Elderberry (Sambucus nigra) is the dark purple berry from the European elder tree. It has a long history of use for cold and flu.
Elderberry is a popular ingredient in supplements. It might affect the immune system, and also seems to have activity against viruses, including the flu.
Elderberry is commonly used for the common cold, flu, high cholesterol, and many other conditions, but there is no good scientific evidence to support most of these uses, with the possible exception of the flu. There is also no good evidence to support using elderberry for COVID-19.
Don't confuse elderberry with American Elder, Elderflower, or Dwarf Elder. These aren't the same and have different effects.
NatMed disclaims any responsibility related to medical consequences of using any medical product. Effort is made to ensure that the information contained in this monograph is accurate at the time it was published. Consumers and medical professionals who consult this monograph are cautioned that any medical or product related decision is the sole responsibility of the consumer and/or the health care professional. A legal License Agreement sets limitations on downloading, storing, or printing content from this Database. Except for any possible exceptions written into your License Agreement, no reproduction of this monograph or any content from this Database is permitted without written permission from the publisher. Unlawful to download, store, or distribute content from this site.
For the latest comprehensive data on this and every other natural medicine, health professionals should consult the Professional Version of NatMed. It is fully referenced and updated daily.
© Copyright 1995-2019. Therapeutic Research Center LLC, publishers of NatMed, Prescriber's Letter, and Pharmacist's Letter. All rights reserved.