Is Elderberry Right For You? – Flu & Cold Treatment

By now you’ve probably heard about elderberry, especially around the cold and flu season. It has been said that it can help to keep people healthy and reduce cold and flu symptoms.

I’m all for natural remedies. If I can do something naturally and it works, I’m a fan for life. I make a homemade salve that I use instead of Neosporin because it works as good, if not better, and it’s from all natural ingredients.

I also make a homemade bug repellent made from natural ingredients which I also love and have stopped buying commercial bug sprays. And I make my own lip balm which I absolutely love.

In the case of elderberries, I was quite excited to try a homemade syrup that a friend of mine made. I followed their recommendations to take it daily as a preventative measure. I did that for about a month, then I got sick, really sick. Not quite the flu, but pretty close. I continued to take the elderberry and upped the dosage (as directed on the bottle) but my symptoms remained the same.

Eventually I got better, but I feel that it was a natural progression instead of receiving aid from the elderberry.

It’s not a miracle cure.

I didn’t expect it to be a miracle cure. I did, however, expect it to act as everyone says it’s supposed to.

In general, I also take plenty of other precautions to keep from getting sick, such as washing my hands frequently, taking vitamins and eating (fairly) healthy. Obviously, sometimes we get sick and that’s just how it is. There are medications (natural or pharmaceutical) that can help lessen symptoms and can also help us to get better.

Just like with ANY natural wild edible or medicinal herb, results may vary.

There is no conclusive scientific evidence that it actually does what it’s supposed to do as case studies have been limited. However, from my research and personal experience, it’s clear that it won’t work for everyone, or it may have limited results.

When looking into elderberry, pay very close attention to the sugar content level in commercial elderberry products, as high sugar content could suppress the immune system which would essentially render it not as effective.

It can also interact with certain medications for blood pressure, chemotherapy, and other chronic conditions. If you plan to take elderberry and you’re on other medications, talk to your doctor first.

I don’t want my experience to deter you from trying elderberry syrup, however, I want you to understand that it’s not a miracle cure and it’s certainly not going to be right for everyone. Some people swear by it, while others (like myself) don’t. And that’s ok. Not all medication, whether natural or pharmaceutical, is right for everyone.

I am not a doctor, just a consumer who has used the product and am sharing my results and general findings. Do your due diligence to research any product, whether natural or otherwise, before taking it. And if you do take it, understand that it may not be right for you and that’s ok.

If you’re healthy, not taking any other medications and feel confident that you’re ok with experimenting with a natural cold and flu option, then definitely go for it. Otherwise, please talk to your doctor first before taking any medication, whether natural or pharmaceutical.