The Truth About the Effectiveness of Elderberry in Colds and Flu
Colds and flu are the common illnesses contracted by people especially during the cold months of the year. A lot of natural preparations and herbal medicines are already available in the market to treat these kinds of infections and Elderberry is considered to be one of those remedies.
What is Elderberry? Where does it come from?
Elderberry has many variations of the Sambucus tree, which is a flowering plant. The most studied and used as a medicinal plant is the Sambucus nigra or commonly known as the European Elder or black elder. The plant comes from Europe and North America.
Backed up by research, it was claimed that Elderberry is effective in easing the symptoms of colds and flu.
Why is Elderberry effective in colds and flu?
Read on and find out the truth about its effectiveness:
Elderberry has antioxidant properties
Studies have found that Elderberry is a good source of antioxidants. Flavonols and Anthocyanin are 2 phytochemicals found in Elderberry.
Flavonols which are found in the flowers is a powerful antioxidant with anti-inflammatory effects. Anthocyanin which is found in berries supports the immune system by increasing the number of white blood cells. The two phytonutrients have played a role in shortening the duration of illness and lessening its severity.
Antiviral properties
A group of researchers from the University of Sydney’s Faculty of Engineering and IT has found out that the phytochemicals present in Elderberry have an antiviral effect against the flu virus by inhibiting the viral proteins in entering the human cell thus suppressing viral infection.
Good source of Vitamin C
Aside from the antioxidants, Elderberry also contains other nutrients such as Vitamin C which aids in the prevention of infection maintaining a healthy immune system.
Now it is known that Elderberry may ease the symptoms of colds and flu by shortening the duration of illness and lessening the severity of symptoms, It is recommended, however, to take it in small doses to maintain its effectiveness and safety. Elderberry is not suitable for pregnant and breastfeeding women.