Black elderberry – medicinal properties, application, contraindications. Is elderberry poisonous? WE EXPLAIN

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Elderberry is a plant that is quite common. When it blooms, its tiny white flowers can be a beautiful home bouquet, but it’s important to know that both elderberry flowers and elderberry have healing properties. Elderberry has been used in folk medicine for centuries to treat infections, but it is also believed that elderberry is poisonous. What should you know about this plant before using it?

Black lilac – basic information

Black elderberry is also known in Poland as no medicine, no common, no pharmacy, no wild boar or elderberry. Elderberry is a common plant and most often occurs in the form of a growing shrub or a tree of low height. Due to its low soil requirements, elderberry is a plant widespread practically all over the world. Elderberry bushes are found in Europe, Asia, North and South America, as well as North Africa.

Elderberry shrub or tree usually reaches about 10 meters in height. The leaves of this plant are almost twice as long as their width, and at their base there are nectar-producing nectar. Elderberry flowers they are white and radiant, give off an intense, almost intoxicating scent and, interestingly, do not have honey extracts. Elderberry fruit they take a dark purple color, are fleshy, round and shiny.

Black elderberry blooms in May and June, when small white or pale yellow flowers appear on the shrub, gathered in wide clusters. In August and September, the bush begins to bear fruit in the form of small, spherical berries with an intense black color. The lilac bush bears fruit every year and lives an average of 25 years.

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Black elderberry – nutritional values

Black elderberry has been known for generations as a plant that contains a lot of valuable nutrients. Medicinal properties are shown by both the fruit and the flowers of elderberry. The nutrient content is slightly different in elderberry flowers and fruits. The elderberry flowers contain such ingredients as: flavonoids, phenolic acids, triterpenes, sterols and essential oils. Elderberry inflorescence is also a rich source of tannins and mineral salts.

Elderberry fruits contain, among others, pectins, tannins, anthocyanin glycosides, fruit acids, as well as large amounts of vitamin C and provitamin A. They also contain mineral salts such as aluminum, iron, potassium, sodium and calcium. Thanks to this, elderberries have diaphoretic, diuretic, laxative and analgesic properties. The polyphenols found in elderberries are rutin and chlorogenic acid. The characteristic color of the fruit is due to anthocyanins. In the elderberry bark, the presence of lectins was found.

Elderberry black – the healing properties of fruits and flowers

Healing properties they show both elderberry fruit and flowers. Elderberry berries cleanse of toxins and harmful metabolic products. They are especially recommended for people suffering from rheumatism or skin inflammation, inflammation of the stomach and intestines, as well as for sciatica and neuralgia. Elderberry berry juice it is recommended for drinking. Also try Pukka Elderberry & Echinacea relaxing tea with elderberry and echinacea.

Elderberry flowers also display numerous healing properties. Due to the content of flavonoids, phenolic acids, organic acids, sterols, tannins, mineral salts and triterpenes, elderberry has diaphoretic, antipyretic, diuretic and anti-inflammatory properties. Elderberry flower infusion can be used internally and externally.

Black elderberry can be found next to Echinacea in the composition of the Echinacea Complex 450 supplement for inflammation and swelling.

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Black elderberry – application in medicine

Black elderberry is used in many areas of life, but it is most often used in medicine. Its importance in medicine is evidenced by the fact that Fr. elderberry properties Hippocrates himself wrote before our era. In those days it was noticed that elderberry extracts help in gynecological diseases and urinary tract ailments. Our ancestors used all parts of the elderberry to heal various diseases – both the bark of the tree and the leaves, flowers and fruits of this plant.

Elderberry was also one of the basic plants used in the so-called folk medicine. The healer considered elderberry to be a wonderful plant that can heal 99 diseases. Elderberry extracts were used to purify the blood, eliminate cramps, flatulence, and relieve headaches and toothaches.

