I've been looking through some of the old threads, and I see alot of things about elderberry and keeping colds/flu at bay. What is elderberry?  That is, is it a tea or how do you ingest it?  Is it safe for my 2 year old?  I really don't want to go and get the flu shots, but I also really can't deal with being sick and staying at home with a toddler!!

Elderberry fruit extract is considered to strengthen the immune system. I take throughout winter the recommended dose for prophylaxis: 10 ml daily on an empty stomach (4 times a day for treatment). It says on the bottle 5 ml for children, but I don't know about toddlers. Before BTD, although I used to take the flu shot, I would be down with the cold once or twice a year. I've now completed 10 months of BTD, didn't take the shot, and, knock on wood... but I have to see, there are still 2 months of Winter to go... and we've just had our first snow. I also take 1 tablespoon of EV olive oil before breakfast, and wheat grass juice, and use turmeric and thyme in cooking everyday.

All the best,
Yael  

hope,
http://www.dadamo.com/napharm/gk3.htm

great info on elderberry

Dr. D has developed a formula from elderberries called

PROBERRY

It also comes in a liquid form.

http://plants.usda.gov/java/profile?symbol=SANIC4&photoID=sanic4_006_ahp.tif
Click on Plant Guide to the right of the picture (doc version). There you will find tons of info re: the elderberry and all its uses.

I use elderberry concentrate as a base for my favorite version of Edna's (aka Peppermint Twist) Berry Berry Good Soda. A teaspoon of elderberry, some blueberry juice, a little pomegranate or black cherry, and all topped off with Gerolsteiner or Pellagrino sparkling mineral water . . . delicious! Far better tasting than diet soda, and great for gently enhancing your immune system.

Quoted from lola

hope,
http://www.dadamo.com/napharm/gk3.htm

great info on elderberry

Hey there lola, happy New Year! I read the info on the link you posted above and found some interesting stuff on elderberries.

The wild trees around here have been (still are) in full bloom so we gathered some of the flowers and dipped them in a thin rice flour batter and fried them in deep olive oil.

Surprise, surprise, they were bloody delicious!

Pip could not eat many we think they may be full of vitamin C because that makes her ache all over too.
(she enjoyed eating them though)

I had no side affects that I noticed and I reckon they are better than oysters, Mmmmmm....nice!  

We would never have thought of eating flowers like that had we not read it on here!!!!        Cheers John.

Any of the blue or black pigmented or hued fruits--in which elderberries are included--contain vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants for good health and they are known for scavenging free radicals in the body.

Alia

Anyone know how we can tell which of the elderberries are safe to eat and which are not?  (Not to scare anyone, but not all varieties are edible)  I have a large bush in my yard which I have grown from a twig, and I still am not sure what the variety is.  It puts out clumps of beautiful white flowers, but since I have been forced to transplant this baby giant a couple of times already, it hasn't graced me with berries yet.  The leaves are two-toned green with yellowish green.

But I'll say this for the plant.  It is a vigorous grower.  At first, I planted it a couple of feet from my deck, and after severely pruning it 5 times each year just to keep it from covering my deck, I have finally moved it to a corner of the yard where it can become a full privacy screen and discourage the neighborhood kids from cutting through on their bikes.  It loves to grow!!

John,
those flowers sound very tasty!

the other night back in Mac Allen, I was served an orchid with my stake!.....not only good, but also aphrodisiac!! lol

Lola,
Was the Orchid your husbands' idea?

we were told by the hostess, but only after I had eaten the orchids from all our plates!
4 total!
I slept like a baby!!

must have had the wrong reaction in my system!  

That's so funny, Lola!!  

while we re in the aphrodisiac subject.....
has anyone read the book: Aphrodisiac by Isabel Allende?

it has some great recipes, and guarantied to work, according to the author!!

I've read several of her novels, Lola, and really like her as an author.  Is this one a novel?

yes, it s fun to read!

HERE is a link to some information about the use of orchids in chinese herbalism.

fascinating Victoria, thanks!

You ladies are so naughty! No Lola I didn't notice any affects from the flowers except that they tasted great.

I might try growing orchids now though.......sounds like an interesting hobby!  Cheers John.

now who s the naughty one?
HNY!!

Quoted from pipnjohn

Hey there lola, happy New Year! I read the info on the link you posted above and found some interesting stuff on elderberries.
The wild trees around here have been (still are) in full bloom so we gathered some of the flowers and dipped them in a thin rice flour batter and fried them in deep olive oil.Surprise, surprise, they were bloody delicious!

John, unless I totally missed it, I think the info you are referring to came from this site, as the site Lola referenced is mostly about the flu. Very little info on elderberry. Just  in case anyone else wants to have a look-see  Super glad to hear you tried the elderberry flower dipped and fried. When I read that, I thought how I would really love to give it a try. Now I will for sure next year when my new bushes produce. Or do they produce in the first year? Anyone know?

Quoted from pkarmeier

http://plants.usda.gov/java/profile?symbol=SANIC4&photoID=sanic4_006_ahp.tif
Click on Plant Guide to the right of the picture (doc version). There you will find tons of info re: the elderberry and all its uses.

http://www.dadamo.com/napharm/gk3.htm

John was refering to this link I posted,from Greg Kelly on this site, IB.

yours is also very informative! thanks for posting it!

Quoted from lola

http://www.dadamo.com/napharm/gk3.htm
John was refering to this link I posted,from Greg Kelly on this site, IB.
yours is also very informative! thanks for posting it!

I read that Lola but didn't see any info re: frying the flower, really mostly info re: the flu.

frying the flower was John s idea IB!  lol
the link only talks about the benefits of the friut in general.

Quoted from pipnjohn

Hey there lola, happy New Year! I read the info on the link you posted above and found some interesting stuff on elderberries.

The wild trees around here have been (still are) in full bloom so we gathered some of the flowers and dipped them in a thin rice flour batter and fried them in deep olive oil.

Surprise, surprise, they were bloody delicious!

Pip could not eat many we think they may be full of vitamin C because that makes her ache all over too.
(she enjoyed eating them though)

I had no side affects that I noticed and I reckon they are better than oysters, Mmmmmm....nice!  

We would never have thought of eating flowers like that had we not read it on here!!!!        Cheers John.

  Flower Power!!   Yeeeea!!