Herb library · Herb · Sambucus nigra
Elderberry
The dark purple berry of the European elder, sold as syrups and gummies for colds and flu. Some preliminary research suggests it may ease cold and flu symptoms; raw berries, leaves and stems are poisonous until cooked.
Serious warning
Raw or unripe elderberries, and the leaves and stems of the elder tree, contain substances that release cyanide and can cause nausea, vomiting and severe diarrhea; large amounts may cause serious illness. Cooking eliminates this toxin (NCCIH).
Traditional use
The European or black elder grows in Europe, North America, Western Asia and North Africa. Elderberry has been used in folk medicine for colds and flu, and is sold today for colds, flu and other conditions. It was also promoted for COVID-19, and the FDA and Federal Trade Commission have acted against companies marketing elderberry with unsupported COVID-19 claims. The American elder (Sambucus canadensis, now usually classed as a subspecies of S. nigra) was used on the Missouri River: Melvin Gilmore recorded (1919) that the Dakota, Omaha, Ponca and Pawnee ate the fresh fruit and made a drink from the blossoms.
What studies show
- Limited
Colds, flu and other upper respiratory infections: some preliminary research suggests elderberry may relieve symptoms.
- Insufficient
COVID-19: there is no good evidence to support its use.
- Insufficient
Other uses: there's not enough information to show whether it helps.
Be careful of
Cautions
- NoteOnly use cooked berries or products made from them; never eat raw or unripe berries, leaves or stems.
- InteractionSome herbs and medicines interact in harmful ways; ask before combining elderberry with any medicine.
- PregnancyLittle is known about whether it is safe for health purposes during pregnancy or while breastfeeding.
- Ask a clinicianTalk with a clinician or pharmacist before using this if you take prescription medicines, are pregnant or breastfeeding, or are giving it to a child.
From the old books
What herbals and dispensaries of the past printed. History, in their words.
“The fruits were used for food in the fresh state. The larger stems of the bush were used by small boys for making popguns. A pleasant drink was made by dipping the blossoms into hot water.”
“The berries have little or no odor, an acid-saccharine taste, and yield by expression a purple juice, called elder-rob, which turns a dark-lilac color with alkalies, and a scarlet with acids”
“An infusion of the young leaf-buds is likewise purgative, and sometimes acts with violence.”
Sources
- Elderberry: Usefulness and Safety (opens in a new tab) · NCCIH · read September 25, 2026
Reviewed September 25, 2026.