Protectress /
Hi all, I wrote an insanely long post over on my blog off steemit on Elderberry last week. I've been doing monthly plant profiles there as a test for myself to see if I can do them, and to integrate my experience and knowledge of those plants from over the years to share with others.
I don't want to copy/paste that plant profile here, and also it is way too long for this format. But, since there aren't a ton of posts on steemit about herbs, herbal medicine and plant medicine specifics, I thought I'd do a general overview for ya'll. Plus plants are kind of my thing, I might as well talk about them.
Overview
So, Elderberry is a name used to describe a set of plants that grow all over the world, and belong to the Sambucus genus of the Adoxaceae plant family. I'm most familiar with the species that grow in North America, and have some exposure to the cultivated varieties of Elder, as my dad is a horticulturist.
If you live in North America, you're likely to encounter one of three different species, or possibly two different ones growing in the same area at some point. In the east, and midwest, you have Sambucus canadensis (Also I am italicizing the scientific name because that's technically how you are supposed to write them) which tends to have dark purple almost black colored berries. It grows on roadsides, in the hedges, along streams.
In the Pacific Northwest, you'd see the Red Elderberry, Sambucus racemosa or the Blue Elderberry, Sambucus caerulea , depending on your location. In California and the southwest, Blue Elderberry is more common. Blue Elder also reaches into the great plains and could possibly be found in riparian areas there.
If you live in Europe, you'd be familiar with the Black Elder, or Sambucus nigra , of which American cultural use of Elderberry tends to mirror and glean from.
Medicine
There's debate about which species is most medicinal, if some of them are not medicinal at all, and if the green parts of the plant are poisonous. After hours and hours of research, I found a lot of good solid information in regards to these questions.
They are all medicinal. They all contain potentially poisonous compounds until you cook the parts you are using. The berries are the primary food or medicine, and they are usually made into a syrup, honey paste, elixir, or tinctured for medicinal use. As a food, they are often cooked into pies, jams, jellies, used in sodas. The flowers are also used this way as well, though it's medicinal use is slightly different than the berries.
The Red Elder species is the one that is often of most concern when folks are learning about herbal medicine. When you actually look at the literature, and also look at the paleoethnobotany, you see that the 'fear' of this species is kind of unfounded. There is historical evidence through archaeological digs in the Pacific Northwest that affirm the current scientific research on Elder, and that native peoples have cooked the berries (at least the Red) for a long time.
The leaves and stems are not usually encouraged for use. But, native folks have used these parts of the plant mainly for medicine (maybe some for food?) for a long time. The whole plant is powerful medicine, but particularly the leaves and stems. While the plant contains cyanide-producing glycosides, I think the concern lies in its emetic action. Emetic means that something 'makes you throw up,' which isn't always a bad thing. Obviously caution should be used and I don't recommend using this plant raw, and also don't recommend using the leaf and stem unless you are really experienced.
Elder berries are highly anti-viral, anti-microbial and anti-inflammatory due to their bioflavonoids. Bioflavonoids are compounds found in brightly colored foods- like other berries, for example. The flowers are similarly medicinal with the added medicine of being diaphoretic, which means 'to induce sweat.' Sweating is a good way to move sickness along and out. It allows the white blood cells to dump the waste is created from the body fighting sickness. Using Elderflowers is just one way to intentionally sweat when sick.
Folklore
In Danish and Scandinavian traditions there is a spirit associated with Elderberry called the Hyldemoer. This spirit is seen as a protective elder that guards over Elderberry and also anyone who uses Elderberry in the right way. She also can be a slight trickster, and punishing those that don't use Elder properly. There's a lot of folklore around when the right time is to harvest Elder, or if you should sleep by it or where you should plant it.
Do you have any experience with Elderberry? Use it? Have knowledge about it's folklore? Please do share, if so.
There's so much more to say about Elder, it's ecology, medicine and tradition of use. This is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to talking about this plant's medicine, or these group of plants. It also is one of the more commonly used herbal medicines, even with folks don't use any other plants in their repertoire. Plus, Elder berries as a syrup taste amazing and kids love it. Not a bad thing to be ingesting when you're sick.!
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