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Tree Allergies
The Elderberry tree is a native European tree that can also be found in America. In the fall it produces small dark purple berries that have some incredible health benefits. Once used as a folk remedy, the benefits of elderberry are being rediscovered by modern medicine.
Tree Allergies
Actually the whole tree is used in herbal medicine. Beneficial health products are made from the berries bark, flowers and leaves. The least commonly used parts are the bark and the leaves.
Tree Allergies
The bark can be used to induce vomiting when necessary. The leaves are usually added to creams and lotions because of their anti-inflammatory properties that help with sensitive skin.
Tree Allergies
According to different articles I have read, it is safe for you to use the Elderberry flowers for arthritis and joint pain. Simply combine the flowers with petroleum jelly and simmer the mix for about forty minutes. Before it cools, rub the mixture into the joints that are arthritic and it will provide you with some relief.
One note of caution, do not eat any part of the tree raw, this includes the berries, seeds and root, they contain cyanide. If eaten raw the cyanide can cause a toxic build up in your body.
The berry is also effective when treating chest infections and persistent coughs. There are several traditional recipes to make them into a syrup that be can used as a cough medicine. These recipes can be found on-line.
You are probably not familiar with the most common use of the Elderberry. Using both the flowers and berries this beneficial herb has become a real flu fighter. It has been proven to help fight at least 8 different variations of flu.
An article published in the Journal of Alternative Complementary Medicine tells of a placebo-controlled, double blind study where the berry was shown to be effective for treating the flu. People who received its extract recovered faster than those on a placebo.
Another small 2004 study showed 93% of flu patients who were given the extract were symptom free within two days, those on the placebo recovered in about six days.
It is likely the flavonoids which are antioxidants contained in the extract stimulate an individuals immune system. This would explain why those using the Elderberry extract recovered quicker.
The benefits of the Elderberry plant are many. Who knows one day we might find it on our local drug store shelf.
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