Black elderberry fruits: medicinal properties and contraindications, benefits and harms

Black elderberries are endowed with medicinal properties, while red elderberries are quite poisonous. People have long enjoyed the beneficial qualities of the shrub. He is especially loved by the Germans, Poles, Danes and Czechs. This was even reflected in their proverbs, fairy tales and customs.

The main characteristics of the shrub and the composition of the berries

Black Elderberry is a shrub or small tree of the Honeysuckle family. Mostly grows wild. Sometimes planted in gardens, but quickly runs wild. Comfortable in both shade and sun.

The plant grows in height from 3 to 10 meters. Leaves pinnate, petiolate. The flowering period runs from May to mid-June. Elderflower inflorescences are collected from small yellowish-white or cream flowers.

Fruits in the form of small berries, black and purple color. The ripening period begins in late August - early September. The composition of the berries contains many useful elements.

Macronutrients Essential Amino Acids Vitamin B2Vitamin B5SodiumLysine Vitamin B6 Vitamin B9 Vitamin PP ThreonineCesteine

Essential Amino Acids		Vitamin C	Iron
		Potassium	Arginine	Glutamic acid
Vitamin A	Copper	Calcium	Valine	Alanine
Vitamin B1	Zinc	Magnesium	Histidine	Glycine
	Selenium	Magnesium	Isoleucine	Aspartic acid
			Serine
	Phosphorus	Leucine	Tyrosine
		Methionine	Proline

Collecting and harvesting

Inflorescences, berries, leaves and bark of the plant are used as medicinal raw materials.

Inflorescences

The collection of inflorescences begins with the beginning of their blooming. After they are cut off from the peduncles and dried in special dryers, setting a temperature of 30-35 ° C. Also, elderberry can be dried with whole inflorescences in the open air in your summer cottage, the main condition is shade. In this case, it is laid out on bedding in one layer.

After the raw material is completely dry, it is rubbed and stored in cotton bags at a moisture content of not more than 14%. Can be stored up to 2 years.

Berries

They are harvested after full ripening, this is the period from late August to September. The berries are picked or cut in whole bunches. Spread a thin layer in the fresh air and dry them. Next, the berries are dried in dryers, ovens or ovens.In this case, the temperature is needed 60-65 ° C. After drying, the berries are plucked from the branches. They will be black on the outside and burgundy on the inside. Dried berries have a sweet and sour taste and a slight aroma.

Store harvested berries in cool, well-ventilated areas. Periodic review of raw materials is required, as the berries often become moldy and lose their properties. Shelf life - six months.

Leaves

Leaves are plucked in spring. Dry in the open air in the shade or in a dryer. Transfer to a paper or cotton bag and store in a dry place. You can use the fee throughout the year.

Kora

It is harvested in early spring, before the sap flow begins. For this, biennial branches are selected. The bark is detached from the core, the upper part is removed and dried using dryers or ovens. Dry raw materials are ground to a powder state. Keep 3 to 5 years.

Useful properties of elderberry

Black elderberry is rich in many useful properties, for example, its inflorescences are endowed with anti-inflammatory, diuretic, expectorant and diaphoretic effects. They also provide antibacterial, antipyretic and sedative effects.

Berries have slightly different properties. They also have expectorant and diaphoretic properties, but in addition, they have a choleretic, laxative, diuretic and tonic effect. The leaves are able to relieve pain, relieve mild inflammation and enhance the work of the sweat glands. In addition, the leaves have tonic, diuretic, laxative and blood-purifying properties. The bark is used as a diuretic, laxative and emetic.

Indications for use

Berries and other parts of black elderberry are used for a variety of diseases, namely:

• Decrease in immunity (elderberry is rich in vitamins, especially vitamin C, which helps to restore the immune system).
• Risk of cancer (the plant is a complementary product for the treatment of skin and stomach cancer patients).
• Malaria (for this disease, berries and shrub seeds should be consumed).
• Hepatitis (the use of elderberry infusion relieves the condition in this disease).
• Arthritis, rheumatism (elder helps to remove urea from the body, which alleviates the condition in these diseases).
• Kidney diseases (decoctions from the bark of the plant help with kidney diseases).
• Problems in the endocrine system (the elderberry is able to establish metabolic processes in the body).
• Diseases of the gastrointestinal tract (laxative effect relieves the condition in diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, and vitamins and trace elements help maintain normal microflora).
• Rubella, measles (infusion from the fruits of the plant facilitates the course of diseases).
• Intoxication (Elderberry is able to remove toxins from the body).
• Stagnation of bile (dry berries increase the secretion of bile).

