Harvested from the ancient Sambucus elder tree, elderberries and elderflowers have been a widespread source of plant-based nutrition and medicine forever and a day.
What are elderberries? The 411
Elderberries are tiny blue-black fruits of the Sambucus tree. This flowering tree has several different varieties, although the most common is Sambucus nigra, or European elderberry. You can find this tree all over the world (although it’s native to Europe).
Elderberries and the tiny white clusters of elderflowers that come before them have a long history of traditional medicinal use.
Practitioners use the dried berries, flowers, and even bark of the elderberry plant to treat colds and flu, infections, pain, and digestive upsets. Research suggests that it can boost the immune system.
They’re tiny black/blue fruits that come from the Sambucus tree. Elderberries have played a role in traditional medicine since… well, ever, TBH.
The ancient Egyptians used elderberries for their complexions and to heal burns and scars. These vibrant, versatile berries also boast a place in Indigenous history as a treatment for fever, headaches, dental pain, and rheumatism. And, bonus: they’re a handy amulet against evil (although no modern studies support this).
Although definitive research is in pretty short supply, many people swear by elderberries’ healing and health-boosting properties. They use this medicinal plant to fortify their immune system against infections and illnesses like colds and flu.
People cook down the tart berries to make delicious elderberry goodies, syrups, teas, or even boozy treats packed with antioxidant goodness. But you have to be careful. Uncooked elderberries, along with the bark and leaves of the elder tree, are poisonous. They can cause nasty digestive upsets.
But are the purported health benefits of elderberry real, or is this punchy little fruit all mouth and no trousers? Here are the deets on the health benefits of elderberries.
Elderberry has an established role in traditional medicine. For centuries, anecdotal evidence has suggested that they help with cold and flu symptoms and other infections.
That being said, there’s little in the way of scientific research confirming elderberries’ effects on health, and more reliable studies are necessary. So let’s take a look at some of the potential health benefits of these dark little fruits.
May help cold and flu symptoms
You’ll see elderberry marketed as an immune booster that can treat or prevent colds and flu, and some limited evidence supports these claims
In a 2016 study, researchers dosed up 312 people with elderberry extract capsules or placebo three times a day before a long-haul flight. They then tracked who became ill 4 days after travel.
They noted a significant difference in the number of colds between the two groups, with 12 in the elderberry group and 17 in the placebo group. Additionally, the elderberry group experienced shorter illnesses with less severe symptoms.
Although these results are promising, further research is needed to confirm elderberry’s role in soothing cold and flu symptoms.
May help support heart health (but the research is unclear)
Traditionally, elderberry has a rep for boosting heart and blood vessel health. But the results of harder research are mixed.
On the plus side, research has found that elderberries may help reduce blood levels of uric acid. Doctors associate high levels of uric acid with blood pressure and heart problems.
A 2017 study with a beverage containing a mixture of berries including elderberries showed improvements in cardiometabolic risk factors. This suggests that elderberries have preventive potential in respect to cardiovascular disease.
However, a 2010 review found that the picture of elderberry’s beneficial heart effects is slightly fuzzier.
The authors noted that high doses of elderberry, equivalent to 4 grams of anthocyanidin daily, may help reduce fat in the blood after eating.
In contrast, another study where volunteers consumed a dose of elderberry juice equivalent to 120 milligrams of anthocyanidin every day found little effect. But this could be due to the much smaller dose.
May help with blood sugar levels
Elderberries might just help balance blood sugar by increasing insulin secretion and boosting the rate that your cells take in glucose. Some experts think it has potential in treating diabetes because of these effects on blood sugar.
A 2017 lab study on rats with type 2 diabetes found that a certain type of elderberry extract can significantly reduce blood sugar. While this doesn’t necessarily apply to humans, it’s a useful finding that could play a role in more relevant studies.
The possible effects of elderberry come from its high levels of antioxidants. These substances protect your cells from damage caused by free radicals.
Free radicals are molecules that your body releases as part of normal metabolism. They are unstable and can react with other substances they encounter, causing a chain reaction that creates more free radicals.
A buildup of free radicals can lead to oxidative stress that contributes to diseases like heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and cancer.
Antioxidants can help you stall this process by providing a stable molecule to counteract the unstable one. This can prevent the creation of more free radicals, which helps slow down or prevent cellular damage. Pow! Right in the free radicals.
Elderberry flowers, fruits, and leaves are rich sources of antioxidant polyphenols — plant compounds — including anthocyanins, flavonols, phenolic acids, and proanthocyanidins, as well as terpenes. So getting elderberry in ya *may* boost your antioxidant levels.
A 2020 study found that elderberries were a plentiful source of antioxidants — particularly flavonoids and phenolic acids.
Caution: The evidence is limited
Elderberry isn’t a cure-all. Before you go rushing out to find the nearest elderberry tree, bear in mind that there’s limited research championing this plant.
You’re unlikely to increase your antioxidant levels significantly by adding elderberry to your diet.
Plus, processing elderberries with heat or juicing them can reduce their antioxidant activity. Adding elderberry tea to your routine is unlikely to mirror the results seen in laboratory studies, many of which happened a while ago and involved rats and mice.
