Elder (Sambucus nigra), or conversely, Black Elder, is a tree or shrub that can grow up to several meters in height.
It has a bluish-gray stem (bark) and white pith. The leaves are two to three-lobed, irregularly serrated, and abruptly pointed. The inflorescence is flat with small white flowers arranged in dense, branched clusters, known as umbels. The fruit is most commonly known as elderberries – dark red to purple, also called "elderberries."
It is a very common plant species found in barren areas, groves, thickets, and uncultivated hedges and meadows.
The primary focus and main purpose of harvesting is the flower, which is collected in May and June, preferably around noon. The fruits are harvested in September and October. Sometimes young bark, leaves in spring, and bark throughout the year are also collected. Root harvesting is labor-intensive, so it is rarely done.
The flowers contain traces of essential oils, important flavonoids, including rutin, amines, organic acids, sugars, tannins, minerals, and more. The fruits contain anthocyanins, organic acids, tannins, vitamins, especially groups A and B. The active ingredients in the leaves and bark are still relatively unexplored, so only alkaloids, resins, organic acids, and glycosides are mentioned.
The flowers are an excellent diuretic and also have a beneficial effect on blood vessels. They are usually administered for colds and vascular diseases, but products made from elderflower have a wide range of effects, as they can help with contact eczema, promote expectoration, and support the production of breast milk.
The fruits act as an effective analgesic for neuralgias, such as trigeminal nerve pain, back pain, and joint pain, where they also exhibit anti-inflammatory properties. The fruits also have a mild laxative effect and can lower blood pressure.
Tea made from the bark alone is not used because it can cause vomiting.
The leaves, when brewed into tea, cleanse the blood and skin and help fight acne. Some scientists believe that the leaves may have anti-cancer properties, especially for external conditions.
This article was published with the kind permission of the Sféra magazine.
casopis-sfera.cz / gnews.cz-HeK
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