October: Elderberries — Nature’s Winter Medicine

As October arrives and the hedgerows begin to lose their summer colour, one of our most familiar native trees offers up a final gift: the dark, purple-black berries of the Elder (Sambucus nigra).

For generations, elderberry has been part of traditional winter medicine. Before the arrival of modern medicines, households knew the plants growing around them and made use of seasonal remedies to see them through the colder months. Elderberry Rob — a concentrated preparation made by cooking down elderberry juice — was traditionally kept as a winter cordial for coughs, colds and other respiratory complaints.

There is something particularly appealing about this tradition. The berries arrive just as summer disappears and the season of coughs, colds and shorter days begins.

What makes elderberries special?

Elderberries contain a range of naturally occurring plant compounds, including anthocyanins, the pigments responsible for their deep purple colour. Research has identified several anthocyanins in Sambucus nigra, alongside other flavonoids and phenolic compounds. Elderberries also contain vitamin C, although amounts vary considerably between varieties and growing conditions.

Anthocyanins are being studied for their antioxidant and other biological properties, which helps explain the continuing scientific interest in elderberry.

But what does the research actually tell us about those traditional winter uses?

There have been a number of small clinical studies investigating elderberry preparations for colds, influenza and other upper respiratory infections. Some suggest that elderberry may reduce the duration or severity of symptoms, particularly when taken early in an illness. However, reviews of the evidence conclude that the research is still limited and uncertain, so elderberry should not be regarded as a proven treatment or a replacement for appropriate medical care.

That seems to me a perfect example of where traditional wisdom and modern research can sit alongside each other: neither needs to be dismissed, but both deserve a little curiosity.

Elderberry syrup or Rob?

One of the most charming traditional preparations is Elderberry Rob — essentially a concentrated elderberry syrup. Historical sources describe it as a cordial traditionally used for colds and coughs.

Prepare Thoroughly

It is worth remembering, though, that elderberries aren't simply a fruit to pick and eat straight from the tree. Raw or unripe elderberries, as well as the leaves and stems, contain cyanide-producing compounds and can cause nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea. Cooking the berries removes this toxicity. 

So if you are gathering elderberries this autumn, make sure you have correctly identified the plant, use ripe berries, remove as much stem as possible, and cook them thoroughly before using them.

Perhaps the real gift of Elder is not simply a berry or a bottle of syrup. It is the reminder that our hedgerows contain a fascinating seasonal pharmacy — one that invites us to look more closely, learn from traditional knowledge, and ask what modern research can tell us about the plants we thought we already knew.

This October, why not take another look at the Elder tree? You might never see those dark little berries in quite the same way again.

Sources consulted

• National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NIH/NCCIH) — Elderberry: Usefulness and Safety NCCIH

• Wieland et al., BMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies (2021) — systematic review of elderberry for prevention and treatment of viral respiratory illness PubMed

• Kaack & Austed, Plant Foods for Human Nutrition (1998) — study of vitamin C and flavonoids in Sambucus nigra berries PubMed