Elderberries have been a part of maintaining a healthy immune system for hundreds of years, especially during the dreaded cold and flu season. Elderberries are a wonderful little gift that some studies indicate they may work in your body to boost your immune system, and particularly fight off viruses. 

Research recently done in Sydney, Australia “showed that compounds from elderberries can directly inhibit the virus's entry and replication in human cells, and can help strengthen a person's immune response to the virus.” - (https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/04/190423133644.htm). This research seems to indicate that elderberry prevents replication of the virus, which what causes so much harm and illness. 

The article continues “"What our study has shown is that the common elderberry has a potent direct antiviral effect against the flu virus," said Dr Golnoosh Torabian.  "It inhibits the early stages of an infection by blocking key viral proteins responsible for both the viral attachment and entry into the host cells."  The researchers used elderberries which were turned into a juice serum and were applied to cells before, during and after they had been infected with the influenza virus.  The phytochemicals from the elderberry juice were shown to be effective at stopping the virus infecting the cells, however to the surprise of the researchers they were even more effective at inhibiting viral propagation at later stages of the influenza cycle when the cells (however to the surprise of the researchers they were even more effective at prohibiting viral propagation at later stages of the influenza cycle)had already been infected with the virus.  "This observation was quite surprising and rather significant because blocking the viral cycle at several stages has a higher chance of inhibiting the viral infection," explained Dr Peter Valtchev.”

To recap, even when cells were already infected with influenza virus, the phytochemicals from the elderberries were able to prevent or slow down the propagation, or reproduction, of the flu in latter stages.  Being able to stop or slow down the spread of the virus in your system is something that pharmaceutical companies have been trying to figure out for years.    

In a paper written by Dr. Heather Zwickey, PhD titled “Thinking about Coronavirus from an Infectious Disease Perspective” https://cdn.ymaws.com/naturopathic.org/resource/resmgr/documents/covid19/clinical_resources/zwickey_-_thinking_about_cor.pdf Dr. Zwickey states “Elderberry’s effect on virus is different than many other herbs. It appears to affect lipid rafts, which means that it can inhibit viral uptake and viral budding. This is mechanism that would make elderberry important for any viral infection, including SARS-CoV2.” Again, these studies, though not extensive, seem to back up the long understanding that the elderberry's affect on viral illness is not just a myth or scam.  We are now beginning to understand why it works so well.    

Dr. Zwickey goes on to say “Elderberry does not stimulate a cytokine storm in any research study.”  While this study was not in an infectious disease model, the lack of reports of cytokine storms is significant considering that clinical trials have been completed.”  So the fear of a cytokine storm is a myth.  Like with anything else you take every day in your life, if you feel it is having negative affects, or you are having some sort of allergic reaction to it, stop taking it.     

We harvest our elderberries from the wild.  There are no sprays, no fertilizers, no chemicals that are used on the trees.  They grow wild, and we hunt them down and harvest them.  Edlerberry has been instrumental in our family of 9 to remain healthy, even during the flue season.  We have taken our elderberry syrup throughout the COVID-19 scare, and now that flu season is around the corner, we will continue to take it. Now you may be asking, so how can I get these little berries to benefit me?  Just hop on over to our site -  www.elderberrykit.com.  With this kit you can make up to half a gallon of elderberry syrup.  Our kit has a total of 10 indgredients, all selected for their health benefits.  An additional benefit... it taste amazing.