Elderberry For Colds

Sambucus

, or elderberry, is commonly taken as a supplement to treat the common cold. It is a genus of between 5 - 30 shrubs and trees indigenous to both the Northern Hemisphere and the Southern Hemisphere. It is a member of the adoxaceae family, a small family of flowering plants. Elderberry has been used for hundreds of years to treat flu like symptoms. In this article we will discuss elderberry's effects on the immune system and how it treats the common cold.

The "active ingredients" in elderberry are flavanoids, anthocyanins, and lectins. Flavonoids are a class of secondary metabolites. A secondary metabolite is an organic compound that is not directly involved in the growth and development of the organisms it is found in. Anthocyanins are a sub class of flavonoids. They have anti inflammatory properties as well as anti oxidant properties. Lectins have hemagglutinin properties. This means that it causes red blood cells to clump together. The synergy of these three active ingredients is very effective at treating the common cold.

A study concluded at Hadassah University Hospital in Jerusalem, Israel determined that elderberry is effective at stimulating the immune system. In the double blind, placebo based study, there were higher levels of antibodies to the influenza virus in the group given elderberry compared to the group given a placebo. There was also a higher number of cytokines in the group given elderberry. Cytokines are cellular messengers that stimulate macrophages. Macrophages are the "seek and destroy" cells of the immune system.

The most remarkable finding was that elderberry increased the level of tumor necrosis factor (TNF) in the group given elderberry. TNF is a type of cytokine that induces apoptosis (programmed cell death) in tumor cells. This finding led the researchers to believe that elderberry could be beneficial to Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS) patients as well as patients with cancer.

Read The Scientific Study Here

The best deal I found on Amazon for elderberry is the Nature's Way brand. For around $8 you get 100 575 mg capsules. The manufacturer recommends taking two capsules two times per day with food. Nature's Way also offers elderberry as a tasty syrup for kids. For around $15 you get eight ounces of elderberry syrup. The manufacturer recommends taking 1 - 2 teaspoons per day for maintenance, and 2 - 3 teaspoons per day if your child is sick. The syrup might be the way to go if you have kids who have difficulty swallowing pills.