person in a weakened state. Parts used: flowers, berries. Vulnerary. Elder is an effective remedy for relieving hemorrhoids when applied topically as a salve. Elder has been used to treat erysipelas, an acute inflammation caused by strep bacteria that erupts on the skin. Elder has also served humankind well in applications for burns, cuts and wounds. It can also be used as a sore throat gargle or for inflamed gums and mouth tissue. Parts used: flowers, berries, leaves.

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Preparations and Dosages Teas To make elder tea using the flowers, bring one cup of fresh cold water to a boil. Turn off the heat and add a heaping teaspoon of dried flowers (2 teaspoons if fresh). Cover and allow to steep for about 10 minutes. Then strain into a cup. Honey or lemon can be used as a flavoring, if desired. Elderberries can also be made into a tea. Simmer 1 teaspoon of dried or two teaspoons of fresh berries in I cup of water, covered, for 2 or 3 minutes. Mash the berries to extract their juice. Allow to sit another 5 minutes. Strain. One cup of elder tea can be consumed three times daily on a regular basis. However, if one is dealing with an acute condition such as the flu, up to a cup every hour that one is awake can be used for a few days at a time. Try brewing a quart of tea by quadrupling the recipe, straining it into a clean glass jar and refrigerating it for a cooling summer iced beverage. There must be a good reason to use elder bark as a medicine because it is strongly purgative. It may be wise to consult with an herbalist first. To make tea from the bark, simmer 2 oz. of bark in I quart fresh cold water. Simmer until it is reduced by half. Strain. Take 2 to 4 oz. at a time.

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Throw the remaining herb material into your compost or onto your garden. It is always good to be conscious of giving something back to the Earth. Tinctures A tincture is an extraction of the medicinal properties of a plant that preserves well and is easy to use. To make a tincture from elder flowers or elderberries, fill a clean jar with elder flowers or mashed elder berries (fresh or dried), cover the herbs with vodka or brandy, adding an extra inch of alcohol, cover and allow to sit for 2 weeks or even up to 1 month. Every day, give it a good shake. After 2 weeks to 1 month, strain the herbs through a clean piece of muslin or several layers of cheesecloth. Bottle in 1 oz. amber dropper bottles. Label. Store away from light and heat. Tinctures will keep several years. If one cannot use alcohol, apple cider vinegar or vegetable glycerin may be used instead. The shelf life of the latter two, however, will be shorter. Use these up within a year or two. Tinctures are very concentrated. For most elder flower tinctures, an appropriate dose would be 20 to 40 drops in a bit of water. This can be taken 3 times daily for a chronic condition. However, if it is an acute condition, once every 1 or 2 hours that you are awake would be more appropriate. To determine dosage for a child, to treat a fever, for example, take the weight of the child and divide by 150. Thus a 50-pound child would get 1/3 of the adult dose. The tincture can be put in a bit of water or juice to dilute the taste of the alcohol.

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Compress A compress is easily made by preparing elder tea from the flowers, soaking a clean cloth in the tea and applying the cloth to the affected area. Compresses can be made from hot or chilled tea, depending on the person's needs. For example, a headache may be relieved by an application of a cool elder flower compress. Eyewash Prepare elder flower tea. Strain well. Wait until the tea has cooled down to a comfortable temperature. Use an eye cup from the pharmacy and rinse the eyes with the cooled tea several times. Elder flower eyewash soothes sore or strained eyes. Mouthwash Prepare elder flower tea. For every cup of tea add 1 tsp. of salt and mix well. Gargle repeatedly. Syrup This is very delicious and beneficial for colds and flu. Simmer 1 cup of fresh or 1/2 cup dried elderberries in 3 cups of spring water; add 1/8 tsp. powdered cloves, 1/4 tsp. powdered cinnamon and 1 inch of fresh chopped ginger root. Mash the berries with the water and spices and simmer at a low boil for 1/2 hour. Strain. Return the liquid to the cooking pot and

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add 1 cup honey. Melt the honey into the liquid, bottle and refrigerate. It will keep for about three months. Drink at night when feeling the sniffles coming on. Elder is considered an ideal remedy for the very young as well as the elderly. Dosages: Children under one year old: 2 tsp. daily. Children, ages one to six: 12 Tbsp. daily. Children, ages six to twelve: 23 Tbsp. daily. Ages twelve to adult: 24 Tbsp. daily. When using an elder product you have purchased, consult the directions for proper dosage.

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Elderberry: an Antiviral Agent Par Excellence Elderberry juice has been used for over 2,500 years in the treatment of colds, flu and coughs. After World War I, 50 million people died from influenza. Even in modern times, almost 20,000 Americans a year die of complications arising from the flu. Those at greatest risk are the very young, the elderly and those suffering from other diseases such as diabetes, heart disease and asthma. In the mid 1980s Dr. Jean Linderman, who discovered interferon, helped inspire a study that proved that elderberry contained constituents useful in treating the flu virus. An Algerian-born and French-educated virologist with a Turkish name, Madeleine Mumcuoglu, who worked with Dr. Linderman, helped implement the study and patented a product containing the antiviral components of elderberry. When working on her doctorate in virology, Dr. Mumcuoglu went to Switzerland where she looked for a research topic. Dr. Jean Linderman, her supervisor, suggested elderberries. The fact that Dr. Linderman had 22 pounds of elderberries in his freezer may have been a contributing factor! Dr. Mumcuoglu acted on his suggestion and completed her thesis by the early 1980's. She then worked in the bone mar-

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row lab at Hadassah Hospital in Jerusalem's Hadas-sah-Hebrew University Medical Center in Ein Karem. There her work focused on purifying infected bone marrow for transplantation and studying the immune response of patients with leukemia. In 1992, she resumed her research on elderberries and shortly thereafter developed and patented a method of isolating some of the active compounds, which included proteins from the berries. Since elder-berries are known to be nontoxic, Dr. Mumcuoglu was able to test her product on patients suffering from the flu during an epidemic in a kibbutz in southern Israel, in 1992 and 1993. She conducted a double-blind study of 40 flu patients. Some of the participants took four tablespoons of her elderberry formula daily and the rest took a placebo. Serum samples were taken from those on the kibbutz at the beginning of the outbreak, then two weeks later. After 24 hours had passed, 20 percent of the patients taking the elderberry formula experienced positive results such as relief from fever, muscle pain and coughing. By the next day, 73 percent had improved and by the third day 90 percent showed relief. None of them reported any negative side effects. 2 In the group that was treated with the placebo, only 16 percent were improved by the second day and the majority of them took as long as a week to feel better. Tests were also conducted to see if influenza antibodies were present. Those receiving the elderberry formula had greater numbers of antibodies than those receiving the placebo. Dr. Mumcuoglu's studies were done with standardized active ingredients. The species of elder used was Sambucus nigra. Thus far, it has been tested against eight various strains of flu virus and found to be

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effective against all of them. The flu strains that elderberry showed effectiveness against include Hong Kong, Beijing, Yamagata, Singapore, Panama, Texas and Ann Arbor. Viruses have the ability to mutate into hundreds if not thousands of slightly different forms. It seems promising that elderberries bind with virus spikes before they have a chance to penetrate normal cell walls. 2,3 Dr. Mumcuoglu's, product is currently manufactured in Haifa by a pharmaceutical company that obtains its elderberries from Europe. Viruses don't have a reproductive system of their own and need to take over healthy cells by puncturing them with tiny spikes called hemagglutinin so that they can use the cells' reproductive mechanism to make more viruses. These viral spikes are coated with an enzyme called neuraminidase, which helps to break down cellular walls. Flavonoids that occur in elderberries inhibit viral action and thereby improve immune response. It is thought that the flavoniods may also inhibit the action of neuraminidase. Many types of medications given for the flu make a person feel drowsy. When elderberry preparations are used, reaction and judgment times are not impaired which is why the Israeli Air Force is interested in using elderberry for its pilots. Elderberry medicines are best taken at the first onset of a cold or flu so it's helpful to have some on hand in case illness strikes when all the health food and herb stores are closed. There is hope that elderberry may also be effective against the AIDS virus as well as against herpes and Epstein-Barr viruses. Dr. Mumcuoglu's patented formula has been found to stimulate the body's own immune system by increasing the production of

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disease-fighting lymphocytes. It is also proving to be an effective antioxidant. The use of elderberry also seems promising in the treatment of horses with respiratory problems and dogs suffering from parvo, an intestinal virus. Elderberry extract has been available in Europe and Israel for several years now and is rapidly becoming more available in products sold in America. Using Elder Against Viruses Elderberry cordial is excellent to take before going to bed when you feel the flu coming on. Northern Brits have long enjoyed a nightcap of elderberry wine laced with a bit of rum to chase away an oncoming cold. Elder flowers and berries help to reduce bronchial and upper respiratory catarrh. Colds, flu, laryngitis and tonsillitis all benefit from the use of elder. Gargling with a warm tea of elder blossoms to which a teaspoon of salt has been added helps to soothe swollen tonsils and sore throat. The flowers help to relieve fever by promoting diaphoresis. Elder also benefits eruptive skin diseases such as measles and chicken pox by speeding up the rash outbreak so the body can cleanse itself and begin the healing process. Elder flowers, berries and buds have been used throughout history to treat tuberculosis and asthma, especially when mixed with vinegar and honey. For many herbalists, a favorite method of treating a cold, flu or fever is to give a strong tea of elder blossoms, peppermint (Mentha piperita) leaves and either yarrow (Achillea millefolium) or ginger root (zingiber officinale). The tea is often consumed while sitting in a hot bath to further open the pores. The

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sick person is then placed in a warm bed with lots of covers to continue the sweating process. After awakening from a refreshing sleep, the patient will usually feel much relieved and the fever will have been sweated out. After this it is time to shower and change the bed clothes. Elder flower tea can also be used as a sore throat gargle. If you are sensitive to honey or sweets, take elder-berry syrup with a meal to minimize any acidic effects. Some standard elderberry syrups contain honey or other sweeteners.

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Elderberry for Detoxification Elder helps the body detoxify in several ways due to its diuretic and diaphoretic properties. Elder blossom tea should be taken before breakfast in the late spring to purify the blood. The berries have long been favored, since the writings of John Gerard (15451607), as an herb for weight loss. In recent years, elder has regained popularity for its ability to aid the body in internal cleansing. It allows one to safety detox while maintaining energy levels as elder is so nourishing. Elderberry is not only nourishing, it also promotes a healthy metabolism. It helps break up mucus congestion, helps prevent free radicals from damaging healthy cells, treats constipation by loosening old fecal matter lodged in the colon and helps to stimulate natural peristaltic movement. Elder also helps eliminate water and fat that is unnecessarily stored in the body. An elderberry cleanse is often done to aid in weight loss as well as to help purify the body, making it a less hospitable host for disease. Improved immunity to common ailments is one of the benefits of following an elderberry cleanse. Some people may feel slightly hungry and even have mild headaches during the first 24 hours; however this is soon replaced by a sense of well-being, clarity and energy.

