Elderberry is a famous culture in our latitudes. It has been used since ancient times not only as an ornamental plant, but also as a medicine in folk and traditional medicine. True, they need to use with caution. Therefore, in this material we will talk about the features of elderberry, and also pay attention to its healing properties and possible contraindications.
The chemical composition of elderberry
The plant is valued for its high content of biologically active substances: carbohydrates, organic and fatty acids, essential oils, triglycerides, hydrocarbons, anthocyanins, steroids and other useful trace elements. However, in many respects their percentage depends on the climatic zone and the specific area where the elder grows.
Did you know? Learning elder among other plants is quite simple. It has leaves of 5-7 oblong-ovate pointed leaves, its thyroid inflorescences consist of cream-white flowers, and rounded berries are colored black-violet. The bush grows to 3-10 m and blooms in June. You can find it on the edges, in forests and shrubs, although it is often cultivated for decorative purposes.
The composition of the berries
For medicinal purposes, first of all, use the berries of the plant. They contain carotenoids, amino acids, ascorbic acid, tannins and dyes.
Black elderberry berries contain vitamin C, carotene (provitamin A), malic, acetic, valeric, tartaric, citric acid, essential oil, tannins, sugar, rutin. 
Approximately 2.8% of the composition is glucose and carotene, and up to 2.5% - fructose, sambucin, resin. There are also free acids, in larger quantities - malic acid.
The composition of flower baskets
Black elderberry flowers contain essential oils, glycosides, mucus, choline, rutin, valeric, acetic, caffeic acids, vitamin C, tannins, sugar, as well as substances like sex hormones.
The composition of the leaves
No less useful and elderberry leaves. They contain about 0.15% carotene, vitamin C, sambunigrin, essential oil, tannins, and some alkaloids.
There is also a considerable amount of resinous substances that give a laxative effect. When dried, provitamin A1 is formed in the leaves.
Composition of the cortex
Has useful properties and bark shrub. It has a lot of pectin, triterpene and tannins, essential oils, betulin, choline, phytosterol, sugar.
Important! There is an elderberry black and red. For medicinal purposes, it is black that is used, and red is poisonous. It is categorically impossible to eat, and in case of contact with the berries, hands should be thoroughly washed. Make sure that the juice from the red elder did not get on the mucous surfaces of the body or in wounds. In this case, it is better to immediately seek medical help.
The use of elderberry in medicine
A huge amount of nutrients in the plant could not go unnoticed. It is used for the preparation of decoctions, lotions, medicinal teas, preserves.
Medicinal properties of berries
Berries are used in various forms. So, fresh fruit juice treats varicose veins and constipation.
Sunflower oil - rheumatism, gout, lowers fever. Fruit decoction used in the treatment of hepatitis, diabetes, chronic pancreatitis, obesity.
In the latter case, infusions are prepared not only from berries, but from flowers, which are added to teas for the purpose of a diuretic and laxative effect. As an additional body reaction, a person gets a decrease in appetite, an improvement in metabolic processes.
Known effect of elderberry on cancer. In this case, outwardly used wine extract of berries, and in gastric cancer - jam or jam from them.
Healing properties of flowers
Plant flowers used in the treatment of neuralgia, burns, erysipelas, inflammation of the lungs, as well as conjunctivitis, stomatitis, tracheobronchitis, bronchitis, sore throat, menopause. For the treatment of preparing infusions or decoctions of inflorescences.
Medicinal properties of leaves
The leaves showed excellent properties in the treatment of furunculosis, hemorrhoids, myositis, polyarthritis. In this case, poultices and lotions are used for treatment, sometimes with flowers. When bruises, injuries, bleeding, insomnia, headaches, decoctions of leaves are used. In addition to the therapeutic effect of the plant has an analgesic effect.
Healing properties of the cortex
Elderberry bark recommended for diseases of the urinary system, intestinal atony, skin diseases, atherosclerosis. For treatment, powder from dried bark or shrub root and decoctions of them are used.
Did you know? Distinguishing black elderberry from red is not always easy. By the color of the fruits, they differ only at the time of ripening. And when it comes time to collect leaves and twigs for treatment, the differences are not so pronounced. Therefore, if you have doubts, it is better not to use elderberry for medicinal purposes, otherwise, instead of alleviating the disease, you can get severe poisoning.
