In 2020, elderberry myths abound. And every single myth surrounds the idea that elderberries will kill you. But they won’t. Check out these myths and make sure these aren’t keeping you from enjoying the benefits of this safe and effective herbal remedy.
“Would you like some elderberries?” my friend asked. She had just picked all the elderberries from her shrub — 18 pounds– but she didn’t use them herself. Of course, to an herbalist these elderberries were “gold”. I didn’t hesitate for a minute. Then my friend asked the question so many ask. Aren’t they poisonous?
Elderberries are one of the most effective herbal remedies for supporting the body during cold and flu season. They inhibit the replication of viruses in the body, and if you start taking elderberry every couple hours, at the first sign of a cold or flu you might even avoid getting sick all together.
It [elderberry syrup or cordial] shows the anti-flu activity by binding with viruses before penetrating into the walls of cells, thus prevents the spreading of viruses – (source)
The rule in herbalism is “early, often, and after”. Take herbs early, every few hours, and keep taking herbs for a few days after you feel better.
Elderberries are anti-inflammatory, antiviral, and rich in antioxidants (that deep purple color is a give away.) But for some reason, this inexpensive, and traditional remedy has faced some harsh criticism in 2020.
Let me debunk a few of these myths so you can feel confident in your DIY herbal remedy crafting this year and stock up your herbal remedies ahead of flu season.
Myth #1 — Elderberries are poisonous, eating them will kill you
When my friend asked if elderberries were poisonous, if I was shrewd, I would have told her, of course they are. I would be rich in elderberries forever. But instead I told her the truth, “Slightly.”
Elderberries contain amygdalin, a cyanide-sugar molecule that in large amounts can cause diarrhea and stomachache. In young children and those with compromised digestion large amounts might make them ill.
However, processing elderberries degrades the cyanide compounds, which include Cyanidin-3-sambubioside and cyanidin-3-glucoside. These cyanide compounds are degraded by fermentation and by heat. Using dried berries in tea reduced the cyanide compounds by 80%. Processing them for jellies, jams, and syrup reduced these compounds by 96%. Cyanide will vaporize at 26C (78F), just above room temperature, so heat treating the berries, by boiling or making elderberry syrup or jelly, will render them harmless. Most food uses of elderberry,like these ones, use heat to make sure they are perfectly safe.
Learn how to make safe and effective elderberry syrup from fresh elderberries here.
Elderberry Myth No. 2 — Elderberries will kill you by causing a cytokine storm
In the Spanish flu of 1918, healthy young adults died and it was reported that the reason so many died was because their healthy bodies had an overactive immune response and produced too many cytokines. They drowned in their own immune fluids.
A study that tested the benefits of elderberries in vitro (in a lab dish) showed that elderberries inhibited viruses by causing a cytokine induced immune response.
What are cytokines?
These are one of the ways the immune system communicates with the cells in the body. Think of them as messenger proteins. The cytokine sees a problem and signals for the immune system to send over some antibodies to fix the problem.
One herbalist saw this study and extrapolated that the issue with the Spanish flu and this process found in a petri dish were the same thing and warned her readers that elderberry was too dangerous an herb to use during a pandemic. There was only one problem.
Her conclusion didn’t take into account the full and balanced action of elderberries. Elderberries are anti-inflammatory and antioxidant as well as immune modulating and would likely calm down the situation, if taken early in the illness. Elderberries are also a rich source of quercetin, an antioxidant that acts as a zinc ionophore, in a similar manner to hydrochloroquine.
Other herbalists stepped in and brought scientific balance to the discussion but not before this myth ran like wildfire over the inter-webs. Elderberry is safe for most people if taken early, often, and after.
Myth number 3 — Elderberry will kill you if you try to can it, jam it, jelly it or process it
A 2015 study that looked at elderberry cultivars specifically to use for the herbal supplement industry, indicated that some selected elderberry varieties when grown in 2004 – 2006 in orchards in Oregon and Missouri are showing pH values higher than 4.6, the arbitrary boundary between low acid and high acid fruit, for home canning purposes. The elderberries in question were grown in limed soil and the pH values of different varieties fluctuated depending on the growing season and the area they were grown by as much as .5 pH.
This summer, a university extension office dug up this study originally done in 2006, and sounded the alarm stating dogmatically that elderberries could not be canned using a water bath canner — not with added acid like tomatoes, and not with added sugar like jams and jellies. Their conclusion — leave them for the birds. Elderberries are just too dangerous to process at home.
Here’s how to safely can elderberry juice or syrup in 2020
By treating elderberries like we treat tomatoes for water bath canning, by adding citric acid or lemon juice, we can safely lower the pH to make them safe for water bath canning. Or use a pressure canner and process them as you would for tomato juice, according to the manufacturers directions.
You can also make shelf stable elderberry syrup with the addition of tincture or infused vinegar. Grab the recipe for shelf stable elderberry syrup here.
You can also safely freeze elderberries or elderberry syrup for winter use.
Elderberries are a safe and effective remedy to keep in your home apothecary. Don’t let these internet myths keep you from making this effective and safe herbal remedy at home.
If herbal medicine making isn’t yet one of your self-reliant skills come over the DIY Herbal Fellowship and join us in the annual herbal medicine making challenge, then stick around and make herbs a part of your self reliant life style.
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Does pressure canning elderberry syrup make it shelf stable?
Elderberry Syrup has been used for CENTURIES people. It’s perfectly safe for all ages of children to the elderly. The Rx industry used the MSM and social media to slander and demonize ANYTHING that competed with their precious poisoned shots. Elderberry is an immune regulator, meaning it helps your body control the immune system response. I have not found one single case of a cytokine storm from Elderberries throughout history. The only drugs that cause cytokine storms are those made by man, i.e. big pharma. God’s medicine does not cause these issues.
People are lead astray because they refuse to study history and lazily depend on the “news” or stupid people on social media for their information.
I had a good friend of mine who was a veterinarian for many years, college trained, and very smart. When this false p*and*emic broke we had several in depth discussions over social media on the lie that Elderberry Syrup caused cytokine storms. Unfortunately, he didn’t listen to me, got sick, went into the hospital, and they murdered him with rem*des*ivir, Mida*zo*lam, and other sedative “drugs” after a long and expensive battle on a ventilator.
Face the facts. Collusion at the highest levels lead to the government paying hospitals to murder millions of American’s.
Absolutely!
Right on! Fluohobia is for sheep!!! Love God’s medicines!!!
How does alcohol affect these compounds? I’d like to make an alcoholic infusion without cooking the berries.
I do this. I haven’t had any problems. But I don’t know how alcohol affects the compounds. Fermentation removes them but steeping in alcohol doesn’t ferment it.
I was wondering if freeze drying elderberries will lower the cyanide compound and make them less likely to make you sick?
Hi! I’ve been hearing that elderberry syrup is not good for people like me with autoimmune disease (Hashimotos) because ramping up the immune system causes more damage. Is this correct or just another myth? Thanks in advance for your time and assistance!