Currently, flowers and ripe elderberries are used for medical purposes. Among the uses elderberry medications lists:

1. diuretic, diaphoretic, antipyretic, expectorant and anti-inflammatory effects;
2. laxative and detoxifying effect (we recommend Cleansing – freeze-dried organic tea with elderberry, nettle and violet in the composition);
3. antioxidant effect;
4. treatment of catarrh and inflammation of the respiratory tract and rheumatic diseases;
5. treatment of migraine and neuralgia;
6. supporting digestive processes;
7. treatment of dermatitis, eczema, skin burns;
8. treatment of inflammation of the mouth and throat
9. treatment of conjunctivitis;
10. supporting the treatment of diabetes or disorders related to blood glucose levels;
11. treatment of viral diseases;
12. supporting the treatment of depression and other mental disorders;
13. strengthening the functioning of the immune system.

At Medonet Market you can buy EKO elderberry fruit in the form of dried fruit, from which you can make tea. The product is completely natural, therefore it has a beneficial effect on the human body.

Elderberry flowers, which are used to prepare remedies, are harvested on sunny days during their bloom. They must not be rotten or dry. The flowers are dried in a dry and airy place, where the temperature does not exceed 35 degrees Celsius.

It is very important to take the correct dosage of drugs whose recipe is based on black elderberry. Admittedly elderberry medical preparations are considered safe and well tolerated by the human body, but should not be taken in excess. Pharmacists recommend using an infusion that is prepared from 10-15 g of elderberry flowers per day. On the other hand, syrups prepared from elderberries, which contain approx. 30-40% of berries, are used 3 times a day in doses of approx. 15 ml.

At Medonet Market you can buy black elderberry syrups. We offer, among others:

1. PNEUMOPOL syrup with elderberry,
2. Lilac flower syrup with vitamin C,
3. Icelandic lichen and lilac syrup.

They support the body during the treatment of colds, have a beneficial effect on the throat and vocal cords, and support immunity.

Immunity also supports the immune system – freeze-dried organic tea, which contains thyme, calendula, elderberry and sage.

Also try Zatoki – a liquid supplement that positively affects the respiratory system, but also has a soothing and calming effect.

They are also available in pharmacies powdered elderberry fruit extractswhich can be used 2-3 times a day with 500 mg capsules. If you take too high doses of elderberry preparations during the day, nausea, diarrhea and polyuria may occur. You can buy 60 capsules with elderberry. Black Without SOLHERBS at Medonet Market.

Try the Natjun elderberry flower infusion, which you can find at Medonet Market.

Do you know what holistic medicine is? Read: Holistic medicine – what is it?

Black elderberry – use in cosmetics

Elderberry is also known as an ingredient in many cosmetics, especially creams and masks. Vinegar, which is found in elderberry flowers, applied directly to the skin brightens it and cleans its surface. Cosmetics with elderberry in the composition work well in the care of aging skin, because they have a softening, anti-wrinkle and whitening effect. Elderberry vinegar can also be used to prepare a hair rinse, which will definitely improve their condition and give them an unusual shine.

Black elderberry – use in cooking

Black elderberry is an edible plant, but it cannot be eaten raw. Only high temperature, e.g. cooking or frying without a cover, reduces the poisonous properties of elderberry. Therefore, the ripe fruit of this plant is often used to prepare preserves, jams, jellies, wine, infusions and juices. Elderberry fruits can also be dried and added to everyday meals.

Such a snack contains sugars, vitamins, organic acids and other compounds. Elderberry flowers are also a component of various salads. Elderberry is also used in food processing, primarily as a dye. It is found in jellies, tinctures and syrups.

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Is elderberry a poisonous plant?

Unfortunately, the opinion is that elderberry is poisonous and should not be eaten. It is true that raw elderberries contain sambunigrin and prunazine, which can cause food poisoning, but for medicinal purposes, flower infusions are used that do not contain these compounds, or heat-treated fruit that can be dried or boiled for juice , which makes the harmful substances evaporate and the fruit itself can be eaten.

