In springtime, the aroma of the umbrella-like trusses of creamy-white elder flowers scents the hedgerows with a sweet aroma one longs to capture. The plant is common throughout Europe, western Asia, and North America, where a related species, Samb...
* Please Note: This information is based partly on Traditional Medicine which uses natural materials to support health. This information has not been evaluated or approved by the FDA. These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). These products are intended to support general well being and are not intended to treat, diagnose, mitigate, prevent, or cure any condition or disease. If conditions persist, please seek advice from your medical doctor.
Description
In springtime, the aroma of the umbrella-like trusses of creamy-white elder flowers scents the hedgerows with a sweet aroma one longs to capture. The plant is common throughout Europe, western Asia, and North America, where a related species, Sambucus canadensis (American elder), was used as a folk medicine by Native Americans.
History
Elder has attracted a strong folk history. It was thought that a tree planted outside a house kept witches at bay and protected the house from lightning. Cutting it back was said to bring bad luck.
Characteristics
The tree can grow to a height of about 30 feet or more, with a spread of 9 feet, but many trees are much smaller. The leaves are dull dark green, about 4 inches long and finely toothed. The flowers are minute, highly fragrant, and carried in umbel-like clusters. The purplish-black berries are small and round, and hang in heavy trusses.
Growing Tips
The trees like a moist soil and plenty of sun if the flowers are to develop their maximum fragrance. Elders are grown from hardwood cuttings taken outdoors in the autumn.
How to Use
Elderflowers are traditionally used to flavor fruit and have a particular affinity with gooseberries. The berries - usually blended with apples - can be made into jelly and other preserves, while both flowers and berries create excellent wines. The flowers, blended with lemon and sugar, are used to flavor summer drinks and cordials.
In the past every part of the elder tree was used in potions and lotions for the body and hair and they are as effective today as then. Use the flowers to make mildly bleaching infusions for softening cleansers, tonics, and conditioners for hands, face, and body. Use the leaves to make healing decoctions for blemished, sun or wind burned skin. Use theflowers to lighten and condition blonde and graying hair and the berries to improve the color of graying dark hair.
Medicinally, elder can help speed a cold away by increasing the body temperature. When a cold is on its way taking a hot tea made from elder will induce sweating and this boosts the body's viral-killing ability. An external application can be of great relief to irritated skin.
Dosage: Of the flowers, one-half to one ounce steeped in boiling water taken 2 to 3 time a day.
Pour boiling water (150 milliliters) over two teaspoons of dried flowers (3-5 grams), steep for five minutes and drink as a hot tea two or three times a day; liquid extract (1:1, 25 percent ethanol, 3-5 milliliters three times a day, or tincture (1:5, 25 percent ethanol), 10-25 milliliters three times a day.
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Directions
Hot tea brewing method: Bring freshly drawn cold water to a rolling boil. Place 1 tea bag for each cup into the teapot. Pour the boiling water into the teapot. Cover and let steep for 3-7 minutes according to taste (the longer the steeping time the stronger the tea).
Iced tea brewing method (to make 1 liter/quart): Place 6 tea bags into a teapot or heat resistant pitcher. Pour 1 1/4 cups of freshly boiled water over the tea. Steep for 5 minutes. Quarter fill a serving pitcher with cold water. Pour the tea into your serving pitcher straining the bags. Add ice and top-up the pitcher with cold water. Garnish and sweeten to taste. [A rule of thumb when preparing fresh brewed iced tea is to double the strength of hot tea since it will be poured over ice and diluted with cold water].
Additional Information
ZooScape is proud to be the exclusive distributor of TerraVita teas, herbs and supplements in the United States, Canada and around the world. Please direct all wholesale and bulk inquiries to Simona Heather at 905-494-1785.
These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Products are intended to support general well being and are not intended to treat, diagnose, mitigate, prevent, or cure any condition or disease. If conditions persist, please seek advice from your medical doctor. The essence of the current American rule on Traditional Uses is, as stated by FTC, "Claims based on historical or traditional use should be substantiated by confirming scientific evidence, or should be presented in such a way that consumers understand that the sole basis for the claim is a history of use of the product for a particular purpose."
