Elder flower (Sambucus nigra) is an easily accessible plant with many health advantages. Packed full of bioflavonoids like quercetin and isoquercitrin that provide antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and antiviral benefits, elderflower can be easily found almost anywhere.
Gentle distillation or cold infusion yields an aromatic and refreshing beverage, perfect for adding into fizzy water or creating signature cocktails.
Health Benefits
Hippocrates referred to the elder tree in 400 BCE as his “medicine chest.” Hippocrates was joined by other ancient healers like Theophrastus, Dioscorides and Galen in acknowledging it as one of nature’s great healing plants – with sweet-scented flowers offering numerous health benefits for skin, respiratory systems and more.
Elderflower contains bioflavonoids such as quercetin and isoquercitrin that provide anti-inflammatory and antioxidant benefits, antiviral effects and an antihistamine effect. Elderflower also acts mildly astringent to minimize pores, dry out oily skin and encourage new cell production for a fresher looking complexion. Plus it’s loaded with essential vitamins and minerals which support optimal body temperature regulation, soothe skin irritations, relieve expectorant allergies as well as alleviate digestive discomforts!
Elder flower can help reduce inflammation in the upper respiratory tract when taken orally, especially during allergy season when daily ingestion can help ease colds, flu and coughs. Furthermore, elderflowers contain antihistamine properties which make them highly effective at treating allergies like hay fever or sinus pressure.
Elderflower is well known as an excellent source of vitamin C. This essential nutrient offers powerful antioxidant benefits that protect memory and thinking as we age, as well as improving mood and decreasing anxiety. Elderflower can be found in juice, teas, tinctures or any number of forms available today.
Elderflower flowers contain cooling qualities that can soothe itchy and watery eyes, as well as anti-swollen salve. Elderflower also exhibits estrogenic activity which may aid women with menstrual issues as well as inhibit the proliferation of ovarian cancer cells in vitro.
Elderflower harvesting season typically runs from late spring through early fall in most regions of the US. Look out for it along streambanks, damp wooded areas and old homestead sites; its flowers can easily be separated from their stems for drying later. Harvest elderflower in the morning for best results as this is when its scent is most pleasant.
Skin Care
Elderflower water’s astringent properties help refine and tighten pores while clearing away dirt from your skin, soothing blemishes and burns and providing a quick and affordable way to keep skin looking its best. Simply distilling some flowers in filtered water or leaving them overnight to infuse in a jar of boiled and cooled water will yield fragrant water that’s great for spraying on face or body; alternatively you could add this precious ingredient to facial or body wash!
Elderflower has incredible hydrating properties that make it the ideal addition to skincare products, particularly when combined with other natural ingredients to combat signs of ageing. When combined with snow fungus, nephrospermum, and hyaluronic acid – this combination creates a product which naturally firms and lifts.
Elder flower contains anti-inflammatory and soothing properties that can reduce redness and soothe irritation when applied topically, as well as being abundant with antioxidants and vitamins to neutralise free radicals that threaten DNA and cells. When applied topically on skin, these powerful medicinal benefits of elder flower may help reduce redness and soothe discomfort. In addition, its high content of antioxidants helps neutralise free radicals to prevent any damage to DNA and cells.
Lemon balm is the ideal ingredient to combat eczema, psoriasis and acne as its abundance of soothing mucilages, sitosterols (such as stigmasterol and campesterol) fatty acids antioxidant tannins and vitamins A & C make it the ideal remedy.
Make a DIY facial or body oil by mixing dried elderflower blossoms with any base oil of your choice. To speed things up, heat both ingredients over a low heat for one to two hours until petals start discoloring before taking it off the heat and straining out any leftover petals.
Or for an old-fashioned infusion method, simply cap the oil and flowers together and leave to sit overnight to suffuse. Once this step has completed, pour through a sieve to collect your stunning oil – then use it in homemade facial or body washes to achieve healthy, radiant skin!
Eye Care
Elderflowers can be used to produce anti-ageing skincare products like face cream, eye gel and hand lotion. Packed with antioxidants that repair damage caused by oxidative stress on cells and inflammation, elderflowers help repair these damages to slow down the aging process. Our Elderflower and Seaweed Eye Gel provides wide awake refreshment for delicate areas around your eyes to reduce puffiness and dark circles while firming and toning skin naturally through firming properties that boost natural collagen and elastin production resulting in younger-looking skin!
This herbal elixir contains an exclusive combination of herbs that work in tandem to cleanse and tighten skin, including nettle leaf, fennel seed and horsetail. Elder flower, with its high concentration of Vitamin C to support cell health as well as the formation of new blood vessels and collagen production is also present.
Elder tree is a versatile herb with numerous health benefits for both people and animals alike. The fruit, berries and flowers all help treat respiratory conditions; its leaves contain diuretic compounds used in herbal cough remedies; while its berries act as expectorants to stimulate mucus secretion to help prevent colds, flu or sore throats from appearing.
Elderflower tea can be an enjoyable treat, serving to relieve fatigue while providing restorative benefits for the entire body. Elderflower is especially soothing for tired or strained eyes, helping reduce under-eye puffiness and dark circles while potentially improving wrinkles and fine lines.
Elderflowers are best-known as an effective remedy against colds and flus, particularly fever reduction. Elderflower flowers and berries have antiviral, anti-inflammatory, expectorant, anti-viral properties while its leaves have diuretic qualities; elderflower is even thought to help ease hayfever symptoms as well as asthma issues as well as help treat sinusitis, bronchitis, rheumatism, arthritis as well as sinusitis and bronchitis symptoms.
Drinks
Elderflowers are commonly used to craft tea, which can help relieve cold symptoms and fever by infusing with other herbs such as thyme and peppermint for an anti-inflammatory herbal infusion that soothes sore throats and clears sinuses. Elderflower is also rich in phytochemicals like flavonoids, quercetin, isoquercitrin, anthocyanins chlorogenic acid and triterpenoids (especially b-amyrin erythrodiol oleanolic acid). All of which offer strong antiviral, antibacterial antifungal, antihistamine properties as well.
These phytochemicals help the body fight free radicals and protect the cells, as well as slow ageing. Furthermore, it may reduce diabetes risks by helping regulate blood sugar levels; acting as a diuretic helps reduce high blood pressure as it increases urine production.
Elder flower is an exquisite taste and makes an ideal summer drink. Its taste has been described as similar to that of lychee fruit combined with honey and citrus notes, making this delicate drink one of the perfect summer beverages.
Commercially produced cordials and fizzy beverages made with elderflower are available, but their sugar levels may exceed your needs. A simple syrup can be created by steeping fresh or dried elderflowers in water for several hours until cool before straining out the flowers to create a sweetener that can be added to other drinks.
Alternative is making your own liqueur; many recipes can be found online; just be wary not to mistake elder plant leaves and berries as flowers; these can be toxic if consumed in excess. St-Germain liqueur from France is one such popular option which contains less than one percent sugar.
Tinctures can provide a convenient way of prolonging the benefits of elderflower beyond its short season. Made from fresh or dried herbs, tinctures can last years before being used for tea making, infusing oil/alcohol solutions for use as skin tonics or internal use.