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During the cleanse, it is best to avoid stimulants such as coffee, tea or sedatives such as alcohol. Avoid smoking. A calm emotional body is also best during this time. Do what it takes to be relaxed and avoid violent TV or novels. Spend time resting, contemplating nature or soaking in warm water scented with essential oils. Enjoy the process of purifying your body and mind. Health food stores carry products for doing an elderberry cleanse, including a beverage containing elderberry, elder flowers and honey that is very delicious, refreshing and energizing. There are kits available that contain fiber (containing flaxseed, oat bran and psyllium husk) to aid in colon cleansing and a cleansing herbal tea to further activate the body's natural ability to cleanse the liver, kidneys and lymphatics. Also included are capsules of birch, senna and juniper which are used for colon and kidney cleansing. Elderberry cleanses are designed to be followed for 10-day periods. It is imperative to drink plenty of fluids during this or any other cleanse. The naturally occurring fructose and glucose content of elderberry juice helps to keep the blood sugar level stable. For those readers who have undergone cleansing programs before, this one is quite easy and pleasant. The elderberry juice is a joy to drink and is only 64 calories per serving. One may expect to lose 5 to 10 pounds during the cleanse, but individual metabolism may cause this to vary. The elderberry cleanse was developed in 1983 by Dr. Brunhild Zechelius, a German naturopath. Dr. Zechelius is now with The Institute of Nutritional Sciences in Switzerland. Her program continues to be popular in Europe for its health benefits and its ability to aid weight loss. See Resources. Those who are unable to fast can follow a modified

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cleanse in which light food is taken during the program. The elderberry juice, fiber supplements and teas are still used, but in addition, the person can enjoy simple fare such as fruit, whole grains, steamed vegetables and yogurt. Following the cleanse, one should return to regular eating, but be more conscientious in selecting foods that are nourishing. Those with acute or chronic illness, diabetes or hypoglycemia should consult with a physician before undertaking this or any other cleansing program. During the period between November 1986 and February 1988 a clinical study was done using elderberry as a cleansing program. 4 Dr. Zechelius carried out the study, which included 207 women and men of differing ages and occupations. Of these, 112 were fully supervised during the program and 95 carried out the cleanse on their own after an initial exam. This study was conducted during all four seasons so any differences during hot and cold weather could be observed. All the participants were volunteers who wished to detoxify their systems as well as lose weight. Blood pressure, health history, weight, digestive disorders, hunger, excretory patterns, stress and emotional health were all factors that were monitored with the 112 supervised clients. Most participants followed the program for seven days, and several requested to follow it a few days longer. Some of the participants reported health benefits such as relief from sinus congestion, reduction in the desire to smoke and drink alcohol as well as lowered blood pressure. Of the 112 participants, a total of 580 kilograms or 1,276.8 pounds were lost during the seven-day period, an average of 1.6 pounds per person daily. Two people discontinued the program complaining of side effects of hypoglycemia and another person

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dropped out complaining of sensitivity to tannins, which are contained in many types of fruit. Another observation during the study was that at the beginning of the program 39 people had high blood pressure and 7 had low blood pressure. Of these 46 people with abnormal blood pressure, 41 had reached normal levels by the end of the week. Those who started with normal readings were still normal at the end of the week. Some experienced hunger which disappeared for most people by the third day. Sixty-three people complained of slight headaches during the first few days, which disappeared as the program continued. Three patients experienced migraine headaches that disappeared after a few hours and did not return. These are not unusual symptoms for any kind of fast as the body begins detoxifying. Those 95 people following the elderberry cleanse unsupervised still had weight loss success, though less dramatic than those that had the support of a group and doctor. Eight people did not complete the program because they felt they couldn't go on without solid food. Of those who persevered, 14 people reported weight losses of less than 6.6 pounds. Weight loss of between 6.611 pounds was reported by 62 participants. Weight loss of between 12.116.5 pounds was reported by 11 patients. As far as blood pressure, 23 of the unsupervised people had high blood pressure and 3 had low blood pressure at the beginning of the program. By the end of the week, all 26 had normal levels. To learn more about using elderberry for cleansing and the studies conducted, I recommend an excellent book, Elderberry Internal Cleansing, by Morton Walker, D.P.M.

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Modern Research on Elder Continues Recently, a lectin made from purified elderberry (Sambucus nigra) has been used in the fractionation of normal bone marrow cells. Fractionation minimizes the effects of radiation on normal tissue. This work has been carried out by Dr. Madeleine Mumcuoglu, who patented the elderberry flu formulas, as well as doctors Daphna Manor and Shimon Slavin. There is hope that elderberry contains properties that may have potential in improving the success of bone marrow transplants. Several carbohydrate-binding proteins have been isolated from Sambucus nigra and two haemagglutinins have been isolated from its bark. Its seeds contain a lectin that is related to the immunological properties of the bark. One of its carbohydrate-binding proteins, called nigrin, is made of two subunits and is reported to cause red blood cells to clump. 5 Lectins, glycoproteins known for their ability to agglutinate erythrocytes in vitro, are present in many types of plants, including beans. Some lectins are toxic. Lectins interact with certain carbohydrates in a specific way. Lectins are still being studied. It appears that lectins may be involved in recognition between

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cells of various carbohydrate-containing molecules. This can affect physiological functions. Their purpose in plant material may be to help protect the plant from disease, pests or microorganisms. There is some hope that lectins may have the potential to be helpful in cancer therapies. Elder (Sambucus nigra) is one of the plants being studied for medicinal uses of its lectin content.5 It has been discovered that a non-toxic two-chain ribosome-inactivating protein referred to as SNA III coexists with a structure-related monomeric lectin in elder fruits. Three different elder trees are being investigated for the lectins contained in their barks: Sambucus nigra, S. canadensis and S. sieboldiana, a Japanese variety. The carbohydrate-binding properties of the lectins are what are of interest. Another constituent being investigated in elderberries are the anthocyanins. This research is being conducted on the Sambucus canadensis variety of elder. Thus far, four different types of anthocyanins have been isolated. Cyanidin was one of the isolated anthocyanins. Two other new ones were discovered. 6 Anthocyanins, which help to give the plant color, are antioxidants which protect cells from free radical damage, slowing down the aging process and strengthening the immune system.

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Elder for Children Elder is considered an excellent remedy for children. When consumed by the pregnant mother, it helps to improve her circulation and aids in the removal of waste products, thus making things easier on the unborn. Anatomie of an Elder describes how to make a warm infusion of elder blossoms for bathing a newborn baby. Herbalist Matthew Wood speculates that it may help infants that aren't getting enough oxygen, those who were blue babies and have difficulty breathing. Both elder flowers and elderberries can be used as teas, tinctures, syrups and tablets for children for colds, sniffles and fever. The syrup is especially effective to lessen the severity of an oncoming flu. It is pleasanttasting and most children like it. Avoid giving anything with honey to children under one year of age.

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Elder in Oriental Medicine and Homeopathy There are two main types of elder that are used in Chinese medicine. Sambucus racemosa called Chieh-ku-tan, which means ''bone knitting medicine," is neutral in temperature and bitter in flavor. It is used as a tea for pain and to relieve the body of excess moisture. Sambucus javanica, known as Ch'ou ts'ao, meaning "stinkweed," is warm and sweet. As a medicine it is employed to reduce swelling. Topically, both varieties are used for bone pain, swellings, muscular spasms and traumatic injuries. Elder is also used therapeutically as a homeopathic medicine. It was introduced by Dr. Samuel Hahnemann in 1819. The Sambucus ebulus or S. nigra species is most often used. However, it is not one of the more widely used homeopathic medicines. As a homeopathic remedy, elder is known as sambucus. Some of the indications for sambucus include: albuminuria (the presence of protein in the urine), angina pectoris, asthma, dizziness and headache upon arising, dry larynx and lumbago. Other indications for which sambucus may be an

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appropriate homeopathic remedy include fretfulness, seeing images before one's eyes while the eyes are closed, fevers, daytime sweats, red burning spots on the cheeks, colic with gas and nausea, frequent slimy stools, sniffles in infants and congested babies that are unable to nurse because they can't breathe. Consider sambucus also for those suffering from excessive perspiration and a suffocating cough that is at its worst around midnight; such people wake up fearful with breathing difficulty. It can help those with lots of phlegm, blocked sinuses and hoarseness, people who feel worse after sleeping and from eating fruit and people who are prone to anxiety and may suffer from spasms. Homeopathic sambucus is also indicated for those who feel better when sitting up and who engage in movement when breathing is otherwise difficult. It also helps relieve fluid retention and urinary problems such as cystitis. Sambucus is frequently given in 6x doses. The best way to determine the correct remedy and dosage is to consult with a health practitioner well-versed in homeopathy.

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Elder as a Flower Essence and in Aromatherapy Flower essences are made by soaking flowers in spring water for several hours, often at dawn. They can help the emotional body as well as the physical body. As a flower essence, elder is useful in assisting the body to rest and recuperate. It facilitates connecting on a deep level to radiate beauty, youthfulness and joy. It can help one improve self-esteem. It is given to irritable children to calm their aggression. It fosters love, understanding and forgiveness. It also can help a person establish appropriate boundaries and develop the ability to say no. Elder flower essence can be helpful during times of transitions when courage is needed. It can help alleviate fears and helps one to feel more supported. Use when you feel overcontrolled by others as well as when overwhelmed by fear and anxiety. Elder can help one to feel more joy and enhances one's ability to recover and feel renewed. Use elder during life's challenging times as a flower essence, with faith and prayer to aid in your personal renewal. Elder flowers are also used in aromatherapy. Rather than making an essential oil by using a steam distillation process to extract the plant's essence, elder is prepared as an absolute by extracting its es-

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sence in a petroleum ether base. Unlike the oil of essential oils, elder absolute is solid and waxy. Its aroma is somewhat herbaceous and honey-like with a sweet floral essence that is not appealing to most people. However, when elder absolute is diluted and blended with other essential oils, it is useful in perfumery. It blends especially well with bergamot, oak moss and ylang ylang. In perfumery it is added to carnation bases.

