Overview:
Elderberry is used as a delicious remedy for the flu. It prevents the flu virus from attaching to our cells and therefore, it shortens the duration and severity of the flu.
Latin Name:
Sambucus nigra
Common Name:
Elderberry
USDA Hardiness Zone:
Zones 4-7
Exposure:
Full sun to partial shade
Harvest :
The elder flowers should be harvested once they are all opened. The intense fragrance is actually relaxing, as is the tea. The berries will be ready to harvest when they are a rich dark purple/black.
Uses:
Elderberry is extremely useful for fighting the flu. It contains compounds that keep the flu virus from attaching to the cell, so it can shorten the duration of your illness and possibly lesson the severity.
Elderberries make a wonderfully tasty remedy. You can use them fresh or dried equally well. Making a sweet elderberry syrup or a semi sweet tincture.
When wildcrafting elderberries, be sure to only pick from areas that do not receive a lot of vehicle traffic and be certain to only pick the most ripe berries. This is easy to do, as they are picked in large umbrells of berries per stem.