Folk recipes

Black elderberry is quite famous in folk medicine, as it contains many biologically active substances.

Infusion of flowers to drink

Required Components:

• elder flowers (dry or fresh) - 1 tbsp. l.;
• water - 1 tbsp

Cooking:

1. Pick off the flowers from the inflorescence and send to an enameled container.
2. Pour a glass of boiled water and boil for 15 minutes.
3. Remove from heat and let cool.
4. Strain and add boiling water to get the original volume.
5. Infuse for 30 minutes, wrapping the bowl with a towel.

This infusion is taken orally 15 minutes before meals, 2-3 tbsp. l. as a diaphoretic or half a cup for influenza, sore throat, SARS. It will also be useful for headaches or toothaches.

Required Components:

• elder flowers (fresh) - 1 handful;
• alcohol (40%) - 1 l.

Cooking:

1. Pour fresh inflorescences with alcohol and close the lid.
2. Infuse for 1 week.

Take the infusion before going to bed, diluting with water 30-40 grams. The course of treatment with a preventive purpose - 3 weeks.

Infusion of flowers for external processing

Required Components:

• elder flowers - 4 tbsp. l.;
• water - 0.5 l.

Cooking:

1. The raw materials are poured with boiling water and infused for 20-30 minutes.
2. Strain the resulting tincture and cool.

Used to treat gynecological problems.

Required Components:

• elder flowers (dry) - 1 tsp;
• water - 1 tbsp

Cooking:

1. Grate the dried flowers and measure out the right amount.
2. Pour boiling water over and cook in a water bath for 15 minutes.
3. Then chill and strain for 45 minutes.
4. Add a little boiling water if necessary.

Infusion treats burns, diaper rash, skin rashes. Bury eyes with conjunctivitis.

Laxative fruit infusion

Required Components:

• Elderberries - 10g;
• water - 1 tbsp

Cooking:

1. Boil water and cool slightly.
2. Pour it over dried berries and insist for half an hour.

Drink at one time. Do not consume more than 1 time per day.

Required Components:

• fruits of elderberry - 20 g;
• water - 1 tbsp;
• honey - 0.5 tsp

Cooking:

1. Dry berries pour a glass of boiled water and cover.
2. Infuse for 15-20 minutes.
3. Pour through a sieve and add honey.
4. Keep cool.

Drink a quarter cup 3 times a day. Honey can be added just before drinking. It not only makes the infusion more palatable, but also enhances the laxative effect.

Leaf poultice

Elder leaves are also often used in folk medicine.

Required Components:

• elder leaves (dry) - 2-3 tbsp. l.;
• milk - 1 tbsp

Cooking:

1. Place the dried leaves in an enamel bowl and pour milk over it.
2. Cook about 15 minutes.
3. Decoction to cool and apply as a lotion for boils, hemorrhoids and inflammatory processes on the skin.

Infusion of bark for edema

The recipe is effective for kidney edema.

Required Components:

• green elderberry bark - 4 tbsp. l.;
• water - 2 tablespoons

Cooking:

1. The bark should be crushed and poured with water.
2. Send to the fire and bring to a boil, cook for 5 minutes. Remove from stove, cover with a lid and leave for 10 minutes. It is necessary to use such an infusion 3 times a day for half a glass.

Contraindications and precautions

The plant has its own contraindications. It can not be used both internally and externally for people with Crohn's disease, with chronic gastrointestinal diseases, people with diabetes, with autoimmune diseases, pregnant and lactating mothers, as well as children under 12 years old. This shrub is slightly toxic, so you should never exceed the dosage of medicines based on it, so that the beneficial effect does not turn into harm to he alth.

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