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The Nutrients in Elder Elderberries are considered excellent sources of vitamins A and C. The high potassium phosphate content in the flowers may be part of what helps elder calm the nerves. The potassium sulfate present in the flowers, leaves and bark may be a factor in why elder helps relieve excess mucus. One cup of raw elderberries provides the following nutrients: 7 55 mg calcium 2.3 mg iron 57 mg phosphorus 406 mg potassium 870 I.U. vitamin A 0.1 mg vitamin B1 0.09 mg vitamin B2 0.33 mg vitamin B6 0.7 mg niacin 0.2 mg pantothenic acid 52.2 mg vitamin C The bioflavonoid rutin which helps the body to assimilate vitamin C is also present in the leaves and flowers. Sambucus canadensis is considered one of the most edible species of elder. In the early 1900s, European hospitals served elderberry jam due to its high content of vitamins and minerals, good taste and ability to stimulate the appetite, digestion, and regularity. Elderberry products are still widely available in Europe. When elder flowers are used in food, they are re-

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ferred to as "elder blow." The flowers can simply be added to fruit salads, jellies and vinegars. Adding elder blossoms to pancakes and muffin mixes adds a flowery delicacy that is delightful. Elder flower fritters can be enjoyed with elderberry syrup. The entire flower cluster can be eaten with the exception of the tough stem. Try adding a handful of blossoms to make an exquisite omelet. Add 1/2 cup of elder flowers to 1/2 cup of softened butter for a delectable spread to put on pancakes or waffles. Float clusters of elder blossoms in the punch bowl. Elderberries make me look forward to autumn, when I like to add a few berries to my fruit salad. Native Americans of British Columbia often marinate salmon in elderberry juice overnight before cooking. Many cooks prefer using dried berries, finding that the drying process helps to sweeten their flavor. Stew the ripe berries with apples, cinnamon and cloves. How about a fruit soup, combining onions, ginger and elderberries? Use elderberries to make jams and jellies. Elderberry syrup on pancakes is just the thing for a snowy morning. Just like blueberries, the berries can be added to muffins, tarts, cakes and breads. Any recipe calling for apples can be adapted using half apples and half elderberries. For recipes using blackberries or currants, simply use elderberries instead. My favorite is elderberry cobbler. Consider freezing, canning or drying the berries so they can be enjoyed until a new crop is ready next year. Elderberry juice can be canned to be enjoyed throughout the winter. People have also found a use for the young tender shoots, which can be pickled or boiled in salty water. This is used as a substitute for capers. Only the new young shoots are eaten as the older ones are potentially toxic.

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Recipes ELDER PICKLES 2 cups unripe green flower buds, with stems removed 1/4 cup salt 1 cup water 1/4 cup unrefined sugar 1 cup apple cider vinegar Wash and drain the green buds and place them in sterilized jars. Dissolve the salt in water and pour over the elder. Cover the jars with a cloth and allow them to sit undisturbed for 2 days. Drain and place the buds in 2 1/2 pint sterile canning jars. Cover with boiling vinegar mixed with the sugar. Fill to the top. Seat immediately. Let sit for 3 to 4 months to allow flavor to develop. ELDER FLOWER FRITTERS 1 cup cornmeal 1 cup unbleached white flour 1 lightly beaten egg 1 cup water 1 Tbsp. maple syrup 10 sprigs of fresh elder flower clusters Enough oil to deep fry the clusters Mix the first 5 ingredients together to make a batter. Heat the oil. Dip the blossom clusters into the batter and then fry them in the hot oil 3 to 5 minutes. Drain on paper towels. Enjoy the elder fritters drizzled with some maple syrup, honey or yogurt. They can also be enjoyed plain. ELDER FLOWER VINEGAR Steep 2 parts fresh elder flowers in 12 parts apple cider vinegar for two weeks. Strain through several layers of cheesecloth. Discard the flowers and bottle the vinegar in clean bottles. A gourmet's delight, this is delicious on salads. It can also be used as a gargle for sore throats and is an effective asthma remedy.

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ELDER MUFFINS 1 cup unbleached white flour 2 tsp. baking powder 1/2 tsp. salt 1 1/2 cups of elder flowers or elderberries 1/4 cup honey 2 Tbsp. vegetable oil 1 beaten egg 1/2 cup yogurt 1/2 cup apple juice Sift together the flour, baking powder and salt. Stir in the elder flowers or berries. Add the remaining ingredients. Fill lightly greased muffin tins 2/3 full and bake in an oven preheated to 400 degrees F. for 25 minutes. ELDER PANCAKES 1 cup unbleached white flour Pinch of salt 1 tsp. aluminum-free baking powder 2 eggs 2 Tbsp. honey 1 cup yogurt, rice milk, soy milk, oat milk or dairy milk 1/4 cup water 2 cups elder flowers or elderberries Vegetable oil (for frying the pancakes) Sift together dry ingredients. Add eggs and liquid. Stir in elder flowers or berries. Mix together. Fry in an oiled pan, turning when bubbles form and then break. Turn and fry on the other side until cooked through. Serve with maple syrup or elderberry sauce. ELDERBERRY SOUP 1 pound ripe elderberries 3 cups water Juice of 1 lemon 1 cinnamon stick 1/2 inch fresh grated ginger root 1 Tbsp. arrowroot powder 4 Tbsp. honey Wash the berries well, removing any stems. Place berries

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in a pan with water, lemon juice, cinnamon stick, and grated ginger root. Mash the berries somewhat while simmering for 15 minutes. Mix the arrowroot with a bit of the liquid from the soup. Add it back to the soup. Bring to a boil and cook until thick. Add the honey. Serve with a fresh grating of nutmeg. ELDERBERRY COBBLER 5 Tbsp. butter 1/4 tsp. vegetable oil 1 cup chopped pecans or walnuts 1 cup brown or unrefined sugar 4 cups uncooked oatmeal 1 cup unbleached white flour Melt the butter in a pan, adding the vegetable oil and the pecans or walnuts and toast them slightly. Remove from heat and add the rest of the above ingredients to the pan. Mix well. In a large baking pan, mix together: 6 cups washed elderberries 6 small cut and peeled apples 3/4 cup honey 1/4 tsp. ground cardamon 1/4 tsp. ground cinnamon 1/4 tsp. ground anise Now sprinkle the oatmeal mixture evenly over the top of the elderberry mixture. Bake at 375 degrees F. for 35 minutes. ELDERBERRY CHUTNEY 3 cups dried elderberries 1 large onion, chopped 1 clove garlic, minced 1 tsp. grated ginger 1 tsp sea salt 1/16 tsp. cayenne pepper Mix the above ingredients together and add: 1 cup honey 2 cups apple cider vinegar

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Simmer everything together until the mixture thickens. Pour into sterilized 1/2-pint canning jars, leaving 1/2inch head room. Process in a water bath for 10 minutes if you wish to preserve the chutney. ELDERBERRY JAM Soak 1 cup dried elderberries in 2 cups apple juice for 1 hour. Add 2 1/2 Tbsp. agar flakes. Let soak 2 minutes. Bring to a boil for 2 minutes. Allow to cool. STEWED ELDERBERRIES 4 cups dried elderberries cinnamon stick 1 tsp. powdered cloves 2 tsp. grated lemon rind 1/2 cup honey Place the above ingredients in a saucepan with water to cover. Put a lid on the saucepan and simmer for 45 minutes. ELDERBERRY RICE PUDDING 2 cups cooked rice 1 1/2 cups rice, soy, dairy or almond milk Pinch sea salt 4 tsp. honey 1 Tbsp. safflower oil 1 tsp. vanilla extract 2 eggs 1/2 cup dried elderberries 1/2 tsp. grated orange rind Combine the above ingredients. Pour them into an oiled baking pan and bake at 325 degrees F. for 11 1/2 hours. ELDERBERRY TAPIOCA PUDDING 2 cups water 1/2 cup honey 1/2 cup quick cooking tapioca 3 cups elderberries 1 Tbsp. lemon juice 1/2 tsp. fresh grated ginger Boil the 2 cups of water. Mix together the honey and tapioca and stir into the boiling water. Return to a boil.

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Now place the mix into a double boiler to avoid burning the bottom. Cook 5 minutes while stirring constantly. Stir in the elderberries, lemon juice and grated ginger. Cook 5 more minutes. Pour into serving cups and chill. Garnish with a sprig of mint of an edible pansy flower. ELDERBERRY PIE FILLING 3 cups of fresh elderberries 1 cup honey 1 tsp. cinnamon 1/2 tsp. cardamom 2 apples, peeled and chopped Mix the above ingredients together and put the mixture in your favorite pie crust. Bake at 325 degrees for 45 minutes. ELDERBERRY SORBET 2-1/2 cups elderberries Juice of 1 lemon 3/4 cup honey 3 Tbsp. water 2/3 cup cream Place all ingredients into a chilled ice cream maker and process.

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Elder and Other Herbs Elder by itself is pleasant-tasting and even children enjoy drinking it, but it is often combined with other herbs. At the first sign of a cold, it can be mixed with hyssop (Hyssopus officinalis), peppermint (Mentha piperita) and yarrow (Achillea millefolium). Elder with boneset (Eupatorium perfoliatum) is extremely effective in lowering a fever by promoting sweating. Use elder flowers or berries with peppermint, fennel (Foeniculum officinalis), anise (Pimpinellum anisum) and ginger (Zingiber officinale) for digestive upsets. Combine elder with catnip (Nepeta cataria) leaves to quiet a colicky baby. For catarrhal conditions, combine either the berries or blossoms with goldenrod (Solidago species), boneset and wild indigo (Baptisia tinctoria). Elder blossoms, eyebright (Euphrasia officinalis) and goldenrod herb make a beneficial infusion to treat hay fever due to its anti-inflammatory properties. Elder flower and oregano (Origanum vulgare) tea is useful in treating ringing of the ears.

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Elder with mullein leaves (Verbascum thapsus) aids lung congestion and asthma. When elder blossoms are made into a tea with chamomile (Matricaria recutita), it is good for stiff painful joints. This combination has also been used as a fomentation for earaches. For improving skin conditions such as eczema and psoriasis, make a tea of elder with equal parts chickweed (Stellaria media), marshmallow root (Althaea officinalis) and burdock root (Arctium lappa). A pinch of elder flowers can also be added to a steeping pot of black tea (Camellia sinensis) for a delightful flavor. Simmer some cinnamon (Cinnamomum species) bark in 2 cups of water; then add 1 tsp. of elder flowers or berries to make a warming tea on chilly days.

