Elderberry (Sambucus nigra) has been in our pantry ever since we had children with coughs and colds. It has a long history of use on four continents, and is revered for its antioxidant and antiviral qualities. In Old World tradition, an elder bush was planted at the edge of a garden as the “protector” of the garden. I have to admit, I have often wondered if author J.K. Rowling of the famous Harry Potter series knew what she was doing when she made the most powerful wand an elder wand.

Both the elderflowers and the berries have medicinal properties. In early summer the elder bush produces beautiful white lacy flowers in flat-topped clusters, called cymes,that can span as much as 10 inches. The flowers are edible, with a unique and delicate flavor. They can be dried and made into a medicinal tea, or the whole fresh cluster can be deep-fried into a delicious fritter using a light tempura-style batter, sprinkled with sugar and cinnamon. Elderflowers are a diaphoretic, which means they induce sweating and therefore can help to lower fevers. From those lacy blossoms elderberry's fruits will mature later in the season, late summer and early fall. When ripe, the tiny berries are purplish black and hang in heavy clusters.

Some of the key components of ripe elderberries are vitamin A, B vitamins, lots of vitamin C, bioflavonoids, beta-carotene, iron, potassium, and phytosterols. They also contain quercetin, an antioxidant that helps prevent damage to the body’s cells and is believed to deliver much of the therapeutic actions of the elderberry's fruit.

The elderberry's antiviral properties are so helpful in fighting colds and flu that it has come to be nicknamed "nature's medicine chest." Typically, one begins taking twice daily doses (1-2 tsp) of elderberry juice at the first sign of a cold or flu. It is incredibly effective at either knocking the cold out completely or at least shortening its duration. Another method is to begin the daily doses at times when we know we are going to be exposed to more germs--for instance, when the kids go back to school, if we'll be traveling on a plane, or if there sick people in our work environment. As with any herbal medicine, it's smart to take a few days' break after every two weeks of regular doses. (http://roundthebendfarm.org/2015/10/12/food-is-medicine-elderberry/)

Finally, elderberry plays an important role in healing our damaged ecosystem. In our bioregion of eastern North America, Sambucus nigra is a key native shrub of the forest edge.The powerful attraction that bees and other threatened pollinators have to the elder's creamy white flower clusters provides them with ample food and pollen supplies. Also well known is the attraction that deer and other herbivores have for the elderberry's leaves and stems. And lastly, as both gardeners and foragers have known through the ages, many birds are quick to gobble up the juicy elderberries as soon as they become ripe.