ELDERBERRY IMMUNITY
The elderberry is the dark purple berry from the European elder (Sambucus) tree and possesses many medicinal qualities, earning it the nickname, “the farmer’s medicine chest”. Folk medicine esteems elderberry as one of the most restorative natural substances on the planet. It is high in Vitamins C, B6 and A as well as iron, zinc and potassium.
One scientific study showed that when 60 people with flu-like symptoms took four 15 ml servings of elderberry syrup per day, their symptoms improved four days quicker than those of a control group which did not use elderberry syrup. Another study showed that a larger dose of daily elderberry extract reduced cold duration and symptoms in air-travellers.
Elderberry’s antioxidant power strengthens the immune system against bacteria, viruses, colds and more. Its phenolic compounds have been shown to have antimicrobial, antiviral and immune-stimulating properties. Elderberries have been shown in several studies to have significant anti-inflammatory effects, which is likely one of the reasons why they have been used in natural medicine for hundreds of years.