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Elder as an Alcoholic Beverage Elderberry has been referred to as ''English grapes," since it is so popular as a wine ingredient. In Kent, England, elder orchards have been cultivated for the purpose of wine making. Elder flowers have been placed in wine vessels to improve the flavor of the finished product. Elder blossoms have also been infused into ales. Elderberries are often added to clarets and Bordeaux wines. Historically, it was considered improper for ladies to drink alcohol. However, elder and a dandelion wine were deemed permissible as they have therapeutic value. In autumn, try simmering elderberry wine with warming spices such as cinnamon, cloves and ginger. Not only does it taste delicious and warm you when taken hot before bedtime, it benefits coughs, colds, flu, asthma and sore throats. A dash of lemon juice is also delicious in elderberry wine. In 1747, the elder tree was banned in Portugal in an attempt to prevent its being used as a wine adulterant, even though it was therapeutic and caused no harm. In 1899, an American soldier visited a doctor in Prague, Czechoslovakia, and informed him that whenever he got drunk on dark red cheap Czech port wine, his rheumatism pains would disappear for

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awhile. It never worked with other kinds of wine, regardless of country of origin or cost. It turned out that the Czech wine had been adulterated with elderberries to give it a brighter color and that it was the elderberries that gave the therapeutic effect. ELDER FLOWER FIZZ 1 gallon pure water 1-1/2 pounds sugar 8 large elder flower heads, stripped of the stalks 2 Tbsp. white wine vinegar 1 organic lemon Warm a bit of the water and dissolve the sugar into it. Let cool. Squeeze in the lemon juice and add several thin slices of rind without the pith. Place the blossoms in a large glass container, add the sweetened water with the lemon and the vinegar. Leave covered for 10 days, then strain. Carbonic acid will form in the beverage, creating a sparkling beverage that will be delightfully effervescent and refreshing. ELDER BLOW WINE Wash and pat dry 6 cups of elder flowers. Place them in a large crock and cover with 10 pounds honey and 3 gallons of water which has been heated and then cooled. Add I cake of wine yeast to the juice of 3 oranges and 1 lemon. Mix everything together. Add 2 pounds of raisins. Let stand 10 days. Keep in a covered crock for 4 months, then bottle. It is best to store the wine 6 months before drinking. ELDERBERRY WINE I. Boil 1 gallon washed elderberries in 2 gallons of water for 30 minutes. Mash well. Strain. Discard the berry residue and keep the remaining liquid. For every gallon of liquid, add 1 lb. of sugar. In a spice bag or tea infuser,

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place 1-1/2 oz. fresh ginger, 1-1/2 oz. crushed allspice and 3/4 oz. crushed cloves. Boil this in the liquid for 15 minutes. Pour into a crock, discarding the spices. When the mixture is cool, float 2 pieces of toast that have been spread with brewer's yeast. Discard the toast after 2 days. Add 1-1/2 cups brandy and store in a large covered crock for 8 weeks. This wine can store up to 8 years if bottled. II. A very simple wine can be made by mixing one quart of elderberry juice with 1-1/2 oz. of wine. This is a simple way to preserve the elderberries and enjoy the medicinal benefits of the wine. Take 2 Tbsp. 2 or 3 times daily, as needed. Some like to serve elderberry wine with a fresh grating of cinnamon or nutmeg. ELDERBERRY CORDIAL 3-1/2 gallons of washed and stemmed elderberries 2 pounds of honey 1 Tbsp. cinnamon powder 1/2 cup fresh lime juice 2 quarts vodka Mash berries to extract the juice. Strain through several layers of cheesecloth or process through a food mill. Add the honey and cinnamon and simmer for 35 minutes. Add the lime juice. Cool. Add vodka. Pour into pretty bottles and cap. A shot of this before bed ensures a wonderful sleep!

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Elder For Beauty Inside and Out Another affectionate name for elder is "herbal cosmetic tree." The ancient Egyptians valued elder blossoms for their ability to beautify the complexion. Fresh elder flowers can be placed in a muslin bag, dipped in water and used as a gentle facial wash. As a cosmetic ingredient, elder flower water (Agua Sambuci) is a classic listed in many old herb books. It was especially popular with great beauties of the 17th century. Regarded as a rejuvenative facial tonic, it has been used topically to smooth wrinkles, soften and cool the skin, keep the skin blemish-free, reduce enlarged pores and puffiness around the eyes, and treat sunburn. It is mildly antiseptic, astringent, toning, cleansing and delightfully aromatic. Elder is also regarded as mildly lightening to the skin and has been used over extended periods to minimize freckles. Elder blossoms can be mixed with yogurt and applied to the skin as a mask to banish both freckles and wrinkles. To make elder flower water, simply soak the flowers overnight, covered with spring water. Strain in the morning. Apply to face morning and night. To preserve elder flower water for a long

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time, and 1-1/2 oz. of alcohol for every two quarts of elder flower water. Bottle and store away from light and heat. A facial steam can help you put your best face forward. To deeply clean the pores of dry or irritated skin, boil a pot of water, remove from the heat and add a generous handful of elder blossoms. Stir and place on a padded countertop. Drape a towel over your head and gently lean close to the steaming tea to sweat out grime, imbedded oil and your make-up. Deeply breathe the lovely aroma as you clean your skin. After about five minutes, splash your face with cool water. This is also a beneficial remedy for acne. Elder blossom tea can be added to the bath to soften and soothe the skin. Elder flowers can be brewed into a tea, strained and added to the bath; alternatively, take 2 handfuls of elder blossoms, tie them into a washcloth and place in the tub. Run the bath water quite hot and turn off when it reaches the right level. Allow the blossom-filled cloth to "brew" in the tub. When the temperature has cooled down enough, immerse yourself in the tub, use the cloth to wash your skin as you bathe in the wonderful properties of elder. This is very beneficial for nervous people. Elder flower infusion can simply be poured over the hair and scalp after a shampoo to brighten fair hair and condition dry hair. To make an antidandruff hair rinse, boil a quarter of water, remove from heat and add 4 handfuls elder blossoms. Allow to steep 1 hour. Strain and add 1 quart of apple cider vinegar. Bottle and store in refrigerator. After shampooing, leave on as a final rinse. Elderberry juice has also been used to color lips and cheeks. Elderberries have traditionally been used

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to darken graying hair. Simmer 1 cup of elderberries in I quart of water covered for 45 minutes. Strain, bottle and store in the refrigerator. Take out one cup at a time to use as a final rinse after shampooing. Crushed elder leaves placed in one's shoes are a traditional European remedy for fatigue. Consider a soothing foot bath in warm elder flower tea. Elder has long been infused in oil to apply to dry skin and hair. To make elder flower oil, simply bruise the flowers and cover with a light oil such as almond or apricot oil. After the herbs are covered, add another 2 or 3 inches of oil to the jar. Let sit in a jar on a windowsill for 4 days. Then pour the oil through several layers of cheesecloth to remove the flower. Adding several drops of vitamin E will increase its longevity. Bottle the oil in a clean, dry dark bottle. Use the oil to massage sore muscles, prevent stretch marks during pregnancy, or treat chapped, itchy skin or chilblains. You can also warm it and apply it to dry split ends of the hair. Then wrap the head in a towel and leave on for one hour before washing out. ELDER FLOWER CLEANSING CREAM Put 1 cup plain yogurt and 5 Tbsp. of elder blossoms in a pan. Simmer gently for 30 minutes. Turn off heat and allow to sit 5 hours. Reheat and add 3 Tbsp. honey. Whirl the mixture in a blender. Bottle, label and store in the refrigerator. This is deep cleansing and excellent for removing make-up. ELDER SCRUB Mix together 1 1/2 oz. each of ground, dried elder blossoms and peppermint leaves. Add to 2 oz. of ground oatmeal and 2 oz. corn meal. Use one oz. a week to gently scrub and remove dead layers of skin. It can also be mixed

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with a bit of honey or yogurt and applied as an invigorating facial mask. Leave on for 10 minutes as you relax in the tub, then rinse off and splash on face with cool water. ELDER FLOWER MOISTURIZER Make a tea by pouring enough boiling water to cover 4 Tbsp. of elder blossoms. Cover and allow to steep overnight. Strain in the morning, discarding the blossoms and saving the liquid. In a double boiler place 2 Tbsp. olive oil, 1-1/2 Tbsp. coconut oil, 1 Tbsp. sesame oil, 1-1/2 Tbsp. avocado oil and 1/2 Tbsp. beeswax. Heat until the wax is melted. Remove from heat, add the tea in which 1/2 tsp. borax has been dissolved. Add 5 drops essential oil of lavender or geranium and a 400 I.U. vitamin E capsule. Stir. Place in a container. Leave uncovered until it thickens.

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Other Uses of Elder A Pest Deterrent The elder tree in its own right is hardy and rarely suffers from insects, pests or disease. Farmers have long considered it an ally indoors and out. During cheese-making time, elder branches have been hung on the walls to repel flies. Well cared for animals have worn a wreath of elder leaves to deter bugs. An infusion of the leaves can be poured into mole and mouse holes to inspire them to find other living quarters. Dwarf elder tea (sambucus ebulus) is used by organic gardeners for many reasons. A tea of the leaves applied to cabbage and cauliflower prevents caterpillars from devouring them. Applying the infusion to corn deters yellow flies. Turnips are immune to pesky flies when doused with a tea mixture of elder leaves or buds. The tea can also be used on fruit trees to prevent blight. Sometimes other ingredients such as copper sulphate, iron sulphate, nicotine, methylated spirit, slaked lime or soft soap are added to elder tea as a fruit tree blight remedy. To make a spray to rid a plant of aphids or caterpillars, simmer 8 oz. of leaves in 1 quart of water for 30 minutes, stirring several times. Cool and strain out the herbs. Add 1 tsp. of dishwashing liquid and

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2-1/2 cups cold water. Mix together and pour into a spray bottle. Mist it on affected plants. Next time you are out in the wild and mosquitoes are hovering around you, stick a sprig of elder behind your ear to ward them off. To ward off flies and gnats, crush elder leaves and rub them over your face or hat. The effect is said to last about an hour and then needs to be repeated. Should you get stung by a bee, remove the stinger and rub the affected area with crushed elder leaves to bring quick relief. Historically, snake bites have also been treated with elderberries or roots infused in wine. A Dye Plant Everyone enjoys having a little color brought into their lives. Throughout history, elder has done just that. Elderberries yield a violet color. In times past, not only were the berries used to color hair and wine, but also to enliven fabric and basket materials. Elder-berries have also been used to make beautifully colored inks and to tint paper blue. With alum used as a mordant to fix the dye, the berries give a purple color, used best on wool and silk. Elderberries mixed with alum and salt produce a lilac hue, and mixed with alum and cream of tartar they make a lovely crimson shade. Chrome used as a mordant with elder-berries produces a blue dye and tin used as a mordant produces blue gray. Elder leaves combined with alum or chrome as a mordant dyes fabric green. When the leaves are mixed with alum and salt, a lilac color emerges. Adding elder leaves to copper and acetic acid yields a

