Elder leaves, from the versatile Elder tree (Sambucus nigra or related species like Sambucus canadensis), are pinnately compound—meaning they resemble a feather, with a central stem (rachis) and several leaflets arranged opposite each other. Typically, there are 5 to 7 oval leaflets (sometimes up to 9 or 11 in certain varieties), each with sharply serrated (toothed) edges that point toward the tip. The leaflets are dark green on top, lighter underneath, and measure around 2–5 inches long individually, with the whole leaf reaching 6–12 inches or more. They often have a pointed tip and a slightly wedge-shaped base.
A key identifying feature: when crushed or bruised, the leaves emit a distinctive, unpleasant, somewhat rank odor—often described as “catty” or off-putting—which is thought to help deter insects. This smell is quite characteristic and helps distinguish elder from lookalikes.
In spring and summer, the fresh green foliage stands out in hedgerows and gardens, providing dappled shade and attracting wildlife. As autumn approaches, the leaves can turn vibrant shades of yellow, gold, or even reddish-purple before falling. These leaves have long been valued for external remedies, as noted earlier—collected in June and July for infusing into oils or teas for topical use against bruises, sprains, aphids, or flies. Always remember the internal caution: leaf tea acts as a strong emetic and should never be consumed routinely or internally without expert guidance. The tree’s overall graceful, multi-stemmed form and these distinctive leaves make elder easy to spot once you’re familiar with its look and that telltale scent!
Parts Used of the Elder Tree: wood, leaves, flowers, berries; very popular insect and songbird attractor; It’s one of the favorite foods for the mockingbird.
Elder Wood: wood from older trees cuts and polishes easily. Traditionally, this wood, though hard, was used for smaller wooden implements such as pegs, butcher’s skewers, and needles for weaving. The elder is common in parts of Europe as a hedgerow and for fencing. As I mentioned in my last post, elderberry wood can be easily hollowed out to make a flute.
Elder Leaves: Leaves are typically collected in June and July, in the morning after the dew has evaporated. Leaves can be cut and infused with oil, such as olive oil, to make salves and ointments for bruises and sprains. When leaves are crushed, the odor is unpleasant and is thought to deter insects. When made into a tea, the cooled liquid was sprinkled around the garden to keep aphids off other plants and even to ward off blight. If sprinkled on a hat, this tea could prevent flies from swarming around the face. These are external uses. I could not find a consistent use of tea from leaves for everyday use. Historically, tea made from the leaves was an emetic and therefore was used only in an emergency, not every day. Therefore, I recommend using the tea externally only.
Elderberry Dye: For those interested in natural dyes, elderberry offers several options.
In Scotland, the bark of older elders was used as a black dye.
When leaves are mixed with alum, a green dye is created.
When berries are used with alum, you get a blue-purple dye.
The juice of the berries plus alum makes violet.
The juice of the berries, plus alum, plus salt, makes lilac.
For information on making natural dyes, this site is helpful.
Elderberry is one of my favorite plants for winter use. I find discovering other uses helpful and instructive, such as elder wood for needles, etc.
Many of you who are interested in herbal medicine often create versatile medicinal gardens. We look for other uses for these familiar plants.
Herbal teas nourish and provide many health benefits. Warm liquids are recommended to keep our mucous membranes healthy and resistant. I keep many dried plants as part of my home medicine chest, but with any herb, it’s wise to know how to properly ID them in the wild, and know how to use them; what form is best.
One of my most popular blog posts talked about the value of elderberry. Family and friends frequently ask me about this woody shrub. With the COVID-19 virus causing unprecedented changes to our lives, it was worth looking at the differences between elderberry and echinacea, both used to support our immune systems during cold and flu season. I added echinacea here because folks wonder about that herb’s health benefits. Today, we’ll review elderberry. In Part 2, we’ll look at echinacea and then compare it with the other.
What is Elderberry?
Elderberry: Sambucus nigra, also known as European Elder. Elder has a rich history. One of its names originates from Aeld, which means “fire”. The pith in young branches is soft and easily pushes out. A hollow tube remains, which was used to stoke the kitchen fires. In ancient times, pipes were made of elder wood, hence the common name “pipe tree.” The hollow reed was fashioned into instruments and, of course, pea shooters.
Where Found: common to Europe and Northern Africa; now found all over the United States; in fact, it was thought this was the tree Judas chose to hang from. A fungus occurs on the elder, Hirroneola auricular Judaea, so named from the above historical story or myth. Elder is considered a small tree about 10-12’ high or a shrub. It is commonly found along wood edges, in wood stands, in fields, and along banks and fences. This plant is also nitrogen-loving and a member of the Honeysuckle family. It flowers from May to June. Fruit ripens in August. Virginia Tech has a great ID page and plant facts. Elder has a look-a-like called Pokeweed, which I wrote about a while ago to help folks tell the difference between Elderberry and Pokeweed.
