Any Science behind Elderberry for Influenza and Covid-19?

Posted on by Jesse Santiano, M.D.

Elderberry (Sambucus Nigra) is an over the counter nutritional supplement that is used when someone has a cold.

Many studies support that elderberry is useful for the flu.

Sambucus_nigra2
Sambucus Nigra

Elderberry for influenza

  1. Prevents the multiplication of the influenza virus [1], [3]
  2. Elderberry increases the body’s ability to fight infection by an increase in the production of cytokines.[1],[5]
  3. Antibodies against influenza were also increased after using elderberry. [1], [4],[5]
  4. Symptoms of the flu were relieved earlier with elderberry [2],[4],[5]

Personal note: I have used and recommended the elderberry capsule for many years and have not had a severe case of influenza-even while working in the emergency room

No studies about Elderberry and Covid-19

My search for the use of elderberry for Covid-19 ended with nothing. That may be because the virus is new. The epidemic started in November 2019. In a short time, it has infected more than 227 thousand and cause more than 9,000 deaths worldwide.

Most of the studies about the new coronavirus are focused on its properties and hospital treatment.

Prevention of Covid-19

Hand washing, wearing a mask, and social distancing are the best ways to prevent infection and spread of Covid-19.

Feel free to share. Don’t miss an article. Subscribe for free with your email.

Don’t Get Sick!

 

References:

  1. Torabian et al. Anti-influenza activity of elderberry (Sambucus nigra). Journal of Functional Foods. Volume 54, March 2019, Pages 353-360.
  2. Zakay-Rones Z1, Thom E, Wollan T, Wadstein J. Randomized study of the efficacy and safety of oral elderberry extract in the treatment of influenza A and B virus infections. J Int Med Res. 2004 Mar-Apr;32(2):132-40.
  3. Krawitz et al. Inhibitory activity of a standardized elderberry liquid extract against clinically-relevant human respiratory bacterial pathogens and influenza A and B viruses. BMC Complement Altern Med. 2011 Feb 25;11:16. doi: 10.1186/1472-6882-11-16.
  4. Zakay-Rones Z et al. Inhibition of several strains of influenza virus in vitro and reduction of symptoms by an elderberry extract (Sambucus nigra L.) during an outbreak of influenza B Panama. J Altern Complement Med. 1995 Winter;1(4):361-9.
  5. Barak V et al. The effect of Sambucol, a black elderberry-based, natural product, on the production of human cytokines: I. Inflammatory cytokines. Eur Cytokine Netw. 2001 Apr-Jun;12(2):290-6.

Related:

  1. More Articles about Covid-19
  2. How to Beat a Pandemic Just like in the Movies
  3. Asymptomatic is not Always what it Seems
  4. The Complete Covid-19 ArticlesU.S. Drive-Thru Covid-19 Testing Brings Fresh Hope
  5. Using the 80/20 Principle for Covid-19
  6. 10 Things Anyone Can Do to Lower the Covid-19 Death Rate
  7. New Covid-19 data confirms the need for 2-week Quarantine
  8. Protecting At-Risk People from Covid-19
  9. Drive-Thru Testing for Covid-19
  10. Can children get infected with the Covid-19?
  11. Covid-19: Why Should Health Care Workers be Protected?
  12. The Covid-19 can Attack the Brain
  13. New Study Explains the Rapid Spread of Covid-19
  14. 6 Disinfectants for the Home against the Coronavirus
  15. 5 Hand Disinfectants for Coronavirus You May not Know

© 2018 – 2020 Asclepiades Medicine, LLC  All Rights Reserved
DrJesseSantiano.com does not provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment

As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

Image credit: CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=55961