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yellow-green hue. The addition of a pinch of iron to the aforementioned formula results in a grayish-green color. Elder bark, taken from older branches and combined with an iron mordant yields a black color for wool. Even elder buds have been used as a natural dye. They give a yellow color. Plant dyes are more likely to fade when overexposed to light, so protect them accordingly. Today, the chemical dyes so widely used to color our clothes, curtains and carpets leave polluting residues. Using plant dyes instead can give beauty without damaging our delicate ecosystems. A Friend of Many Creatures Humans are not the only beings that benefit from the elder tree. Elder trees are a popular perching and nesting tree for birds. Planting an elder will attract birds to your home site. Some of the birds particularly attracted to elder include blackbirds, bluebirds, crows, green finches, green-tailed towhee, grosbeaks, grouse, house finches, hummingbirds, jays, juncos, kingbirds, magpies, mocking birds, myrtle warblers, orioles, pheasant, robins, quails, scarlet tanagers, song thrush, starlings, western tanagers, thrashers, Townsend soliataires, vireos, woodpeckers and wrens. Blue tits like elder seeds. Elder stems with their pith removed make a nesting site for solitary bees. This is helpful near fields of alfalfa, where the presence of bees aids plant pollination. Elder's summer flowers provide an important source of nectar for many insects. Swallow-tailed

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moths and comma butterflies seem to love the fermenting berries. Elderberries provide food for birds, bears, chipmunks, elk, moose, deer, foxes, rabbits, squirrels and woodchucks. Linnaeus said the berries were not good food for chickens and turkeys and might even be toxic to them. The fact that many wild animals relish the elderberries helps to proliferate this wonderful shrub, as the elder seeds are fertilized by animal droppings. The leaves are consumed by cows and sheep and even help to remedy the foot fungi they may suffer from. The leaves have also been made into an ointment for treating the skin of animals. Linnaeus said that the leaves were fatal to peacocks and turkeys and should not be consumed by horses and goats. Elder provides cover and protection as well as food for many of the above mentioned creatures. Consider that by growing elder, you help provide food and habitats for wild animals that are finding life more difficult as more wild places get turned into parking lots.

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The Botany of Elder Eder is a member of the Caprifoliaceae (Honeysuckle) family. Also included in that family are honeysuckles, snowberries, twinflowers, viburnums, and weigelas. There is some discussion about giving elder its own family name, so in the future it may well be called the Sambucaceae family. Elder are mainly small trees or shrubs, yet some are climbing lianas. They all have bisexual flowers. Native to Europe, Western Asia and Northern Africa, elder is widely distributed in temperate and subtropic regions. There are over 30 species of elder. The European tree is larger than the American. It is a deciduous perennial tree with many trunks and soft wood; it grows to a height of from 5 to 25 feet, depending on the species. Elder grows in clumps where them may be 10 to 30 canes (stems) in an area. Elder can be found growing at sea level as well as at an altitude of 9,500 feet. The cane is pithy with prominent lenticels (breathing pores) on the bark which is pale gray, greenish and warty when young. As elder ages the bark turns black and becomes deeply fissured. If a twig is partially cut, carefully broken and gently pulled apart one may be able to observe the tiny spiral air vessels. The leaves, which are serrated and lanceolate, are divided into slender leaflets, about 3-1/2 inches long, growing in opposite pairs often with

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an extra leaf. There are from 5 to 11 leaflets per leaf which are shiny green above and a duller light green beneath. The leaves are glabrous, meaning they lack hairs, and they sometimes curl backwards. The young leaves have a spicy fragrance, but as they get older their aroma is less pleasant. The unpleasant aroma of the bruised leaves may be part of the reason why the plant repels so many types of pests. The flowers are small, about 1/5 of an inch long with five lobed corollas with five stamens and short filaments. The flowers are fragrant and form a flat-topped cluster (known as a corymbose cyme) with stalks of different lengths all growing to the same level. They bloom from the center outward. The flowers are often pollinated by flies and other insects. The purplish black berries, which ripen in September in the Northern Hemisphere, contain ovate greenish brown seeds. The berries are actually black, but have a powdery blush on them which makes them appear blue. There are often three seeds in each berry. Red berries, which should not be eaten, have too high a saponin content which even keeps animals from consuming them. Plants can usually reproduce by the time they are three to five years old. The edible blue/black elderberries usually have a white pith. The inedible red varieties are more likely to have a brownish pith. The entire genus has undergone much hybridization and backcrossing. Botanists have a difficult time differentiating all the different varieties because of this. Listed below are some of the most common members of elder's family tree. Sambucus canadensis. ''American elder, sweet elder," grows 8 feet, common in eastern America,

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hardy variety, highly edible blue fruit. Cultivars include acutiloba with dissected leaves, aurea with goldenyellow leaves and red fruit. Sambucus cerulea (same as S. glauca). Can grow to 50 feet. Found in western North America. Flowers are yellow tinged, blue fruit. Edible Sambucus ebulus. Grows to 4 feet in Eurasia and northern Africa; also grows in eastern and central U.S. Also known as dwarf elder, Dane's elder. Its black berries are toxic. Good dye source. The root has a history of being used to treat snakebite. Sambucus Mexicana. Called Mexican Elder, a variety of S. cerulea found in Mexico, northern California. Bears flowers and fruit simultaneously. Black fruits. Edible. Sambucus nigra. Grows to 30 feet, also called "European elder," or "black elder." Berries used in wine making; flowers and berries used medicinally. Edible. Sambucus racemosa. Wild in Europe, cultivated in England, also grows in Turkey, western Asia and Siberia. Grows to 12 feet. Red berries. Poisonous cultivars include Aurea with yellowish leaves, Plumosa with leaves toothed to the middle with long narrow teeth, purplish when unfolding. Nicholas Culpepper, the famous English herbalist of the 1700s, said about elder, "I hold it needless to write any description since every boy that plays with a pop gun will not mistake another tree instead of the elder."

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Growing and Harvesting Elder Elder can be found growing along riverbanks, ditches, roadsides, openings in the woods, in waste places, clearcut areas, where fires occurred and along railroad tracks. Elder has even been known to sprout from old buildings. Elder is so hardy that it has sprouted simply by sticking a broken twig into the earth. Such life force! It usually indicates the presence of moisture. Elder is often found growing with bromegrass (Bromus species) chokecherry (Prunus virginiana). False Solomon's Seal (Smilacina species), gooseberry (Ribes species), mullein (verbascum thapsis), nettle (Urtica dioica), Oregon grape root (Mahonia species), rose (Rosa species), sagebrush (Artemesia tridentata) serviceberry (Amelanchier species), St. Johnswort (Hypericum perforatum) and wheatgrass (Agropyron species). There are many plants that don't thrive well when grown under it. Elder has been widely cultivated and tends to spread rapidly. Some people who don't recognize its value might consider it a weedy shrub. Just remember, however, that it was Emerson who said, "A weed is an herb whose virtue has not yet been recognized." Elder is a perennial plant and loves to grow in moist areas where the soil is rich in organic material, lime and nitrogen, It does well in semi-shaded areas

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as well as sunny ones. It has been described as a versatile opportunist. It is not prone to pests or disease and can easily dominate a garden area by spreading. If leaf spots do appear, they are not considered serious. Should stems become infected with borers, simply prune them out. If mildew forms a white coating on the leaves, a sulfur spray is a commonly used remedy. Wild shrubs tend not to transplant easily. Nursery stock can make good plants. Elder can be propagated by sowing the ripe berries one inch deep in outdoor pots and then transplanting in semi-shade or by taking foot-long cuttings in late autumn and replanting them. Elder also produces suckers which can be used to make new plantings. It grows quickly, sows itself and produces new shoots. Elder will grow best if fed matured compost for at least the first year. In the spring cut the elder back, weed and mulch it. Fertilizing with seaweed or adding a seaweed solution spray is excellent. In the summer, protect the fruits from birds if you want to have any for your own purposes. In autumn, take cuttings and give to friends, who should have elder growing in their yards too. In winter, after the leaves have fallen cut out any diseased wood should it exist. Pruning in the late winter or early spring helps to keep elder from taking over. Pruning also encourages the growth of more flowers and thus berries. Elder is excellent to use as an informal border, background, hedgerow, screening or in a wild garden. It can form impenetrable thickets, easily dominating a garden and penetrating walls if planted too close to a building. So plan ahead before putting elder in the ground. It has been used to stabilize dikes and dams. If it overgrows, prune it to the ground and it will renew. Planting elder near a compost heap is excellent as the excretions from the roots and fallen

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leaves will make the compost light and help restore the soil. For those having a difficult time deciding what to plant in a wet garden site, consider the elder. Elder grows quickly, is self-sowing and produces new shoots. Once it has established itself, it really needs no special protection in the winter. Elder trees (Sambucus racemosa, S. pubens) are considered beneficial in stabilizing soil and controlling erosion in moist sites. They grow easily on gentle slopes. Sambucus microbotrys is best for planting on disturbed riverbank locations where aspen and ponderosa pines grow in the western United States. Sambucus cerulea grows prominently in some American areas that have suffered the ravages of fire as it is able to resprout, and seeds that were buried tend to germinate after a fire. The seeds have a tough coat and dormant embryos which helps delay germination. Without treatment, seeds may take at least two years to germinate. Heat treatment or scarification can actually hasten germination. Even after apparent destruction, elder still brings forth life and bears fruit. The cultivation of such an easy-to-grow tree that offers flowers, fruit, medicine and protection seems most worthwhile. Harvesting As far as herbs go, elder is easy to harvest, providing an abundance of food and medicine with a minimum of effort. It is a joy to collect the delicious and useful parts of elder. Be careful not to disturb animals that may be dwelling in the elder. The wise person always asks permission before collecting from this tree. It is best to collect above-ground plant parts in the morning, after the dew has risen, but before the sun

