Elder (Sambucus spp.)

Elder (Sambucus spp.):
Elder shrubs dripping with their heavy load of berries in the fall, or shining with their starry flowers in the early summer, are a welcome sight. This bountiful shrub contains potent medicine that even tastes good!
All species of the elder with blue and black berries can be used interchangeably. Common species found in North America include Sambucis nigra. S. canadensis, and S mexicana. The red berry

variety was reportedly used by natives where it was common; however, it does contain high levels of cyanide that may or may not be diminished with cooking or drying. In fact, all species of elderberry contain cyanide in their seeds, leaves, and bark. The blue or black berry varieties contain less than the red and are considered safe after heating or drying the berries. Before you are scared away from elderberries, however, it’s important to note that many plants we consider edible also contain cyanide; apples are a good example.
   Elder flowers arrive in my valley around the 4th of July. They form large clumps on these shrubs, causing them to jump out of the landscape. You can harvest these in bunches when they are at their peak, keeping in mind any flowers harvested will not turn into berries later that season.
The flowers are a safe and effective relaxing diaphoretic herb that is very mild tasting. For these reasons it is often used to treat fevers in young children. I like to use a very old cold and flu recipe that blends elder flowers, rose hips, peppermint, and yarrow when I am sick. Elder flowers can also be used as a bath herb or for external washes to soothe and soften the skin.
Elderberries are a tasty treat that also have many medicinal properties such as immunomodulating,  anti-oxidant, and antiviral.      

    This can make it an important ally at the first signs of a cold or flu. Because of its cooling tendencies, it may be appropriate to add a more warming herb, like ginger, when taking it for a cold with symptoms of being cold. I have used elderberry tincture to successfully ward off a cold sore outbreak. Both the flowers and the berries have a long tradition of being made into spirits. Elderberry wine has become a tradition at our house every fall. 

  The leaves and bark of this plant also contain strong medicinal properties mostly used for emetic and laxative effects. It’s recommended that a person interested in using these parts in this manner consult with a trained
practitioner.

Elderberry Syrup ;
• Place fresh elderberries in a saucepan. (Or place dried elderberries in a saucepan with enough water to barely cover them.)
• Slowly begin to heat the berries. As the berries heat up they will release their juice. You can speed this process by using a berry masher or large spoon to help squash the berries. (For the dried berries continue to simmer lightly.)
• Once it seems that you’ve gotten all the juice you can, let the juice cool enough to comfortably touch, then strain the berries off using a cheesecloth to squeeze the mixture even more.
• While the juice is still warm, but not hot, add an equal part honey, or to taste, and stir to mix well. This syrup will keep for around a month in the fridge.