Elderberry Syrup Uses: Here’s How You Can Cut Your Sick Time Down!
Do you get tired of nasty cough medicines, tons of medications that give you way too many side effects? Well, there is a berry that is effective against cold, flu, and upper respiratory infections. The berry is called elderberry, also known as Sambucus nigra. This article will talk about the uses of elderberry syrup, the forms it comes in and even what it tastes like!
Putri, Wayan C W S, et al. “Economic Burden of Seasonal Influenza in the United States.” Vaccine, U.S. National Library of Medicine, 22 June 2018, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/29801998.
What is the Flu?
It is the Influenza Virus, “A virus is a small parasite that cannot reproduce by itself. Once it infects a susceptible cell, however, a virus can direct the cell machinery to produce more viruses.”(pubmed.com)
What are the symptoms?
- fever* or feeling feverish/chills
- cough
- sore throat
- runny or stuffy nose
- muscle or body aches
- headaches
- fatigue (tiredness)
- some people may have vomiting and diarrhea, though this is more common in children than adults.
(cdc.gov)
What are the uses of Elderberry Syrup?
Elderberry, also know as Sambucus Nigra is a berry that is not only Antibacterial and Antiviral but also helps with:
- Constipation
- Joint and muscle pain
- Infections that affect how you breathe
- Headaches
- Fever
- Kidney problems
- Epilepsy
- Minor skin conditions
- Stress
- HIV and AIDS
(webmd.com)
“its reported antioxidant [18], antidiabetic [19], anti-inflammatory and immune-modulating [20], as well as antidepressant [21] properties (pubmed.com)
“This indicates that a participant suffering from a cold episode while taking elderberry would on average experience a 2-day shorter duration of the cold (4.75 days vs. 6.88 days), and would experience a lower symptom severity (21 vs. 34) in comparison to participants suffering from a cold and taking placebo” (pubmed.com)
How much elderberry syrup should I take?
The study was done with 2 capsules per day, however, Elderberry is often found in lozenges, syrups or tinctures. The Syrup will be a little faster absorbing as it is already broken down.
For Gummies, I recommend the Nature’s Way Gummies which are great for children that don’t want to take a syrup that are 4 years and older. It contains Vitamin C, Zinc and 50mg of Elderberry per serving of 2 dummies.
For a much higher dose get elderberry syrup, the Gaia Elderberry Syrup is not only potent but also tastes like candy, so you won’t have a hard time getting your little ones to drink it.
Due to the many uses of elderberry syrup, it is a no-brainer to have it on hand for you and your little ones!
(My toddler drinks it and asks for more.) It contains 1,903mg per serving for adults and children over 4 and 476mg for ages 1-3. It is a little pricier but if used for children it can last up to 128 servings which if taken once per day, that’s just over 4 months worth per child!
Immune boosting, fights upper respiratory infection, cold, and flu symptoms.
If you are looking for more resources for your child’s health, here is a post I recommend checking out about helping your child cope with their anxiety.
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What does elderberry taste like?
Elderberry is a fairly sweet berry, I give it to my toddler and 4 year old and they drink it with no problem!
Furthermore, It is closer to a blackberry taste if I had to compare it. However, when you purchase it as a supplement they could end up sweetening it if it’s a gummy or syrup. Therefore obviously the taste may be altered slightly, however, it tastes good on it’s own.
Some people like to make their own elderberry recipes and avoid the store-bought option. This way you can get a more fresh option and control what goes in your elderberry syrup.
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References:
“Key Facts About Influenza (Flu).” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 13 Sept. 2019, www.cdc.gov/flu/about/keyfacts.htm.
Ratini, Melinda. “Elderberry: Health Benefits, Risks, Uses, Effectiveness.” WebMD, WebMD, 17 Jan. 2019, www.webmd.com/diet/elderberry-health-benefits.
Tiralongo, Evelin, et al. “Elderberry Supplementation Reduces Cold Duration and Symptoms in Air-Travellers: A Randomized, Double-Blind Placebo-Controlled Clinical Trial.” Nutrients, MDPI, 24 Mar. 2016, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4848651/.
Hawkins, J., Baker, C., Cherry, L., & Dunne, E. (2019). Black elderberry (Sambucus nigra) supplementation effectively treats upper respiratory symptoms: A meta-analysis of randomized, controlled clinical trials. Complementary therapies in medicine, 42, 361–365. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ctim.2018.12.004
Originally posted 2019-10-26 18:22:21.
Megan Santiago
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