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has been shining on them all day. Spring is the time to collect the buds and leaves. Dry the leaves in a large paper bag away from people as the leaves give off a gas that may give some people headaches. Late spring and early summer are the best times to gather elder blossoms. Look for elder when it is in flower as this is the easiest time to identify it from a distance. Then, upon closer inspection, make sure you have the right plant. Elder blossoms will bloom at lower elevations first. Just before they reach full bloom is the ideal time to collect them. Harvesting too many flowers can decrease the amount of berries available in the fall. To avoid this, try shaking the blossoms into a bucket; that way the ovaries which produce the fruit will still be attached to the branches and fruit bearing will still occur. Otherwise, collect only in areas where elder is abundant and take only a portion of the flowers. You might also gather a small amount from several locations. Gather only where it is easy and will not damage the tree. Be sure to leave some for the birds and other creatures! Avoid bruising the flower heads and spread them out to dry with their heads down on a nylon screen or net. It is best to keep them from touching one another so they will retain their color. Dry them in a warm place such as an attic or on top of a clean closet. Elderberries are generally harvested in September through October. After the first frost is an ideal time as frost has a way of sweetening and ripening berries. The trees are often bent with the abundance of berries. Berries facing east and west are often sweeter from more sun exposure. It is easy to strip the berries off the stalks. Some people prefer to pick entire clusters and then remove the berries from the stems later in the comfort of their homes. The berries ripen over

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several weeks so you can forage once and then go back for another round in a couple of weeks. How to Preserve Elder Dry the berries on nonmetallic screens or open paper bags. Berries can be dried during the day in the sun, brought indoors in the evening, and then returned to sunlight the next morning. I have also had great results using a food dehydrator. It fills the house with a wonderful fruity aroma. To reconstitute dried elderberries, simply cover them with hot water and allow them to soak for about an hour. Another way to preserve elderberries is by canning them. Add 1 Tbsp. of lemon juice to each quart of elderberries. Fill clean, sterilized jars, leaving 1/2 inch of head room. Add a thin syrup made by boiling 4 cups of water with 2 cups of sugar. Be sure to leave the 1/2-inch headroom. Put on clean lids with screw tops. Process in a boiling water bath (212 F°/100°C), pints for 15 minutes and quarts for 20 minutes. Remove the jars. Cool. Label and enjoy all winter. Freezing is another possibility for preserving elder-berries. Wash and sort berries, removing stems. Some people like to steam the berries for a minute to tenderize their skins. Place in freezer bags or freezing containers. Leave 1/2-inch headroom. Seal and freeze. Be mindful of all the cautions about using elder bark and roots; (see page 7981); however, if you decide that you still want to harvest this part of the elder, collect in the fall of the second to fourth years. When the elder material is dry, store in a glass jar, protected from light and heat. Dampness will cause the blossoms to get musty and lose their aroma. Use within a year. Nature will provide more the next year.

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Lore About Elder Early farmers in America looked for the appearance of the green immature berries of elder as a signal that now was the time to plant their wheat. In England, the beginning of summer is heralded when the elder flowers bloom. When the berries are ripe it signals summer's end. Elder has a short life span, but it easily self-sows and will continue growing in the same area for many years. There are few trees that have as much lore and legend associated with them as elder. It is regarded as a symbol of safety and healing as well as sorrow and death. Other esoteric meanings related to elder are transformation, releasing old, stuck patterns, exorcism, compassion, zealousness, prosperity, sleep, luck, wishes come true, healing, peace and protection. It is said that the cross of Calvary was made of elder and that Judas hung himself from an elder tree. To Americans this may seem questionable, as our trees are smaller than the European elders. The legend adds, however, that elder trees once were much larger, but since the crucifixion, most varieties of elder grow no bigger than a shrub. Many legends claim that elder is a key to enchanted realms and that standing under the elder on Midsummer Night allows one to see fairies. Herbalist Ed Smith refers to elder as, "a condominium for

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devas." Herbalist Anne McIntyre calls elder "the flower of fairyland." However, it is considered unlucky to fall asleep under an elder tree, perhaps due to its soporific odor. You may not wake up feeling quite the same! Meditating in a grove of elders is considered especially beneficial. Doing this on the night of a full moon after a fasting period (especially the elderberry cleanse) is ideal. In Europe the leaves were gathered on the last day of April and hung on doors and windows to protect the dweller from evil. The English would plant elder close to their homes to protect them from ever being struck by lightning or ill health. Folklore says that it is wise to take refuge under an elder tree during a lightning storm as elder is rarely, if ever struck. It is also said that elder will flourish only next to a home in which happy people dwell. According to legend, those who have elder growing by their homes will be blessed with the comfort of dying at home rather than away from it. In Russia, elder growing near a home is said to prolong life and protect the inhabitants from evil. Russian peasants say that the elder is full of compassion for all humans, drives away evil and brings long life. Gypsies feel it is bad luck to burn the elder. To this day in parts of Great Britain, it is still considered a wrongdoing to burn elder wood. Hedge cutters who are superstitious fear that it is bad luck to cut elder. They may have their reasons! Furniture made of elder was said to bring misfortune into the home and cause the person who made the furniture to be haunted. Some believed the spirit of the elder would follow one home and cause misfortune. Making cradles out of elder was said to be especially dangerous for the baby.

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Farmers would not use elder sticks to drive their cows to market, nor would women use the wood to skewer poultry. However, on January 6th, it was considered all right to cut elder branches if permission were asked of the tree. Even modern-day herbalists often ask permission from the elder tree before collecting any parts. Some Germans still remove their hats when passing before an elder tree. The proper way to ask permission is to kneel before making the first cut while saying "Lady Ellhorn, give thee of thy wood and I will give thee of mine when I become a tree." The saying, "Knock on wood," comes from the ancient practice of woodcutters to knock on a tree before cutting to allow any spirits or small animals to vacate. Other names of the elder tree spirit are "Elder Queen," "Elder Mother" and "Hylde-Moer." Danish legend recounts that a dryad, or the elder mother resides in the tree. Elder is associated with Hulda. or Hilda, the godmother of all the elves. Hulda is also regarded as the Protectress of Homes and as the good mother of the elves. Hyldermoder is always depicted dressed in a flowing green gown. Her countenance is that of a kind, elderly and protective mother. She bears no ill will against humans unless one is disrespectful to the tree. Look for her when the moon is full. Ask for her help on issues of wisdom, fertility and prosperity. Before cutting or taking of the elder, it is considered wise to tell it of your intentions. Native American people have also recognized the feminine attributes in the elder tree. The Ogimauikwe call her "the headwoman's tree." It is suggested that one should visit her, perhaps bringing a gift of tobacco, and talk to her about what is bothering you.

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Then come back and talk again. It was usually the native women who would do the medicine collecting from the elder. Hans Christian Anderson wrote a delightful story entitled, ''Elder Tree Mother." In this story a young boy is told a tale about an elder tree in a teapot. Through the elder tree the boy visits the future and the past. The boy is not sure what part of the story has been real and what part a dream. When the story is over, the boy exclaims to his mother, "How beautiful it was! Mother, I have been to warm countries." She replies, "I can quite believe it. When anyone drinks two full cups of elder flower tea, he may well get into warm countries." Tales of elder abound in Europe, one story being that elder disengages itself and wanders around villages at night, peeking in windows. During the Middle Ages, if a person was to set out on a long journey he would entrust his health and safety to an elder tree. If the tree flourished, so would the person. If it withered and died, so would the traveler. These trees were regarded as guardian trees. In Copenhagen, there is an old sailors' section where many homes still have a protective elder tree. It was also said that if elder flowers were put in ale and a man and woman shared that ale, they would be married within a year; scattering elder blossoms to the winds at a wedding would bring blessings, and carrying elderberries in a medicine bag helped to resist the temptations to commit adultery. Pregnant women would kiss the elder tree in passing to bring good fortune to their babies. Elder flower water was used at baptisms and child blessing ceremonies. If a child were whipped with an elder stick, it was believed the youth would stop growing.

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Branches of elder were often buried with the dead to protect them from evil. The wood was sometimes burned on funeral pyres. If the tree bloomed after being planted over a grave, it meant the deceased was happy in Paradise. Drivers of horse-drawn hearses would carry a whip of elder for protection. Some associate elder with the queen or king of the underworld. A Danish legend says that elder sprang from the blood of a slain countryman. Dwarf elder (Sambucus ebulus) is said to grow near ancient battlefields where much blood has been shed. The species name ebulus means "to bubble up." The belief was that the blood of soldiers bubbled up from the earth. The plant does turn very red in the fall and, when it dies down, it leaves a red stain upon the ground and then disappears until the next spring. A Polish custom is to bury one's sins under the elder tree. Elder has long been a choice wood in making magic wands. Scatter elder over any object one wishes to bless, but beware of selfish wishes! Sticks of elder have been used to kill serpents and drive off robbers. Even today in Sicily, elder branches are still considered best for this task. Elder is believed to help deter attackers of every sort, including those of evil enchantment. There are tales told of witches who needed to hide who would transform themselves and take refuge in the branches of a nearby elder. In Germany, the elder pith would be taken from dead branches and cut into round flat shapes, dipped in oil, then lit to float in a bowl of water. This was said to give a family protection and enable it to foresee any evil. In many countries of Europe, elder was planted to ward off evil spirits.

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A custom beginning with the Gauls was to burn some elder on the eve of Saint John's Day (June 24th) to protect people, animals and crops. Crosses have long been made of elder and placed in stables to protect the animals therein. In Sussex, a tradition is to take an elder twig, tie it in three or four knots and carry it in one's pocket to protect the bearer from rheumatism. Elder twigs have also been used as an amulet to help prevent epilepsy. According to Anatomie of an Elder, "In the month of October, a little before the full moon, pluck a twig of the Elder and cut the part out between two joints. Cut into nine pieces, tie them up in a linen cloth and bind above the heart with thread. Tighten until the thread breaks, remove the amulet with an instrument and bury in the ground, so nobody can touch it." To get rid of a wart, some suggest rubbing a green elder twig over the area and then burying the twig for a month. An age-old belief held that to rid oneself of fever, silently poke an elder stick into the ground. It was also believed that placing the dried berries beneath one's pillow would break a pattern of insomnia. One of my favorite legends tells about a king's hunting party that was lost in the woods. The group came upon a home where a very old man was sitting on the porch crying because he had picked up his father to carry him and dropped him and had been beaten. No one in the party could believe that such an old man could still have a father who was alive. The king entered the home to find a group of very calm elderly people at work. They attributed their good health to a healthy diet that included elderberries, homemade bread and cheese. Interesting how the name elder also implies one who is old.

