Elderflower

Symphytum officinale

Tea, bath, eyebath, poultice

Purgative, diuretic, diaphoretic, expectorant, emollient and anti-inflammatory

Coughs, colds, flu, asthma, hay fever, fever, stress, skin irritation, ear ache

Avoid excessive amounts. Avoid if you are pregnant or breast-feeding. If you are diabetic, monitor your blood sugar levels. Cease using elderflower two weeks before surgery. May cause other minor reactions.

Background

When you go out for a walk along the hedgerows of Britain in May, you’ll come the across drooped white flowers of the elder plant. With the elder flower’s pungent smell comes the promise of summer.

Uses

The flowers have a long-standing reputation as a treatment for all kinds of inflammatory and congestive conditions of the respiratory system, especially when these are accompanied by fever. The tea is used to treat coughs, colds and flus, asthma and hay fever. It has a diaphoretic nature in that it opens the pores & allows the heat associated with fevers to be reduced and thus it has often proven useful in cases of measles, scarlet fever and other infections. Externally an infusion of Elderflower can be added to bath water for a wonderfully refreshing bath that soothes irritable nerves and relieves itchy skin. A cool infusion can be used as eyewash for sore or inflamed eyes. Ear ache may be relieved by means of a poultice made from the flowers. For this purpose a small linen bag is filled with flowers, briefly dipped in hot water and squeezed to press out any excess liquid before it is applied to the aching ear. Elderflowers increase the removal of urea from the body, therefore may be useful for some arthritis sufferers

Precautions

Elderflower is safe when used in amounts found in foods. Elderflower is possibly safe for most people when used in small amounts as part of a combination product such as SinuComp or Sinupret but has been known to cause upset stomachs and occasional allergic skin rashes. Avoid excessive amounts of Elderflower. It is recommended that you avoid elderflower if you are pregnant or breast-feeding. If you are diabetic, monitor your blood sugar levels closely. Cease using elderflower two weeks before surgery.

Further Reading

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sambucus

The Health Benefits of Elderflower Tea

https://www.webmd.com/vitamins/ai/ingredientmono-708/elderflower