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more antioxidants than almost any other berry I often emphasize when I teach about the elder, this plant offers us so
and scoring higher in vitamins and minerals much more than the syrups and supplements consumed during cold and
than most (though growing conditions and flu season. Perhaps more than any other plant, the elder embodies one of
plant variety play a large part in its eventual its greatest proponent’s most basic dictums, “Let food be thy medicine
nutritional profile). It is a good source of quer- and medicine be thy food.” May we all continue to make better use of
cetin and various acids and anthocyanins. Elder this amazing plant.
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flowers are especially rich in polyphenols and
other health-promoting compounds, which may John Moody is a well-known farmer, researcher and author. His most
explain why our ancestors so often used them recent books, The Elderberry Book and Winning the War Against Weeds,
in teas, salves, soaks and treatments for inflam- are available at johnwmoody.com. Weston A. Price Foundation members
mation, injuries and illnesses. who wish to try John’s daughter’s elderberry syrup can receive $5.00 off
Modern research supports many of the on the first bottle (use code WAPF5 at abbyselderberry.com). All images
historical uses and amazing benefits of the in this article are from The Elderberry Book or from John’s research,
elderberry. Studies point to its ability to keep copied from primary sources with tools such as Archive.org.
travelers from coming down with respiratory ill-
ness and its assistance in reducing the duration REFERENCES
2
Simonyi A, Chen Z, Jiang J et al. Inhibition of microglial activation by elderberry
1.
and severity of respiratory infections. Some of extracts and its phenolic components. Life Sci. 2015;128:30-38.
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the ways in which the chemicals in elderberry 2. Tiralongo E, Wee SS, Lea RA. Elderberry supplementation reduces cold duration and
better equip our bodies to defeat infections are symptoms in air-travellers: a randomized, double-blind placebo-controlled clinical
trial. Nutrients. 2016;8(4):182.
defensive, and some are offensive in nature. On 3. Zakey-Rones Z, Thom E, Wollan T, Wadstein J. Randomized study of the efficacy and
the defensive side, elderberry is both antibac- safety of oral elderberry extract in the treatment of influenza A and B virus infections.
J Int Med Res. 2004;32(2):132-140.
terial and antiviral. In an Australian study of 4. Hawkins J, Baker C, Cherry L, Dunne E. Black elderberry (Sambucus nigra) supple-
5
influenza, one of the lead investigators stated, mentation effectively treats upper respiratory symptoms: a meta-analysis of random-
“What our study has shown is that the common 5. ized, controlled clinical trials. Complement Ther Med. 2019;42:361-365.
Daniells S. Black elderberry extract shows anti-infection activity: Study. NutraIn-
elderberry has a potent direct antiviral effect gredients, March 14, 2011. https://www.nutraingredients-usa.com/Article/2011/03/14/
against the flu virus. It inhibits the early stages Black-elderberry-extract-shows-anti-infection-activity-Study.
of an infection by blocking key viral proteins 6. Elderberry compounds could help minimize flu symptoms, study suggests. Science-
Daily, April 23, 2019. https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/04/190423133644.
responsible for both the viral attachment and htm.
entry into the host cells.” On the offensive side, 7. Sayin I, Cingi C, Oghan F, Baykal B, Ulusoy S. Complementary therapies in allergic
6
elderberry supports and strengthens our im- 8. rhinitis. ISRN Allergy. 2013;2013:938751.
Daily M. Interest in Missouri elderberries on the rise. Vox, October 29, 2020. https://
mune system, helping it function well without www.voxmagazine.com/food/rise-of-elderberries/article_d8883948-0e8b-11eb-8ebc-
wearing itself out or revving too high or low. 9. 3374cbd172cd.html.
Spagnuolo C, Napolitano M, Tedesco I, Moccia S, Milito A, Russo GL. Neuroprotec-
Although more and more Americans are tive role of natural polyphenols. Curr Top Med Chem. 2016;16(17):1943-1950.
taking elderberry products during cold and flu 10. Neves D, Bernardo J, Valentao P et al. The bioactive compounds from elderberry to
season, the benefits of elderberry go far beyond modulate mitochondrial dysfunctions underlying Alzheimer’s disease: PS205. Porto
Biomed J. 2017;2(5):202-203.
these two conditions. Historically, elderberry 11. Kilham C. Elderberry enhances immune function. Fox News, March 23, 2011. https://
was also used to treat allergies, measles and www.foxnews.com/health/elderberry-enhances-immune-function,
dozens of other conditions that modern re- 12. Porta S, Wurzinger S, Wintersteiger R. Determination of physiological effects of
elderberry biopolyphenols in humans using ICU equipment. Berry Health Benefits
search fails to remedy. Studies also show that Network, n.d. http://berryhealth.fst.oregonstate.edu/symposium/seppportaabstract.
7
htm.
elderberry may have protective benefits against 13. https://inovobiologic.com/_pdf/Elderberry%20PP%20v1.pdf.
the damage caused by strokes and Alzheimer’s 14. Schultz H. Nature’s Way finds more evidence of widespread elderberry adultera-
disease. 1,8-10 Even the U.S. military has displayed tion. NutraIngredients, September 23, 2020. https://www.nutraingredients-usa.com/
interest in elderberry because of its ability to Article/2020/09/23/Nature-s-Way-finds-more-evidence-of-widespread-elderberry-
adulteration.
help people adapt to and overcome stress. 11-13
You will encounter many other uses if you go
down the elderberry rabbit hole.

AMAZING PLANT
Modern Americans are increasingly en-
amored with the fruit of the elder. However, as

WINTER 2020 Wise Traditions 43