”Feared by the devil. Favoured by foragers. Elder is the very essence of summer with its fragrant flowers and black berries. It was said that an elder planted by your house would keep the devil away.”
Botanical name:
Sambucus nigra
Family: Adoxaceae
Parts used: flowers, berries
Taste: sour (berries) bitter (flowers)
Energetics: cooling, drying
In mythologi and symbolism it was believed that if you burned elder wood you would see the devil, but if you planted elder by your house it would keep the devil away. Elders have been associated with magic and witchcraft for a long time. In Norse culture, elder trees were believed to be under the protection of a spirit woman known as Hylde-Moer or Elder Mother. If you wanted to cut wood from the tree it was necessary to say ”Old woman give me of thy wood and I will give thee of mine when I grow into a tree”. This was supposed to appease the spirit and stop her from haunting you.
Elder has a long history of use in Europé. For more than 1000 years, herbalist have revered elder´s abilities, and mentions of shrub are included in many important historical texts while they are most famous for their ability to shorten the duration of the flu. Elder have many other uses too.
Elderflowers are a relaxing nervine, relaxing diaphoretic, diuretic, antioxidant rich. Elderflower have been used externaly for problems with the skin. They can be used as a tea wash och infused oil for a cream or salve.
Elderflower are also used for upper respiratory infections, they are used differently than the elderberries. Preparation such as tea, tincture, syrup are popular.
Elder berries are antiviral, immunomodulating, antioxidant rich, inflammatory modulating. They can be preperad as syrup, food, tincture, tea.
One of my favourite preparation for elderberries are syrup; a decoction with elderberries and also hawthornberries and rosehips with honey.
Each berry contains vitamins and minerals, but they are not suitable for eating raw. They won’t cause any digestive problems when cooked.
Enjoy the wonders of nature!