So it’s another bad flu year!

The flu that’s going around this year, H3N2, is especially dangerous and has already resulted in thousands of hospitalizations.  You may be wondering how to protect yourself and your family from this potent virus. While traditional therapies such as ginger tea and warming soups are certainly beneficial, one remarkable herb, Sambucus nigra, also known as black elderberry, has been shown to both prevent and decrease the severity of the flu. Read on to find out more!

Avoid the Flu in the First Place

In a 2016 study, people taking elderberry were 40% less likely to get sick than people taking a placebo. Why is this? Elderberry increases the activity of the immune system, and in several studies, it’s been shown to specifically increase antibodies to the flu virus. That means that even if someone is exposed to a flu germ, elderberry may help their immune system find and destroy the virus before it has a chance to make them sick.

Elderberry Can Reduce the Length of a Flu

In a study out of Norway, elderberry reduced flu symptoms, such as headaches, fever, nausea, chills, and body aches, by a full four days. These results have been repeated in several studies and are so solid that even the University of Michigan recommends Elderberry for cold and flu!

Elderberry is Tasty!

One of the nicest things about elderberry is that it’s delicious! It has been used traditionally in jams, jellies, syrups, and even soups, such as in the traditional German dish fliederbeerensuppe. This makes it an easy herb to use for kids and teens or even picky adults. Most kids are happy to take a spoonful, or it can be put in a smoothie or even drizzled on pancakes or waffles in the morning.

Elderberry and Safety
When harvested and prepared correctly, elderberry is considered safe and non-toxic for most individuals. However, not everyone will benefit from taking elderberry, and elderberry that is harvested at the wrong time or prepared the wrong way can be harmful to your health. Because of this, elderberry should be used under the direction of your naturopathic doctor or other health care practitioner, and you should only use products from high-quality herbal suppliers such as Gaia Herbs or Maine Medicinals.

Never consume the leaves, bark, roots, or branches of the elderberry tree, and never consume raw berries, as these can be toxic.

Why do it Alone?

Would you like Dr.O Care’s help to get through the cold and flu season this year?

At Dr.O Care we are always happy to set up appointments either remotely through obtainhealth.com or in-person to discuss all of the ins-and-outs of treating cold and flu. As a parent of children, I understand how complicated all of these decisions can be! If you’d like to schedule an appointment, just call 904-743-2100, or click here to make an appointment online.