Sambucus nigra; Sambucus canadensis (Black Elderberry, American Elderberry)
Family: Caprifoliaceae
Habitat/Botanical Description: Small tree or shrub that prefers sunny locations on the edge of other trees in a moist environment. The leaves are compound with a terminal leaflet. It flowers white and small in a terminal cluster. The fruit is fleshy, and berry like.
Part Used: Bark, flowers, berries
Active Constituents:
Bark – baldrianic acid
Leaves – minerals, rutin, vitamins
Flowers – flavonoids (quercitin, rutin), mucilage, minerals, tannin, vitamins, volatile oil
Berries –flavonoids (anthocyanadins), minerals, pectin, sambucin, vitamins
Medicinal Actions:
Bark, Leaves, Root: Anti-inflammatory, diaphoretic, diuretic, poison, purgative, vulnerary
Flowers: Alterative, anti-catarrhal, anti-histamine, anti-oxidant, anti-rheumatic, antispasmodic, carminative, demulcent, diaphoretic, diuretic, laxative
Berries – Alterative, anti-histamine, anti-neuralgic, anti-oxidant, antiscorbutic, carminative, emunctory, mucolytic, stimulant
Medicinal Use:
1)       Flowers of Sambucus are an excellent diaphoretic when drunk as a hot infusion. This makes them useful to treat colds and flu’s.
2)       Enhance ability of body to hold on to vitamin C
3)       Clearacitin thus has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory
4)       Has mineral and vitamin thus nutritive
5)       Taste good
6)       Flowers can be used in a cold infusion
7)       Treat allergy
8)       Good for sinusitis
9)       Treat influenza for joint an dbone pain
10)    Colds that have acheness on the joints and pain
11)    Add into formula where there is autoaccident where there is injury since has high flavanoid compound
12)    For dry irritated cough
13)    Crucella, crutagas could be used with it.
14)    Asthma when there is an allergic
15)    Increase collagen cross linking
16)    Topically the root and bark are used to reduce edematous, hemorroid, labial tear and
17)    Wheeping eczema (has blister) topically
18)    Bring cold to the surface
19)    Toxicity is only on the leaves
20)    Berry juice is tasty
21)    diaphoretic use the tea form
22)    The anti-catarrhal action also makes them useful to treat sinusitis, allergic rhinitis, croup, conjunctivitis, tonsillitis and other inflammatory conditions of the upper respiratory tract.
23) They can also help reduce the pain and inflammation of joint inflammation whether of autoimmune etiology or not. The tannins will soften and reduce the phlegm produced in upper respiratory conditions, and is especially indicated in sinusitis. It will also stop a dry, irritated cough, whether with or without congestion. With these actions, it can also be added to a treatment regimen for asthma, it will reduce the cough in order for them to sleep.
24) Some of the anti-catarrhal and anti-histamine action is due to constriction of the tiny vessels in the nose, and the flowers should be used with caution long term.
23)    The berries are high in flavonoids, especially the anthocyanadins, creating the anti-inflammatory action. They also stabilize mast cells, reducing release of histamines and other initiators of inflammation, strengthen the collagen cross linking in the tissues and acting as anti-oxidants. The tannins reduce inflammation in the mucous tissues, and act as anti-catarrhal agents. This makes it useful to treat joint disease, allergies, sinusitis, colds, flu’s, and coughs. When taken at onset of a cold or flu, it can shorten the length of the illness, stop the illness from manifesting fully and make the symptoms more bearable.
24)    The leaves, root and bark are safer when cooked since that destroys the dl-sambunigrin, which is toxic. The internal use is not recommended. They may be effectively used externally to treat hemorrhoids and wounds, including labial tears. They can also treat boils, splinters and weeping eczema. They are vulnerary and astringent in their action.
Contraindications: None
Toxicity: The leaves, roots, bark and unripe berries can cause diarrhea, headache, dizziness, tachycardia, nausea, vomiting, and convulsions when taken internally.
Drug Interactions: None
Pharmacy:
Flowers: 2 – 4 Tbl/cup TID hot
Cold tea/infusion – 2 – 4 Tbl/cup TID
Berries: Syrup - 1 tsp TID to 6 X day
Cordial – 1 tsp TID to 6 X day
Tincture (1:5): 1 tsp TID to QID
Decoction – 1 – 2 tsp/cup TID
Juice: Cover fresh berries with water and boil for three minutes, and then express the juice. Add one part honey to ten parts juice and boil to preserve. Drink 1 glass with water TID
Leaves, Bark, Root: Poultice, Salve, Compress, Fomentation, 2 –3 Tbl/Sitz Bath