I remember reading somewhere about how elderberry is a great preventive supplement for everybody, but can be dangerous for some strong, healthy individuals when they're already sick, as it can promote too much of a specific kind of immune response.

I know it had something to do with ages 15-35, and possibly only type O? Is this only for influenza or for illnesses in general?

I know I can take proberry regularly, sick or healthy, and give it to my 10yo son. But what about my teenaged type O daughters? DD1 is currently coming down with a virus (sore throat, fatigue, etc) which isn't too surprising considering the amount of sugar and milk she's had since Hanukkah started and how little sleep she's been getting. Is it a good idea or a bad idea for her to take proberry right now? Should she be taking extra since she's sick or should she stop taking it for a few days?

SO, the only concern about elderberry and type O teenagers is if they were actually exposed to influenza, not a garden-variety upper-respiratory virus?

Can my slightly sick 17yo type O daughter safely take proberry right now?

teach her about prevention.....
I keep nagging my kids to take their sups every now and then...

She knows about prevention. She takes proberry daily, along with fish oil and a multivitamin. Normally she follows her SWAMI to the best of her ability.

However, she's been over-indulging in sugary treats (including milk  chocolate) for the past several days,  between school Hanukkah parties, her birthday party, leftover birthday cake from her party and now her Dad's 50th birthday party this afternoon.

She had a sore throat last night and a bit of laryngitis. Her voice sounds better this afternoon since she got up, but I haven't asked her yet if it still hurts.

She knows to increase compliance and cut out sugar to feel better. But she's going to have at least one piece of birthday cake this afternoon (baked with real sugar but otherwise compliant). The planned birthday dinner is going to be about 95% compliant. She'll likely get fully back on track food-wise tomororw.

She's going to take her fish oil and multivitamin today. Should she take the usual amount of elderberry, extra because she's sick, or skip it because she's sick?

Ruthie - I was feeling the same symptoms so this morning and this afternoon I had a drink with hot water, ginger juice, the juice of 1/2 a lemon and 1/2 tsp. of honey (I get honey as a diamond). It really helped and loosened (excuse the graphic) a large piece of phlegm from one of my vocal cords. Also, I have gargled twice today with hydrogen peroxide and feel much better. I will continue gargling as well as the drink for a few more days. Hope she gets better soon.

I must admit I chuck back 1 or 2 sips of colloidal silver & an extra vitamin C if I ever I feel a dry/sore throat coming on & it fixes it straight away

She's OK now. In the end she took her usual supplements in the usual amounts. I'd still like to know the answer to this question, because it's likely that this situation will arise again in the future.

I would be careful with too much elderberry. That stuff is powerful.