botanical name(s): Sambucus canadensis, S. cerulea, S. nigra, S. racemosa
synonyms: black elderberry (from Europe), blue elderberry (blooms June-July mostly east Cascades), red elderberry (blooms April-May mostly west of Cascades), elder
part(s) used: flowers, berries, leaves, occasionally bark but only nigra species
qualities: flowers: acrid, cool, bitter, sweet, dry
affinities:
actions:
» flowers: diaphoretic, alterative, anti-inflammatory, anticatarrhal, diuretic, vulnerary;
» bark, berries and leaves: laxative; bark and leaves: purgative
dosage:
» flowers: 2 - 4 ml.
» powder: 2 - 4 g.
therapy: fevers, colds, influenza, hayfever, allergies, sinusitis, rheumatism, tumors, bruises
AHPA Botanical Safety Rating: 1
toxicity: 2
» fresh parts often irritate the skin
» both species are cathartic; S. canadensis is milder; both may induce severe laxative effect if improperly prepared (AMA, p. 148)
» no documented cases of cyanide poisoning have occurred due to cyanogenic glycosides (AMA, p. 148);
» flowers are non-toxic; bark should be used only from Sambucus nigra, as it has the least toxicity; red elderberries are best avoided, but can be used if the seed is removed
constituents:
» flowers: essential oil, terpenes, rutin, quercitrin, mucilage, tannin
» bark, leaves and seeds: cyanogenic glycosides (especially in red elderberry)
footnotes
Lampe, K.F., and McAnn, M.A. 1985. AMA Handbook of Poisonous and Injurious Plants. Chicago: American Medical Association.