The poisoning most often occurs after the consumption of unripe and unprocessed elderberry fruit. Elderberry poisoning can be diagnosed by weakness, headaches and dizziness, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, increased heart rate and breathing disorders up to shortness of breath. First aid in elderberry poisoning consists in inducing vomiting and gastric lavage. In case of poisoning, the help of a doctor is always necessary.

In addition, it is worth mentioning that the presence of a characteristic protein of 33,2 kDa in pollen, flowers and fruits was found, which causes severe allergic reactions, such as dyspnoea, rhinitis or conjunctivitis.

However, it must not be forgotten that elderberry is primarily a component of many pharmacy preparations. Elderberry flowers can be found in cough and expectorant medications. Elderberry fruits are a common ingredient in constipation, anti-inflammatory and diaphoretic preparations. In grocery stores, you can also buy elderberry juice to be diluted with water and drink it instead of other sugary drinks.

Interestingly, elderberry tincture, which can be prepared at home from elderberry fruit and spirit, also has good opinions. It shows not only health-promoting properties, but also has an interesting taste and aroma.

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Contraindications to the use of elderberry

Elderberries must be heat-treated before any use. Otherwise, you can get poisoned by them. Also, the recommended doses must not be exceeded, as this leads to diarrhea and abdominal pain. For syrup, the recommended dosage is 15 ml three times a day.

When using an infusion of lilac flowers externally, it should also be applied three times a day to the affected area. Elderberry juice has a lower concentration, so you can drink it several times a day, e.g. by adding a tablespoon to tea.

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Black elderberry – popular recipes for use in your kitchen

The advantage of elderberry is that it can be used in a very quick and easy way to prepare homemade tinctures, infusions, juices or preserves. Here are some recipes that will help you prepare these healthy products:

1. elderberry jam with raspberries

Necessary ingredients: 700 g of elderberries, 300 g of raspberries, 400 g of sugar, squeezed lemon juice.

Preparation: Elderberries and raspberries thoroughly wash and dry. Then separate the elderberry from the twigs. Put the fruit in a pot, add lemon juice, sugar and a little water. Mix the ingredients thoroughly and simmer until you get the consistency of a jam. At the end, put the ready-made jam into the scalded, dry jars, close them tightly and put upside down.

1. elderberry flower syrup

Necessary ingredients: approx. 40 elderberry flower umbrellas, 1,5 kg of sugar, squeezed juice from 4 large lemons, 2 liters of water.

Preparation: Thoroughly wash and trick the elderberry flowers, then cut them off the twigs that give the bitter aftertaste. Then pour boiling water over the flowers and leave the infusion for about 12 hours. After 12 hours, strain the infusion, add lemon juice and sugar. Boil the prepared mixture and pour the boiling syrup into bottles or jars.

1. elderberry tincture

Necessary ingredients: 1 kg of elderberries, 0,5 l of water, 25 grams of sugar, 1 l of 96% spirit

Preparation: Thoroughly wash the elderberry fruit and let it dry. Then pour the fruit into a large jar and pour the spirit over it. Put the jar with its contents in a dark and warm place for about a month. After the allotted time, filter the resulting mixture. Then boil the syrup from water and sugar, cool it and combine with the filtered alcohol. After a week, filter the tincture again, pour it into bottles and screw them tightly. Store bottles in a cool and dark place. The tincture is suitable for consumption after approx. 6 months after bottling.

1. decoction of elderberry flowers

Ingredients: A tablespoon of elderberry flowers, a glass of cold water

Preparation: Elderberry flowers pour cold water and simmer until boiling. When the infusion starts to boil, simmer for 5 more minutes. Set aside for 15 minutes and strain. Elderberry flower decoction drink 2-3 times a day for cup.

At Medonet Market you can buy ready-made Herbal Monasterium Elderberry Juice.

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