Q: Now that we are into cold season, it’s a pity that the use of elderberry isn’t better known. A traditional treatment for coughs and colds is elderberry rob – a vegetable juice thickened by heat. To make this, elderberries are boiled with honey, cinnamon and allspice, and the resulting syrup is strained and mixed with a little brandy as a preservative. A few spoonfuls of this, mixed into hot water, usually reduces cold symptoms very effectively.
Elderberry (Sambucus canadensis) grows wild in many placed in North America. I suspect that the homemade syrup probably retains more of the plant’s properties than most over-the-counter Sambucus preparations.
A: Elderberry juice preparations have long been used to treat respiratory infections. Although it is not well-studied, an analysis concluded that “Supplementation with elderberry was found to substantially reduce upper respiratory symptoms” (Complementary Therapies in Medicine, February 2019). An Australian study found that air travelers taking elderberry were less prone to colds and had milder symptoms (Nutrients, March 24, 2016).
When making elderberry rob or another preparation, be sure to use only ripe berries, and do not include stems or leaves. These contain cyanide-related compounds that can be toxic.
– By Joe and Teresa Graedon
– Copyright The Seattle Times