Elder

The Elder tree has been used as medicine and food since ancient times, and was considered sacred by the Celts, who made a particularly intoxicating wine from its berries.

Elder flowers are most often used in the onset of common illnesses such as colds or flu, to promote sweating and gently sedate. Extracts of the berries have been shown to have antiviral effects, especially against influenza, and to reduce the average duration of influenza from 6 days to 2-3 days in 90% of the patients studied.