Parts Used: bark, leaves, flowers, and berries. Do not eat the bark or leaves raw. The dried flowers and dried or fresh berries are often taken in tea form.
Actions: The flowers and berries are ideal for colds and flu, as well as sinusitis and other inflammation of the upper respiratory tract. “What our study has shown us is that the common elderberry has a potent direct antiviral effect against the flu virus,” said Dr. Golnoosh Torabian. It inhibits the early stages of infection by blocking key viral proteins responsible for both the viral attachment and entry into the host cells.” Does it work against COVID-19? That’s still in debate. But since these types of viruses can attack our immune system, research is ongoing.
James Duke, Ph.D., who wrote Herb-a-Day, studied the studies conducted on herbs. He recommended the elderberry for the flu. His research states that many Native American tribes used this plant.
Sambucol and Sambucus are two popular names for commercial products that fly off the shelves of health or natural supplement departments. I have heard many stories of folks getting through a winter with few or no respiratory ailments in their households when combining elderberry with good winter health practices. If a cold hits, elderberry syrup is often the herb of choice. Research studies are being conducted by notable universities’ Complementary and Alternative Medical Departments, including the NIH. The German Commission E recommends elderberry and elderflower preparations for colds, flu, and even bronchitis.
Medical News Today states: One cup of elderberries contains 106 calories and 26.68 grams (g) of carbohydrate. A cup also contains the following vitamins and minerals:
Elderberries are also an excellent source of fiber, with 10.2 g per cup.
How used: Elder flowers can be brewed into tea. Elderberry syrup and lozenges are part of my home medicine chest. I usually use elderberry during the winter or if I am traveling to keep my immune system strong. In fact, some research indicates it’s beneficial to take when flying. There are many products available for children, too. In view of the recent flu outbreaks, I thought it essential to get information out about this excellent plant. The berries have a long “food as medicine” history and can be found in recipes including wine, jams, vinegar, and more.
Nature has so many remedies for us. Doug Tallamy, a podcast guest on my show, Holistic Nature of Us, reminds us that our personal land can play a massive part in supporting wildlife. And Elderberry is a host plant for a variety of butterflies and moths.
Elder, referenced by Shakespeare and Pliny, holds a place of connection, whether superstition, hedgerows, or poetry, capturing us with its many uses and meanings. COVID-19 surprised us, caught us off guard. Many wondered how best to support our immune systems during this crisis we faced not long ago. Not just for COVID, but we still get colds and influenza too. What helps?
For more herbal information, my book At the Garden’s Gate, the eBook, is available through Amazon: https://shorturl.at/fEC8d, Barnes and Noble, Goodreads. The paperback version is available thought my website: www.judithdreyer.com I discuss twelve plants, their benefits and how I used them along with practical guidance for working safely with wild edibles.
Have you made elderberry vinegar or jam?
Next week, we’ll talk about echinacea and then compare the actions and uses of both plants.
In this episode of Cloud 9 Online’s MediMindful Moment Podcast, co-hosts Judith Dreyer, Jeff Nelder, and Henry Edinger interview Adam Latin, Empowerment Counselor and the Owner of The Clearest U. Adam talks about the significance of connection, teaching people how to nurture one another, and the value of being cherished.