According to Food Data Central, 1 cup of fresh elderberries provides the following vitamins:
- 870 international units (IU) vitamin A
- 52.2 milligrams (mg) vitamin C
- 0.334 mg vitamin B6 (pyridoxine)
- 0.725 mg B3 (niacin)
Elderberry is a source of other nutrients and minerals, including:
- 0.957 gram (g) protein
- 26.7 g carbohydrates
- 10.2 g fiber
- 406 mg potassium
- 55.1 mg calcium
- 2.32 mg iron
- 7.25 g magnesium
Definitely don’t eat them raw, though. Here be toxins.
Can you take elderberry daily?
Yes, you can take elderberry in your preferred form daily. Elderberry products from a reputable source are safe to take once or even multiple times a day depending on the manufacturer’s instructions.
But don’t go overboard. Just as you can have too much of a good thing, too much elderberry can cause stomach upsets — remember, elderberry can be poisonous in its raw form.
For this reason, docs don’t recommend that pregnant peeps take it either.
Elderberry is a versatile plant that you can prepare in different ways or buy as a commercial preparation.
Syrup
Making your own elderberry syrup is significantly cheaper than heading to the store and is relatively straightforward. Plus, you can flavor it how you like.
How to make elderberry syrup
Here’s how to prep that drizzly elderberry goodness:
- Buy dried elderberries or pick your own.
- Simmer the berries in water and spices for around 45 minutes until the mixture is reduced.
- Strain the pretty purple mixture (a cheesecloth can be helpful).
- Add honey.
- You’re good to go.
You can store the syrup in an airtight container in the fridge for around 2 months.
Gummies
If you’d rather steer clear of the kitchen, you can buy elderberry gummies. Often, these products also contain other immune-boosting nutrients like vitamin C and zinc.
Gummies are convenient, and you’re guaranteed quality ingredients without the risk of any side effects (so long as you stick to reputable brands). In addition, you can find vegan options that are suitable for people avoiding wheat, soy, dairy, eggs, or peanuts.
Gummies taste delicious and are useful options for people who have trouble swallowing pills.
Capsules
Like gummies, capsules are a handy way to get your elderberry fix. You may find capsules are less pricey than gummies but provide the same benefits.
Some people prefer them because they are tasteless and odorless. But they can become brittle or soggy if you don’t store them the right way, so read the instructions carefully.
Extract
Elderberry extract is a concentrated, liquid product that you may find easier to take than a capsule or gummy.
You could even mix it with juice or smoothies if you’re not keen on the taste, although it’s supposed to taste similar to red wine (so no complaints here). If ingredients are a consideration, you can choose vegan products that are safe for those avoiding gluten and dairy.
Tea
If you prefer to do it yourself, then elderberry tea is the way forward. But you can buy elderberry teabags.
How to make elderberry tea
If you want to transform elderberries into some natural immune-boosting tea, it’s a quick and easy process. Here’s how:
- Add 1 cup of water and 1 tablespoon of dried elderberries per person into a saucepan.
- Combine spices like cinnamon or cloves to taste.
- Bring the pan to a boil, reduce the heat, and simmer for 15 minutes.
- Remove from the heat and leave to cool for 5 minutes.
- Strain with a fine-mesh strainer into a mug.
- Add honey, panela, or sugar substitute if you like.
Juice
You may be able to buy elderberry juice, but many folks make it themselves. Don’t be tempted to drink the raw berries as juice — you need to cook them to remove toxic substances.
You’ll need to:
- Cook down berries with water for around 30 minutes.
- Cool the mixture.
- Strain it.
- Drink it.
There’s some promising evidence surrounding elderberry use, but nothing set in stone. Studies tend to be small without involving human subjects. (Sorry, rats, we love you, but…) Elderberries and their extracts are generally safe, though, and they might have some health benefits.
You can use elderberry in many ways. Why not slap some sweet elderberry syrup on your morning muesli?
Jazz up a cocktail with some berry juice. Think elderberry whiskey sour — yes, please. If that sounds right up your street, you can even find a liqueur made with elderflowers called St Germain. You can thank French monks for that!
Although you can eat elderflowers straight from the plant, calm your boots before popping some raw elderberries in your mouth. Unripe berries and other parts of the elderberry plant contain traces of toxic compounds.
One of these is lectin, which can cause nasty stomach issues if you eat too much. The other substances are cyanogenic glycosides. These can release a form of cyanide when you chew and digest them.
There have been reports of worrying side effects from the elder plant. A group of 11 people fell ill after drinking juice prepared from the berries, leaves, and branches of a Sambucus mexicana species of elder plant. They experienced nausea and vomiting.
Another report noted that some individuals became acutely ill with digestive and neurological symptoms after drinking elderberry juice made with raw berries, leaves, and bark.
If you’re into foraging and are planning on picking flowers or berries, make sure the plant is American or European elderberry, as other varieties may be more toxic. And it’s safest to avoid the bark and leaves.
You can err on the side of caution by cooking berries or sticking with a commercial preparation. This removes the toxic substances. Also, be *super* careful if you’re pregnant or lactating, as there isn’t data to confirm that you can use elderberry safely.
Elderberries have a long history in traditional medicine, thanks to some of their health-boosting properties.
Although there’s a lack of high quality, human studies to support these health claims, it seems that elderberries may help reduce cold and flu symptoms and may help with blood sugar management.
If you fancy trying out elderberries yourself, you can choose from a range of elderberry products, or you can forage in the wild for berries and make tea or syrup. But whatever you do, don’t eat raw elderberries, or you may find a nasty bout of vomiting and diarrhea is in the cards.