This thread on timebomb2000 is full of great info on elderberries and various elderberry health products. The thread itself is actually a discussion on elderberry as a weapon against the avian flu in case it should spread between humans, but like many threads do, it wanders a bit. Some highlights interesting to me:
- Sambucus canadensis (the American elderberry) is said to have slightly more flavorful and healthy fruit than its European counterpart Sambucus nigra, but the nigra variety is easier to grow in commercial ventures, which is why it is more commonly found in products for purchase
- adding a slight amount of alcohol to elderberry syrup can help act as a preservative, allowing it to be kept longer
- if echinacea is taken long term, it can lose some of its immune-boosting effects (relevant to me because Sambu Guard, one of my favorite elderberry syrups, has echinacea in it)
- Sambucol, one of the most popular elderberry syrups, has recently changed its formula to include sodium benzoate as a preservative, and “raspberry extract” has been replaced with “raspberry flavor.”
There’s more, but I’ll let you read it. In addition, this thread from the same board has a recipe for elderberry syrup and great discussion of what kind of berries to use for syrups, what kind of alcohol is best suited to act as preservatives, how long tinctures and syrups can keep, etc. If you are someone interested in making syrups and tinctures, I highly recommend giving this last thread a read!
2 responses so far ↓
1 asher // Sep 3, 2008 at 4:16 am
This very fine post on elderberry . A rich herbal substance wich is full of nuetrents.
I think it has the quality ot correct the immune system which causes the flu etc.
2 Max // Sep 26, 2008 at 12:47 pm
Hey I found an online store that sells elderberry syrups (and tinctures and other things of that sort).
http://www.terrafirmabotanicals.com/home/tf1/page_154/elderberry_syrup.html
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