Elderberry

Sambucus canadensis

Elderberry is a shrub that grows in hedgerows, on the edges of forests, and in open meadows. The plant creates large clusters of small white flowers in the spring. Late summer brings drooping clusters of dark purple berries where the flowers once were. The leaves are compound, with five to eleven serrated leaflets. The shrub can grow ten feet tall and spreads aggressively to form a thick patch.

Humans have long used elderberry as an immune system tonic. The flowers are steeped into a tea to combat colds, fever, and sinus pressure. Elderberries contain anthocyanins and vitamin C. These provide antiviral and anti-inflammatory benefits [1][2]. Syrups and extracts are still commonly used to this day, and are often taken at the first sign of sickness [3].

Elderberry can also be used as food. The cooked berries can be made into jams, syrups, and wine. Raw or otherwise unprocessed berries, leaves, or bark contain cyanogenic glycosides. Cyanogenic glycosides are a natural chemical compound that protect against herbivory. Reports indicate that consumption of the berries can lead to gastrointestinal distress such as nausea or vomiting [3][4]. The compounds are broken down when heated, making the berries safe for consumption.

Elderberry nourishes not only humans, but wildlife as well. The flowers serve as a food source for pollinators in the spring, and the fruit is eaten by birds in the fall. Elderberry is a plant of nourishment and protection, and exemplifies a strong connection between medicine, food, and ecology.

[1] U.S. Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service. “Plant Guide: Sambucus nigra L..” 2000. https://plants.usda.gov/DocumentLibrary/plantguide/pdf/cs_sanic4.pdf

[2] Młynarczyk, K., D. Walkowiak-Tomczak, H. Staniek, M. Kidoń, and G. P. Łysiak. “The Content of Selected Minerals, Bioactive Compounds, and the Antioxidant Properties of the Flowers and Fruit of Selected Cultivars and Wildly Growing Plants of Sambucus nigra L.” Molecules 25, no. 4 (2020): 876. https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules25040876

[3] National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH). “Elderberry.” 2024. https://www.nccih.nih.gov/health/elderberry

[4] European Medicines Agency (EMA). “Assessment Report on Sambucus nigra L., Fructus.” 2014. https://www.ema.europa.eu/en/documents/herbal-report/final-assessment-report-sambucus-nigra-l-fructus_en.pdf