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In the play, Arsenic and Old Lace, elderberry wine was laced with arsenic to put old men out of their misery. One of my favorite. French movies is The Sorceress, where elder is used for its many healing virtues by the main character, a medieval herbalist and wise woman. Elder flowers have been added to the bath, not only to beautify the skin but for protection. To bless someone, scatter elder blossoms in the four directions while saying the person's name and praying. If you are growing elder, lore suggests that you ask for the fairies' protection. and garland the tree with ragwort (Senecio species) to encourage fairy blessings, especially on Midsummer's Day. Pan, the playful god who was half man and half goat, played pipes of elder. Other lore attributed to elder are that it is a feminine tree, linked with Venus and The Great Goddess, dedicated to Thor and associated with the element of water. In the Celtic calendar, elder is the tree of the last month, Ruis. This time is honored on the last three days of October when Samhain or Halloween marks the end of the old year and the beginning of the new. Elder is a beautiful and fascinating tree. In Michael Tierra's Herbal Tarot Deck, elder is associated with card number 13 or death, beginnings and endings. It is the card that signifies transformation, purification and renewal. Elder certainly is a tree associated with power, magic and good fortune, but if used disrespectfully it can also bring about misfortune. Throughout history people have found many ways to bring the benefits of elder into the medicine chest, hearth and heart.

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Cautions About Elder In the United States, elder is on the GRAS (generally regarded as safe) list. Canada approves elder as an overthe-counter drug. The United Kingdom classifies elder on their General Sales List. In France, elder fits into the Traditional Medicine category. Elder is an official remedy in Belgium. In Germany, elder is approved by Commission E as an over-the-counter drug. However, despite the worldwide approved safety of elder, there are some things to be aware of. Before consuming elderberries, check with a local herbarium (many college campuses have them) to be sure the species in your area are edible. It is important to eat only blue, purple or black elderberries. Many red berried elder plants are considered toxic, especially their seeds, leaves, bark and roots. Children who have made blow guns and whistles from red elder's hollowed-out stems have sometimes reported nausea. When elder is taken to excess, nausea and vomiting may occur. It is especially important to avoid red elderberry clusters, growing in rounded rather than flat clusters. These are more likely to make one sick. Sambucus microbotrys has a high saponin content that causes even animals to avoid it. Sambucus pubens also has too high a saponin content to be consumed.

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Only ripe elderberries of edible species should be used. The unripe berries, as well as leaves, stems, young bark and roots, contain the glycoside d-sambunigrin which can produce hydrocyanic acid. This can have a cathartic activity and may even result in numbness and dizziness. The remedy is to give plenty of fluids. The leaves, root and bark are considered safest for external use only. However, European elder has less toxicity than the western varieties. The bark, if used internally, should be only the European variety aged for at least one year to avoid cyanide toxicity. Cooking elderberries makes them more edible, but only if the species is edible to begin with. Removing the elder seeds by using a food mill when making jellies, juice and syrups also makes them safer. However, for years I have made elderberry pies and cobblers that included the seeds, and no one has ever suffered any ill effect. Elder can be confused with another tree, mountain ash. Mountain ash has leaves that are alternate instead of opposite and its seeds are winged. Conditions in which elderberries may be inappropriate include migraine headache accompanied by weakness and deficiency. If elder makes the condition worse, stop using it. Also, if drying and fluid loss worsen a condition, it is best to not use elder. Pregnant women should use only the elder's flowers and cooked edible berries. You will find elder products in natural food and herb stores. You may discover elder growing in your area and feast free on its many edible and medicinal properties. With all the marvelous benefits of the elder, be it as a flu remedy, elderberry pie or its

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purported ability to bring good fortune, you may want to grow some near your home. What a lovelier, happier and healthier world it would be for all creatures with more elder trees!

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Appendices References 1. Wood, Matthew, The Book of Herbal Wisdom, North Atlantic Books, Berkeley, 1997. 2. Zakay-Rones, Zichria, Ph.D., Varsano, Noemi, M.Sc., Zlotnik, Moshe, M.D., Manor, Orly, Ph.D., Regev, Liora, Schlesinger, Miriam and Mumcuoglu, Madeleine, Ph.D., "Inhibition of Several Strains of Influenza Virus in Vitro and Reduction of Symptoms by an Elderberry Extract, The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, Volume 1, Number 4, 1995, pages 361369. 3. Williams, Dr. David G., "Cheap Insurance Against Viral Diseases," Alternatives for the Health Conscious Individual, Volume 6, Number 5, November, 1995, pages 3336. 4. Zechelius, Brunhild, Dipl. Ecotrophologist, Study of a Juice Fasting Treatment Based on Elderberry Juice, Elderflower Syrup, Elderberry Herbal tablets, Blood Purifying Drops, Diuretic Capsules and Various teas, Empirical Study, 1988. 5. III Mach, Lukas, Kerschbaumer, Randolf, Schwihla, Herwig and Glö31ssl, "Elder Fruit Lectin Occurs in Monomeric, Dimeric and Oligomeric Isoforms," Biochemical Journal, London, 315, 1061, pages 343344, 1996. 6. Nakatani, Nobuji, Kikuzaki, Hiroe, Hikida, Junko, Ohba, Mayumi, Inami, Osamu and Tamura, Itaru. "Acylated Anthocyanins from Fruits of Sambucus Ca31nadensis," Phytochemistry, Volume 38, Number 3, pages 755757, 1995. 7. Kirschmann, Gayla J. and Kirschmann, John D., Nutrition Almanac, McGraw-Hill, New York, 1996.

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Resources For more information on elder products, contact: Flora, Inc. (makers of Sambu Internal Cleansing and Weight Loss Program) P.O. Box 950 Lynden, WA 98264. (800) 446-2110 J.B. Harris, Inc. (makers of Sambucol, the flu remedy) 4324 Regency Drive, Glenview, IL 60025. (800) 9417747. Frontier Herbs, P.O. Box 299, Norway, IA 52318. (800) 227-7996. Star West Botanicals, 11253 Trade Center Drive, Rancho Cordova, CA 95742. (916) 853-9354. Bibliography Altman, Nathaniel, Sacred Trees, Sierra Club Books, San Francisco, 1994. Blochwich, Dr. Martin, Anatomie of an Elder, London, 1644. Cunningham, Scott, Cunningham's Encyclopedia of Magical Herbs, Llewellyn Publications, St. Paul, Minnesota, 1994. Cutler, H.G., Household Jewels, W.R. Vansant, 1903. Diamond, Denise, Living with the Flowers, Quill Press, New York, 1982. Felter, Harvey Wickes, M.D. and Lloyd, John Uri, Ph.D., M., Ph.,D., King's American Dispensatory, Volume II, Eclectic Medical Publications, Portland, Oregon, 1983.

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Grieve, Mrs. M., A Modern Herbal, Volume I, Dover Publications, New York, 1971. Hahnemann, Dr. Samuel, Materia Medica Pura, B. Jain Publishers, New Dehli, India, 1989. Harvey, Clare and Cochrane, Amanda, Encyclopedia of Flower Remedies, Thorson's, San Francisco, 1995. Hoffmann, David, Herb Users' Guide, Thorson's Publishing, Rochester, Vermont, 1987. Holmes, Peter, Energetics of Herbs, Volume I, Artemis Books, Boulder Colorado, 1989. Keville, Kathi, The Illustrated Herb Encyclopedia, Mallard Press, New York, 1991. Kirschmann, John D., Nutrition Almanac, McGraw-Hill, St. Louis, 1996. Krochmal, Arnold and Connie, Complete Illustrated Book of Dyes from Natural Sources, Doubleday and Company, Garden City, New York, 1974. Krumm, Bob, The Rocky Mountain Berry Book, Falcon Press, Helena, Montana, 1991. Lighthall, J.I., Indian Household Medicine Guide, Peoria, Illinois, 1883. McIntyre, Anne, The Complete Woman's Herbal, Henry Holt Company, New York, 1994. Michael, Pamela, All Good Things Around Us, Holt, Rinehart and Winston, New York, 1980.

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Moore, Michael, Medical Plants of the Pacific West, Red Crane Books, Santa Fe, 1993. Rose, Jeanne, Jeanne Rose's Herbal Body Book, Grosset and Dunlap, New York, 1976. Schofield, Janice, Discovering Wild Plants, Alaska Northwest Books, Bothell, Washington, 1989. Shook, Dr. Edward, Advanced Treatise in Herbology, Trinity Center Press, Beaumont, California, 1978. Tatum, Billy Joe, Billy Joe Tatum's Wild Foods and Field Guide Cookbook, Workman Publishing, New York, 1976. Tierra, Lesley, L. Ac., The Herbs of Life, Crossing Press, Freedom, California, 1992. Tierra, Michael, C.A., M.D., Planetary Herbology, Lotus Press, Santa Fe, 1988. Walker, Morton, D.P.M., Elderberry Internal Cleansing, New Way of Life, Stamford, Connecticut, 1989. Weiner, Michael, Earth Medicine, Earth Foods, Collier Books, New York, 1972. Willard, Terry, Ph.D., Textbook of Modern Herbology, Progressive Publishers, Calgary, Alberta, Canada, 1988. Williamson, Darcy, The Rocky Mountain Wild Foods Cookbook, Caxton Printers, Caldwell, Idaho, 1995. Wood, Matthew, The Book of Herbal Wisdom, North Atlantic Books, Berkeley, 1997. Zechelius, Dr. Brunhild, Elderberry Diet, P.G. Publishing, Switzerland, 1989.

