Re: elderberry*

[Guest guest]

Re: elderberry

The NY Times ran a story some years ago about how the drug patent laws in the

U.S. were keeping useful medicines out of American consumers hands because

you can't get an exclusive patent on anything derived from nature under the

current rules so drug companies have done less and less research on

plant-derived medicines.

At the same time Israeli researchers (many of whom have studied in the U.S.

according to the article) decided to look into the old wives tale about

elderberry tea being good for respiratory problems. Well, they proved it,

figured out how it worked (the bacteria or microbes or whatever they are that

cause bronchitis, pneumonia, etc. are like Velcro on the outside and stick to

the lungs. A compound in elderberries coats them so they can't stick and

therefore they pass through the body more quickly), and the created medicines

based on concentrated elderberries. Since the development of this

medicine, they've slashed their use of antibiotics to fight bronchitis,

pneumonia and other respiratory infections and, if a case is severe, the new

medicine can be used with antibiotics.

***********************

There are Red Elderberries and Blue Elderberries, and frankly I don't know

there species names, I have not cooked with them at all. The leaves stink

powerfully, as does the bark- VERY unpleasantly fragrant. I have many of these

trees all over- I have a lot of deer, and elk and wildlife, but not so many they

would ever eat all of the berries in the time of year they grow. The branches

are easily bent over for picking berries etc- but there's so many apples and

blackberries- the ground animals prefer those. Do you know if this research is

on the Red or the blue? Or does it not matter. The trees are difficult to

eradicate if you want to. Just leave them a stump, a twig practically and they

are back to a tree in no time. In the woods and unkept areas, no problem, but I

have had difficulty when I do not want their smell by some areas with more

pleasant aromas growing. They do stink. someone brought to my home a small

xmas tree well pleased with the gifting of a plantable tree. Won't be near the

house- that';s a certainty, Juniper, that old cat piss smell.

Patti

"

[Guest guest]

> There are Red Elderberries and Blue Elderberries, and frankly I don't know

there species names, I have not cooked with them at all. The leaves stink

powerfully, as does the bark- VERY unpleasantly fragrant. I have many of these

trees all over- I have a lot of deer, and elk and wildlife, but not so many they

would ever eat all of the berries in the time of year they grow. The branches

are easily bent over for picking berries etc- but there's so many apples and

blackberries- the ground animals prefer those. Do you know if this research is

on the Red or the blue? Or does it not matter.

I have no idea. The NYT story ran years ago. I wish I had saved it. It's

possible the active compounds are in both, but the elderberry capsules I take

are sambucus nigra if that helps.

Beth

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