Herb name: Black elder, Sambucus nigra
Family: Caprifoliaceae
Useful plant parts: flowers and fruits
Description: Elder is a 3 to 6 meters high medicinal plant that comes mostly in a shrub-like form. The bark is usually light to dark brown colored, sometimes somewhat gray. The bark is also spilled with numerous wart-shaped forms. Branches are covered with dark-green leaves which are placed facing each other. The leaves are oval, and narrow at the top. Flowers have a very intense aroma, they are small and primrose, collected in large flat blooms.
Collecting period and locations: The gathering of the flowers is mostly done from May to June, while the fruits can be gathered after the specified period, when they are fully matured. During the gathering, fully bloomed flowers are picked and binded in smaller bunches and hung in a warm and airy place. As for the sites where black elder can be found, elder is a very widespread plant - it grows on the edges of forests, often along paths.
Medicinal properties and applications: The most important feature of tea from elder flowers is promoting perspiration, which makes for good medicine against fever. In addition, the tea of elder strengthens the immune system, which makes this tea a good medication for preventing flu and colds. Because of this last mentioned property, it can often be found in medicinal mixtures against cold and its symptoms.
Active compounds: Essential oils, glycosides, flavonoids, tannins, vitamins and mineral compounds.
Recipe: Regarding the preparation of tea, usually 2 full teaspoons of dried elder flowers are taken and a quarter liter of boiling water is added and left about 10 minutes. |