Preparation and storage of medical raw materials
For therapeutic purposes, all components of the shrub are used, but they must be collected at different times. So, in the spring, before the sap flow began, remove the bark of the bush.
For this use only biennial branches. The top layer of bark from them is scraped off, dried at a temperature of +60 ° C and stored for no more than three years.
Flowers collected when they just dissolved. Drying brushes should be in the shade on a wooden surface, spreading them in a thin layer. After drying, they are rubbed through a sieve and stored for no more than two years.
Leaves with elderberry is removed throughout the summer. For the preparation of medicines is better to use young leaves. The roots excavated and cut in the fall. They must be washed, dried and powdered. Store no more than five years.
Important! Use fresh leaves must be strictly on prescription, as an overdose can lead to disastrous results. The young foliage contains sambunigrin glycoside, which is based on poisonous hydrocyanic acid. However, after drying, this substance in the leaflets is destroyed.Fruit they take it off in late August and early September, and as they mature, only ripe berries are removed from the bush. Their branches are first dried in the sun, then dried at + 65 ° C in ovens.
Only then can they be separated from the stalks and stored for storage. Store dried berries can be no more than six months.
The general rule of storage is to keep raw materials in fabric bags. They should be in a dry, dark and ventilated area. If the humidity rises, all blanks will quickly become damp and moldy.
The use of elderberry in cosmetology
Since elderberry has an anti-inflammatory effect and is rich in various beneficial trace elements, it is widely used in cosmetology. Most often flowers are used, a little less - leaves and fresh berries.
So, for dry skin, regular rinsing is recommended with infusion of shrub flowers. And if you add rose leaves to the decoction, you can use it for all skin types. He tightens and tones her.
To give elasticity, prevent inflammation and healing using infusion of the fruit. Additionally, it improves skin texture.
A decoction of flowers and buds is used for baldness, and for the general tone, it is recommended to take a bath with a decoction of elder flowers.
The use of elderberry in cooking
In cooking, most often use elderberry fruits that have a specific flavor. However, after treatment with high temperatures, it usually disappears. Therefore, it is recommended to use dried berries, which give a sweet-sour nightshade.
Fresh berries used in the preparation of jelly, compotes, mashed potatoes. Of them cook jam. They also prepare pastila, jelly, marmalade, jam, and they are often combined with apples or lemon.
Fruit Juice Elderberry used as a natural dye in the manufacture of wines, juices and other beverages. Yes, and the berries themselves are used as the basis for liqueurs and tinctures. Dried fruit used as a seasoning, as well as one of the components of muesli.
Flowers widely used in the manufacture of wines, tinctures, brandies, liqueurs. Add them during infusion and get a delicate nutmeg flavor. Also prepare elderberry syrup with sugar based on inflorescences, which is called "elderberry honey." It is used as a medicine for colds, and as an additive to pancakes, pancakes and other dishes.
Suitable for consumption and young shoots of the plant. For this they are boiled and marinated.
Dangerous properties of elderberry
Even black elder, which is not as dangerous as red, is considered a toxic plant, although this toxicity is moderately expressed. Therefore, it is not recommended for nursing mothers and pregnant women. Also, with caution and with the personal permission of the doctor, you can use elderberry during the treatment of children under the age of 12 years.
Fresh berries are not recommended to use to anyone - they can cause vomiting and even poisoning. Roots, bark and young leaves of a plant when used in large quantities can cause inflammation of the mucous membrane of the stomach and intestines.
Therefore, if you have already been diagnosed with inflammatory processes of the gastrointestinal tract, as well as ulcerative colitis, diabetes insipidus, it is not recommended to use elderberry in any form.
Elderberry is also contraindicated for those suffering from Korn's disease. Individual intolerance of the plant may also occur.
Elderberry is a very useful plant, rich in vitamins and trace elements. The range of its application is simply enormous: medicine, cooking, cosmetology.
But it is important not to exceed the rate of consumption of the plant, since it refers to moderately toxic. Also, do not forget that in all these cases only black elder is used, and red is an extremely dangerous culture.