Episode Highlights:
Judith introduces Adam Latin. (00:35)
Adam believes that every individual has unique strengths and weaknesses, and he has developed tools and techniques to help people in different walks of life. (1:00)
Adam leads the mindfulness exercise. (3:34)
Adam thinks that remembering and realizing the significance of the connection is important because having deeper conversations with people is vital. (9:03)
Adam mentions one of the biggest factors for him is the energy of cherishing. (9:38)
Adam shares that honesty is about being able to work hard and formulate the most accurate response possible. (11:47)
Adam believes that learning to use words in a very specific format can be very helpful. (12:15)
Adam shares that putting energy into convincing someone is draining to your energy and draining to your focus, then it’s much more likely that you will have emotions that are not under your power. (14:05)
In Adam’s opinion, sometimes we need to have an active exit strategy before moving on to our next activity. (15:13)
Adam believes that we’re originally presented with different types of love and people almost demand that we accept love the way they want to present it. (16:53)
Adam shares that acceptance is difficult for some people. But, everyone is neurologically brilliant in their unique way. (19:39)
Adam mentions that being engaged with awareness or perceptiveness is very powerful. (27:06)
Key Quotes:
“I help people reframe and refocus or, in some cases, I help them celebrate what they felt because sometimes they’ve done such a wonderful job but they haven’t stepped back and looked at what they’ve created.” – Adam Latin
“I always tell people when they are starting, it’s about bringing a sense of discovery and following a sense of inspiration. It’s not about having the right answer the first time. It’s really about experiencing and deepening.” – Adam Latin
“I feel that safety is a foundational issue and it’s being disrupted at this point. People meditating simply on the ways that they’ve previously made themselves safe, or ways that they’re inspired to make themselves safe, really helps reduce some of this anxiety.” – Adam Latin
It’s better for us to change how we present information than expecting someone to change how they receive it.” – Adam Latin
Description: Kim Kresevic, founder of InSoil Health returns this week to talk about the link between soil health and our gut health. We need to appreciate healthy soils once again; living, biologically diverse nutrient-rich soil. Why? The healthier the soil, the more nutritious food is produced and that translates into healthier food for us to consume which means more robust, vibrant health. Soil science on this level is relatively new, yet so vital to agriculture whether backyard farming or mega-farming. Microbes offer so much to soil integrity and microbes offer so much in our biology.
Join Kimberly and me for another engaging discussion about soil and gut health.
About My Guest: Kimberley Kresevic is President and Founder of InSoil Health, a data analytics and educational consultancy based out of Northeast Ohio. With diverse experience in both healthcare and biological cultivation, Kim brings a unique systems-based approach to current food production challenges. Driven by the principle that nutrition is the foundation of human health and vitality, Kim works with growers in all walks of life and at all scales to improve food quality using natural biological techniques. By focusing on soil population data, systems improvement, and the human health value proposition, Kim helps growers invigorate the Soil Foodweb, reduce input costs, and eliminate the toxic environmental effects of synthetic fertilizers, herbicides, and pesticides.
Description: Our physical bodies are composed of trillions of cells organized into community specialties. Though every cell may have the same program capabilities, a cell in the eye knows to turn on eye function, not liver function. Complex and even mysterious we have not unlocked the mysteries contained within our own bodies. Tai chi experts suggest we give thanks to each community in our bodies for the incredible integration that occurs.
Eaglemoon Raes gives us stories and practical examples of how our body is like nature and what healing successes she has seen. Inspiring and miraculous, I hope you will enjoy this discussion. She discusses and refers to Holographic healing: which “accesses patterns of energy and makes changes directly at that point, rather than “running” or channeling energy. The patterns are biological information fields which form an active, constantly resonating matrix. This matrix and its interconnections provide a continuum for rapid, coherent intercommunication throughout the body. The vibrations and waveforms in this matrix can be changed, so a practitioner can collapse the current reality, such as an injury pattern or some stuck situation within the body or emotions, and introduce new information to produce new possibilities that are more useful.”
About My Guest: Eaglemoon Raes is a licensed Avatar® Master and Wizard. In addition, she is known to be a
gifted healer and has been trained as a Usui and karuna™ Reiki Master/teacher, a holographic healer, a Guided Self-healing practitioner, an EFT practitioner, and is a certified hypnotist.
Description: This podcast takes another look at holism from a practitioner’s viewpoint who experienced an out of body experience at the age of four. Meet Deb Sodergren as she shares her story, her wisdom about healing. Join us for an uplifting holistic discussion for health and well-being.
About My guest: Deb is an Energy Body Vibration Expert/International Speaker/Author and owner of Up Vibrations, LLC. She graduated from the New England School of Metaphysics in 1998 and is a nationally certified as a Reiki Master Teacher and certified to teach Metaphysics and Meditation. She is also an Infinite Possibilities Certified Trainer. “My philosophy of healing is based on taking care of my clients with alternative healing modalities and sometimes with traditional allopathic medicine to ensure that the individual’s whole self is being maintained and balanced. I bring to my practice a deep understanding of the human energy field and the body, mind, and spirit connection as well as extensive training inthe areas of Reiki, meditation, chakra balancing, vibrational medicine, channeling, death & dying, infinite possibilities mindset and others.
Judith Dreyer, MS, BSN, Writer, Speaker, and Workshop Presenter, Master Gardener.
How used: Elder flowers can be brewed into tea. Elderberry syrup and lozenges are part of my home medicine chest. I usually use elderberry during the winter or if I am traveling to keep my immune system strong. In fact, some research indicates it’s beneficial to take when flying. There are many products available for children, too. In view of the recent flu outbreaks, I thought it essential to get information out about this excellent plant. The berries have a long “food as medicine” history and can be found in recipes including wine, jams, vinegar, and more.