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Index A acne, 56 aging and antioxidants, 37 lore, 76 AIDS virus, 29 albuminuria, 39 ale, 52 Algonquin Indians, 6, 7 alterative, 18 amulet, 76 anemia, 13 angina pectoris, 13, 39 animals and elder, 61-62 anise, 50 anthocyanins, 37 anti-inflammatory, 19, 50 see also inflammation anticatarrhal, 18 see also catarrh antidandruff, 56 antioxidants, 30, 37 see also free radicals antirheumatic, 19 see also rheumatism antiseptic, 19, 55 see also infection antispasmodic, 19 antiviral, 19, 27-31 anxiety see fretfulness

aperient, 19 see also constipation; digestive; laxative aphid spray, 12, 59-60 aromatherapy, 41-42 arthritis, 15 asthma, 13, 30, 39, 51, 52 astringent, 19, 55 B bark, elder, 14-15 as dye, 61 protein content, 36 teas, 23 toxicity, 14 bee sting treatment, 60 bergamot, 42 berries, elder, 13-14, 64 anthocyanin content, 37 betacarotine content, 13 calcium content, 13 as dye, 60-61 as food, 13, 44-49 see also jam; juice as food for animals, 61-62 harvesting, 69-70 phosphorus content, 13 potassium content, 13 preserving, 70 protein content, 28 stewed, 48 syrup, 25-26 teas, 23 tinctures, 24 toxicity, 64, 78

vitamin content, 13 betacarotene, 13 bioflavonoids, 43 birch, 33 Blockwich, Martin, 4-5 blood pressure, 35 bone marrow fractionation, 36 transplants, 28, 36 boneset, 50 botany, of elder, 63-65 buds, as dye, 61 burdock root, 51 burns, 7, 12 C calcium, 13 calendula, 11 calmative, 19-20 see also fretfulness cancer and lectins, 37 see also bone marrow; leukemia canning of berries. 70 carminative, 20 see also digestive Carrier Indians, 7 cascara sagrada, 14

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catarrh, 13, 30, 50 see also anticatarrhal cathartic, 20 see also constipation catnip, 50 Celtic lore, 77 chamomile, 51 Cherokee Indians, 7 Chickasaw Indians, 6, 7 chicken pox, 30 chickweed, 51 Chieh-ku-tan, 39 chilblains, 5, 12 children and elder, 38, 50 for colic, 7 dosages, 24 laxative, 6 for naval healing, 6 Chippewa Indians, 7 Choctaw Indians, 7 cholesterol, 17 Ch'ou ts'ao, 39 chutney, 47-48 cinnamon, 51 cleansing, 1-2 skin, 55-56, 57 see also detoxification; diaphoretic cobbler, 47 colds, 1-2, 7, 27, 50, 52 Coles, William, 5 colic, 7, 50

colon cleansing, 33 comfrey, 11 complexion, 55-58 composting, 68-69 compresses, 25 congestion, 32, 40, 43, 51 conjunctivitis, 11 constipation, 15 cordial, 30, 54 Cortex sambuci see bark coughs, 27, 52 Creek Indians, 6-7 Culpepper, Nicholas, 4 cyanide, 79 cyanidin, 37 cystitis, 40 D d-sambunigrin, 79 dandelion wine, 52 dandruff, 56 Dane's elder see Sambucus ebulus decongestant, 20 see also colds; congestion; flu Delaware Indians, 6, 7 detoxification, 32-35, 72 diaphoretic, 20, 30, 32 see also cleansing; rashes digestive, 20, 43, 50 Dioscorides, Pedanius, 4 disutient, 20 see also cancer

diuretic, 10, 14, 20, 32 see also kidney function dizziness, 39 Doctrine of Signatures, 9 dosages, 40 children, 24 syrup, 26 tinctures, 24 dropsy, 17 druids, 4 dwarf elder see Sambucus ebulus dye,14, 56-57, 60-61 E earache, 51 eczema, 12, 51 edema, 8 elder as alcoholic beverage, 52-54 as approved drug, 78 botany of, 63-65 and complexion, 55-58 description, 1 dosages, 23-26, 40 and the environment, 61-62 etymology, 2 as food, 7, 45-49 growing, 60-68 harvesting, 68-70, 73 history, 4-8 lore, 71-77 nutrient content, 43-44 parts, 11-17 in perfumery, 42 preparations, 23-26

preserving, 70 properties of, 18-22 as protection from evil, 72, 75, 77 recipes, 45-49 research, 27-29, 34-35, 36-37 species, 2, 63 synonyms for, 3 toxicity, 78-80 uses, 59-62 see also bark; berries; flowers; leaves; wood elder absolute, 41-42 elder blow, 43-44 elder blow wine, 53 elder fungus, 16-17 elder tree spirit, 73

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elderberries see berries emetic, 7, 20 see also vomiting emollients, 12, 20 see also ointments; salves emotions see fretfulness epilepsy, 14, 15 and elder lore, 76 Epstein Barr virus, 29 Evelyn, John, 5 evil spirits, 72, 75 expectorant, 24-21 see also congestion; coughs eyebright, 11, 50 eyewash, 11, 25 F facial mask, 57-58 facial tics, 14 facial wash, 55, 56 fatigue, 57 febrifuge, 21 see also fever fennel, 50 fever, 6, 7, 13, 50 see also febrifuge fiber supplements, 33 fizz, 53 flavonoids, 29 see also bioflavonoids flaxseed, 33

flowers, elder, 11-12, 64 as dye, 61 essence, 41-42 as facial wash, 55 in food, 43-49 harvesting, 69 oils, 57 teas, 23 tinctures, 24 see also nectar flu, 1-2, 27, 28-29, 52 fluid retention, 15, 40 folklore, 71-77 food coloring, 14 fractionation, 36 freckles, 55 free radicals, 32 see also antioxidants fretfulness, 3-40, 41, 43, 56 see also nervines fritters, 45 fruit tree blight, 59 furniture of elder wood, 72 G galactagogue, 21 ginger root, 30, 50 Gitskan Indians, 7 glycoproteins, 36 goldenrod, 50 gonorrhea, 6 gout, 12 GRAS, 78 green elderberry ointment, 6 growth of elder, 66-67

gypsy lore, 72 H haemagglutinins, 36 hair conditioner, 56 harvesting of elder, 68-70 hay fever, 50 headache, 6, 7, 12, 25, 39 heart disease, 6 hemorrhoids, 5, 6, 12 herb combinations, 50-51 high blood pressure, 13 Hippocrates, 4 Hirneola auricula-judae, 16-17 hives, 12 see also rashes homeopathic medicine, 39-40 Houmas Indians, 6 hydragogue, 21 see also edema hydrocyanic acid, 14, 79 hyssop, 50 I immune system, 29-30 and antioxidants, 37 Indians see Native Americans infants see children infection, 6 see also antiseptic inflammation, 6, 12, 17, 39 see also anti-inflammatory infusions, 56 insect repellent, 7, 60 insomnia, 76 Iroquois Indians, 6, 7

J jam, 13, 43, 48 jaundice, 6, 15 Judas ear, 16-17 juice, 27, 33, 44 as dye, 56-57 juniper, 33 K kidney function, 6, 10, 13, 33 see also diuretic Kniepp, Father, 8 ''knock on wood", 73 L landscape planting, 68-69

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laxative, 7, 14, 21 for children, 6 see also aperient; purgative leaves, elder, 12 as dye, 60-61 as food for animals, 62 harvesting, 68-69 lectins, 36-37 legends, 71-77 leukemia, 28 see also bone marrow lianas, 63 lore, 71-77 lumbago, 39 lymphocytes, 29-30 M marshmallow root, 51 measles, 6, 30 meditation, 72 Menominee Indians, 7 menstrual problems, 13 Meskwaki Indians, 7 Mexican elder see Sambucus mexicana Mohegan Indians, 7 moisturizer, 58 mosquito repellent, 60 mountain ash, 79 mouthwash, 25 mucus see congestion muffins, 46 mullein, 51

mumps, 6 muscle spasm, 39 N Native Americans, 44 elder lore, 73-74 elder use, 6-8 elder wood, 15-16 nectar, 61 nervines, 21 see also fretfulness nervous system, 9-10 nervousness see fretfulness neuralgia, 14 neuraminidase, 29 newborns see children nigrin, 36 O oak moss, 42 oat bran, 33 oil, 57 ointments, 5, 12 see also emollients; salves Ojibwa Indians, 7 oregano, 50 Oriental medicine, 39 P pain, 6, 39, 51 Paiute Indians, 7 pancakes, 46 pemmican, 7 peppermint, 30, 50 perfumery, 42 phlegm see congestion

phosphorus, 13 pickles, 45 pie filling, 49 Pima Indians, 7 plantain, 11 plant pests, 59 potassium, 13 potassium phosphate, 43 potassium sulfate, 43 pregnancy and elder, 38, 79 and elder bark, 15 in elder lore, 74 preserving of elder, 70 propagation of elder, 67 proteins, 28, 36 see also glycoproteins pruning of elder, 67 psoriasis, 51 psyllium husk, 33 pudding, 48-49 purgative, 21 see also laxative R radiation, and fractionation, 36 rashes, 30 see also hives rejuvenative, 21 see also restorative relaxant, 22 see also asthma; fretfulness respiratory system, 9 restorative, 22 see also rejuvenative

rheumatism, 7, 13, 14, 52-53 and elder lore, 76 see also antirheumatic rice pudding, 48 rob, 13 rutin, 43 S salves, 11-12 see also emollients; ointments sambucine, 12, 14 Sambucus canadensis, 2, 13, 43, 64-65 hydrocyanic acid content, 14 lectin content, 37 sambucine content, 14 Sambucus cerulea, 13, 65, 68

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Sambucus ebulus, 39, 65, 75 tea, 59 Sambucus glauca, 65 Sambucus javanica, 39 Sambucus Mexicana, 65 Sambucus microbotrys, 68, 78 Sambucus nigra, 2, 13, 39, 65 and flu virus, 28-29 research, 36, 37 Sambacus pubens, 13, 68, 78 Sambucus racemosa, 39, 65, 68 Sambucus sieboldiana, 37 saponin, 64, 78 scrub, 57 seeds, 79 germination, 7-8 lectin content, 36 Seminole Indians, 7 senna, 33 Shasta Indians, 15-16 Shoshonne Indians, 7 skin see complexion SNA III, 37 Snake Indians, 16 snakebite treatment, 60, 65 sorbet, 49 sore muscles, 57 sore throat, 13, 17, 30, 31, 52 soup, 46-47 species of elder, 2, 63 stewed elderberries, 48 stimulant, 22

stinkweed see Sambucus javanica studies of elder antiviral properties, 27-29 cleansing program, 34-35 properties, 36-37 swelling see inflammation syrup, 13, 25-26, 31, 44 and children, 38 T tapioca pudding, 48-49 teas, 13, 23-24, 30-31 in bath water, 56 black, 51 dwarf elder, 59 Thompson Indians, 7 tinctures, 13, 24 tonic, 22 toothache, 7 toxicity, 12, 78-80 bark, 14 red berries, 13, 64 travel lore, 74 tuberculosis, 30 tumors, 12 U ungentum sambuci, 5-6 uvular inflammation, 17 V vinegar, 45 viruses, 29 see also antiviral vitamin A, 43 vitamin C, 13, 43 vomiting, 6, 14-15

see also emetic vulnerary, 12, 22 see also burns; hemorrhoids; infam-mation; wound healing W weight loss, 32, 35 wild indigo, 50 wine, 5, 6, 30, 52, 53-54 see also cordial wood, elder in bows and arrows, 7 in furniture, 72 for magic wands, 75 uses, 15-16 wound healing, 6, 12 wrinkles see complexion Y yarrow, 30, 50 yin-deficiency, 15 ylang ylang, 42 Yorock Indians, 16

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