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Some people wait almost all year for elderberry flowers. They love their smell, and even more the taste! Not everyone knows that in addition to the famous in Wielkopolska hyćka, i.e. elderberry flower syrup, their richness can also be successfully used in cosmetics.
Black elderberry – is it really poisonous?
Many people believe that elderberry flower is poisonous due to the presence of sambunigrin and sambucin, which are the most abundant in leaves, unripe fruits and seeds. Fortunately, these substances decompose when exposed to high temperatures or drying. When it comes to the poisonous ingredients in elderberry flowers, a two-fold approach is known:
- in the flowers of sambunigrin there is so little that it can be eaten raw,
- you can eat preserves or flowers, but in the form of dried fruit.
What can happen if you eat the raw flowers after all? At worst, it will purge you. Fruit pits, which contain a lot of the substance in question, are used in medicine as a laxative. In addition, nausea and vomiting may also appear. Therefore, for safety, it is best to consume processed flowers.
When it comes to elderberry flowers in cosmetics – here you can use them fresh.
Cosmetic properties of elderberry
Elderberry flowers in cosmetics work anti-inflammatory, anti-swelling and antiseptic. Interestingly, sitz baths and rinses soothe ailments of the genital organs. The infusions relieve the eyes. Additionally, if you brew the flowers with milk, you will get a perfect balm for irritated and dry skin.
| Do you know that… |
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| Elderberry (Sambucus nigra L.) belongs to the honeysuckle family, so it is a different species than the common lilac (Syringa vulgaris Linne), which belongs to the olive family. |
Medicinal properties of elderberry
The flowers are rich in flavonoids, poly-phenolic acids, tannins, pectins and potassium salts. What does it mean? First of all, if you want to cleanse yourself, detoxify your body or feel unclear, it is undoubtedly your ally.
It works diaphoretic, reduces fever, expectorates, and is a bit diuretic. Due to the potassium salt content, what is washed out in the urine without being delivered. Syrups and infusions seal and strengthen blood vessels. In case of angina and sore throat, it is recommended to infusion of fresh flowers or dried flowers as a rinse.
Culinary properties of elderberry
In kitchen use, it is worth paying attention to the pectin present in the flowers – thanks to them it will be easier for you to make natural jam!
Elderberry flowers. Recipes and inspiration
Here are 3 easy ways to use elderberry flowers:
1. Recipe for ointment on elderberry flower macerate
Elderberry flower macerate can also be used to make an ointment that will be perfect for dry skin.
Ingredients:
- elderberry olive oil macerate (1 part),
- beeswax (1 part),
- coconut oil (1 part),
- shea butter (1 part).
How to make a magnesium ointment?
Step 1 Put a small cotton cloth into the pot (larger than the jar) (so that the glass does not break) and pour the water.
Step 2 Add coconut oil, shea butter, wax and pepper.
Step 3 Stir with a skewer toothpick until everything connects.
Step 4 Finally, pour in the elderberry macerate and essential oil and stir until smooth.
Step 5 Remove from the pot and mix quickly (with a milk frother or blender). When it cools down, the ointment is ready to use!
2. Magnesium antiperspirant recipe
Due to the antiseptic properties of lilac flowers, another great cosmetic proposition is an antiperspirant in the form of a magnesium mist.
Ingredients:
- elderberry flower hydrolate (2 parts),
- magnesium (magnesium chloride, magnesium hexahydrate, 1 part).
How to make a magnesium mist?
Step 1 Heat the hydrolate in a pot. It should be warm, but not hot.
Step 2 Pour magnesium into a dark glass bottle and add the hydrolate.
Step 3 Stir or blend with the milk frother.
The mist is ready!
Do not spray irritated areas, cuts or freshly depilated areas, as these areas may start to pinch you severely.
3. Recipe for elderberry flower syrup – hyćka
They call it a divine drink, a witcher’s drink, and hyćka in Wielkopolska. Whatever we call it, it’s just divine.
Ingredients:
- elderberry flowers,
- water,
- sugar,
- lemon.
How to make a syrup?
Step 0 Proportions – I use a ratio of 1: 1: 1: 2, i.e. for 1 liter of flowers, 1 liter of water, 1 kg of sugar and 2 lemons. Again, I use the proportions because the canopy is uneven.
Step 1 We start by making a syrup from water, sugar and lemon juice. You put these 3 ingredients in a pot and heat it until the sugar dissolves.
Step 2 In the meantime, you separate the flowers from the stems with scissors – try to put the flower part of the umbels into the jar and then cut the flowers – the pollen stays in the jar – and we like that! Once you have the jar full, pour the syrup so that all the flowers are submerged and covered.
Step 3 You put aside up to 3 days in a dark place.
Step 4 After this time, you separate the flowers and lemon remnants from the syrup. You heat it up and pour it into bottles.
TIP: If you plan to have year-round supplies, then pasteurize the jar – 15 minutes is enough!
More elderberry flower recipes?
If you are intrigued by elderberry flowers and you want to discover them in new ways, I encourage you to buy my e-book “Hyćka time !, or 21 ways of elderberry flowers”. When ordering, by entering the “” rebate code, you will receive a discount of PLN 10.
You can find even more inspiration on my Instagram, I cordially invite you: