Hello, I hope you’re having a good day and are well.  I seem to be surrounded by a lot of colds and flus at the moment and if you are like me and simply just don’t have time to take a week off with a cold or flu, next time you feel the beginning signs (run down, lethargic, tickly throat and/or tender ears) do yourself and get yourself some elderberry supplements (Samucol produce easy to take capsules which are sold at most chemists).  Sambucus nigra fruit ( black elderberry) has been reported to possess alterative (through evidence is shown to alter favourably the course of an ailment), anti-bacterial, anti-depressant, anti-diabetic, antioxidant, anti-viral, diuretic, emetic, hypercholesterolemia, hyperlipidaemia, immuno-modulating, immuno-stimulating, laxative, and sudorific actions.

Four human trials studying different standardised Sambucus nigra fruit extracts have shown to be effective in the treatment of Influenza (at the appropriate dose) compared to a placebo.  Three of these studies found that the majority of influenza patients taking the extract showed a significant improvement in most symptoms and a reduction in the severity of the infection, reaching a complete recovery much faster than those not taking the extract. Krawitz et al. (2011) & Zakay-Rones et al. (1995) also concluded that Sambucus nigra fruit extracts were able to neutralise and reduce the infectivity of influenza viruses A & B.  Furthermore Krawitz et al. (2011) found that the extract was effective in vitro against specific bacteria known to cause infections of the human upper respiratory tract.

In another study by Chen et al. (2014) they concluded that elderberry extract was able to inhibit Infectious bronchitis virus (IBV) replication at an early point of infection, by compromising the virus structure while the other herbal extracts did not inhibit IBV replication at all.

Does anymore need to be said?  First sign of a cold take your elderberry, drink more water than normal (2L plus per day) and why not take 1 day off; it’s important to listen to your body, a lot of the time getting a bacterial/viral infection is your body saying – please give me some loving.

Have a beautiful day!

WellWithNature xxxx