The wild elderberry plant is useful in many ways
Elderberry (Latin Sambucus nigra) is a wild plant. It grows in the form of a bush on abandoned plots, uncultivated fields and pastures, on forest slopes and far from roads.
Elderberry blooms from early May to late July. Elderberry blooms even earlier if there is plenty of sun. The scent of an intoxicating white flower is felt far away. The flowers are best picked during a sunny day in June. Pick fully bloomed flowers with yellow sweet powder. Be sure to choose shrubs away from the road. Green beans (fruits) develop from unharvested flowers. As they mature, they become juicy and almost black. Today, they are used extensively for medicinal preparations and delicious juices and desserts. Blue elderberries are harvested during the fall when they are fully ripe. The root, leaf and bark of the tree are also medicinal. They are collected and harvested during the spring when these parts of the plant have the most vitamins.
Blue beans are used mainly for the preparation of syrups, jams, medicinal tinctures and aromatic wines. These fruits are rich in vitamins A, B and C, sugars and amino acids. They contain tannin, carotene and rutin. They can be used fresh, frozen and dried. The most important thing is to pick fully ripe fruits and not before, because unripe fruits can cause poisoning. They are useful in case of poor digestion, diseases of the throat and oral cavity, urinary tract infections and to strengthen weak immunity. They are not recommended for children under the age of seven, pregnant women, nursing mothers or people with gastrointestinal diseases.
The flowers are honey-bearing with a unique composition. They are full of essential oils, glycosides, flavonoids, chlorogenic acid, tannins and pectin. Syrups, medicinal teas, tinctures and herbal liquids are made from flowers. They are great for excretion (stimulate the work of sweat glands and help in case of fever), promote urination, a good antiseptic, relieve symptoms of flu and rheumatism, and treat neuralgia and sciatica. Inflammatory conditions (throat, gynecological problems) are washed away with plant fluid from the flowers. It is effective against kidney and gout diseases. Alcoholic tinctures are excellent lotions against rheumatism and skin diseases. Elder flowers are dried in well-ventilated rooms. If stored properly in paper bags and in a dry place then they retain their properties for as long as two to three years. If a flower darkens or changes color then such a flower should be discarded. Adherence to dosage is important. All parts of the plant are rich in iron, sodium and potassium.
Medicinal tea is used against bronchitis, dry cough, fever, inflammatory condition of the kidneys and urinary bladder. Pour one tablespoon of dried elderflower with one cup of boiling water. Keep in a thermos bottle overnight. Strain in the morning. Drink 2 teaspoons after meals up to 5 times a day.
Elderberry syrup that is later diluted with water – you need 30 elderflower flowers, 3 liters of water, 4 grams of lemon juice, 3 lemons and 3 kilograms of sugar. Pour citric acid and thinly sliced lemon with peel into the water. Wash the lemon well beforehand. Then soak the flowers in this liquid. Stir and leave for 24 hours in a dry and dark place. Strain the drink the next day. Add sugar and stir. Leave for another 24 hours with occasional stirring. The syrup is then ready for use. Pour the syrup into sterile bottles and close well with cellophane and a lid. The syrup can last up to a year if stored in a dark and dry place.