Elder

(Sambucus nigra L., Caprifoliaceae)

Also Called: European Elder (S. nigra), Black Elder(S. canadensis).

Description: Shrub or more rarely a small tree, up to 6m (20ft) high with bark that is brown or pale grey and longitudinally furrowed.
The branches contain abundant, white pith. Leaves large, imparipinnate of 5-7 ovate leaflets, somewhat hairy, with acute apex and dentate margin.
Flowers with sweet odour, arranged in large false
umbels; corolla white, 5-9mm (0.2-0.3in) broad with 5 segments.
Fruits spherical, 5-6mm (0.2in) in diameter, black with red juice.
Flowering: June-September.

Parts Used: Dried flowers; fruit, fresh or dried; dried leaf.

Habitat and Collection: In woods, hedges, roadsides, waste places, on disturbed rich basic soils. Throughout Europe; common in Britain. At times cultivated.
The flowers are collected when fully open and dried as rapidly as possible in the shade at less than 40° C (104° F).

Constituents and Action: The flowers contain volatile oil, mucilage and flavonoid glycosides; they are sudorific.
The leaves, bark and unripe fruits contain prussic acid combined as a glycoside and are toxic.
The leaves and bark are diuretic, the ripe fruit is mildly laxative.

Usage: The flowers are used mainly as a tisane (1-2 table-spoonfuls of flowers in 1 litre (1.75pt) of boiling water and allow to stand) for febrile conditions, mainly colds and influenza, and for rheumatism.
The bark and the leaves in a tisane (rapidly boil 2 tablespoonfuls of drug with 1 litre (1.75pt) of water and allow to stand) for the retention of urine, dropsy, rheumatism (action doubtful).
The fruits, either fresh or as a jam, are taken by the tablespoonful as a laxative and also for coughs and bronchitis.

Elder

(Sanbucus Candensis,)

Also called: American elder, common elder, black elder (S. canadensis ), European elder (S. nigra).

Source: The American elder grows in North America from British Columbia, east to Nova Scotia, south to the mountains of North Carolina and west to Arizona.

Medicinal Uses: Preventing and treating colds and flu (fruit); treating colds, fevers and bronchitis (flowers).

Parts used: Ripe fruit (berries), flower.

Forms available: Teas, capsules, tablets, tinctures, combination products.

Caution: The dried or cooked fruits and flowers are safe to use. Eating the fresh flowers or raw and unripe fruit can cause adverse reactions.