|
Plant
Remedies Elder
Elder
Sambucus nigra
Often described as a complete medical chest
because of its countless therapeutic qualities and uses. The herb was
traditionally used for catarrh or excessive mucus and was considered a
effective for clearing phlegm.
The elder, with its flat topped masses of
creamy-white, fragrant blossoms followed by large drooping bunches of
purplish-black juicy berries is a familiar object in English countryside
and gardens.
The flowers are anti-catarrhal and encourage
sweating. They are ideal in feverish colds and influenza and are also used
in hay fever early in the season to strengthen the upper respiratory
tract. The berries are rich in vitamin A and C and can be used to prevent
winter colds.
Constituents
Volatile oil,
flavonoids, mucilage, tannins, vitamins A, C, cyanogenic glycoside,
viburnic acid, alkaloid
Character
Chinese herbal
medicine regards the flowers as bitter, drying, cool and slightly sweet
and the bark as hot, bitter and drying.
Action
The flowers are
traditionally used as an expectorant, anti-catarrhal, circulatory
stimulant, promote sweating, diuretic, topically as an anti-inflammatory.
The berries are traditionally used to promote sweating, diuretic and as a
laxative.
Application
Flowers
Infusion This is traditionally drunk for
feverish and cararrhal conditions, upper respiratory conditions and hay
fever.
Tincture This is traditionally taken for
colds and influenza, or in the early spring to help reduce later hay fever
symptoms.
Berries
Syrup These are traditionally used for
winter colds
Tincture This is traditionally used in
combination with other herbs, such as willow for rheumatic conditions.
Cautions
Do not use the bark in pregnancy as it is
strongly purgative
Do not take if the condition would be worsened by
further drying or fluid depletion
return to top
This page was last updated on 14 December 2006 23:01:31
|
