Herb Notes: The Medicinal Benefits of Elderberry

Welcome to Herb Notes. I'm Tara Ruth with Learning Herbs. Even if you're not a total herb nerd, chances are you've probably heard of elderberry. Blue and black elderberries have many benefits, and they're most well known as a gentle, immune-supporting, antiviral herb. The benefits of elderberry go way beyond its immune-bolstering properties, though. What's more, the flowers of elder also boast many healing gifts. Want to learn more about the gifts of elder? Let's dive into three key health benefits of elder. 1. Elderberry for Immune Support Traditional knowledge and modern research show that elderberry can both help prevent colds and flu, and also shorten their duration. Many of these studies have been done with elderberry syrup, which is an easy preparation to make in your own kitchen. During cold and flu season, I like to take a daily shot of elderberry syrup to help bolster my immune system. 2. Elderberry as an Anti-inflammatory In addition to supporting immune health, elderberry can also act as a systemic anti-inflammatory. The berries are also a rich source of flavonoids and have traditionally been used to help address arthritic pain. 3. Elderflower for Skin Health Just as elderberries are anti-inflammatory, elderflowers also have a particular affinity for addressing inflammation in the skin. Topical applications of elderflower in the forms of washes, creams, or lotions can help support minor rashes and sunburns. So to recap, here are three benefits of elder. 1. Elderberries can offer immune support. 2. Elderberry is anti-inflammatory. 3. Elderflower can support skin health. And just a note, we're talking about the blue and black elderberries here, not the red elderberry which has higher levels of cyanogenic compounds. And if you want to learn more about the benefits of blue and black elderberries, you can visit HerbNotes.Cards to grab a free deck of our top 12 herb notes. You'll learn all about common herbs like elderberry, garlic, aloe, and more. This has been Herb Notes with me, Tara Ruth. Catch ya next time!