Ayurvedic Herb

Elderberry

BotanicalSambucus nigraAlso calledBlack elderberry, European elder, Common elder

Dark purple berries that must always be cooked, simmered into a tart, jammy tea for the cold, damp months.

Elderberry, berry

Elder is a shrubby tree that blooms with flat, creamy flower clusters in early summer and hangs heavy with tiny dark purple berries by late summer. Simmered, the dried berries turn the water a deep wine color and taste tart and fruity, a little like a wild blackcurrant.

Elderberry is not a classical Ayurvedic herb. Modern Western Ayurvedic writers give the berries a sour and sweet taste and describe the elder plant as cooling. In Ayurvedic terms it is a seasonal herb, one people reach for when the weather turns damp and kapha starts to build.

Ayurvedic Properties

Not described in classical Ayurveda; modern Ayurvedic writers describe it as sour, sweet and astringent in taste and cooling, with a pungent post-digestive effect (Frawley and Lad, The Yoga of Herbs, and other modern Ayurvedic teachers).

RasaTastes
  • Sour
  • Sweet
  • Astringent
ViryaHeating or cooling
Cooling
VipakaPost-digestive effect
Pungent
AgniEffect on digestion
Neutral for agni

Little direct effect on digestion.

GunaQualities
  • Light
  • Dry
TridoshaEffect on Vata, Pitta and Kapha
  • Vata: decreases, in moderation
  • Pitta: decreases, in moderation
  • Kapha: decreases
  • decreases (calms that dosha)
  • increases (can aggravate it)
  • neutral or balancing
  • not known
  • V Vata · P Pitta · K Kapha

Elderberry's lightness helps kapha through the damp months. Its sourness can warm pitta a little, and its dryness can unsettle vata, so both do best with it simmered with warming spices and a little honey.

Traditional Uses

  • Traditionally used to support the body's natural defenses through the respiratory season.
  • Traditionally used to support easy breathing when kapha builds in cold, damp weather.
  • Traditionally used to support overall wellbeing as a dark, berry-rich seasonal tea.

How People Use It

  • TeaSimmer 1 to 2 teaspoons of dried berries per cup of water for at least 15 minutes, then strain. Never use raw berries. Cooking is what makes them safe.
  • HoneyOnce the cooked tea has cooled to drinking warmth, stir in raw honey. Ayurveda avoids cooking honey.
  • FoodCooked elderberries can go into jams, compotes and pies, always fully heated through.
Try This

Simmered Elderberry and Ginger Tea

A warming, wine-dark cup for damp autumn evenings.

  • 2 teaspoons dried elderberries (from a trusted supplier)
  • 3 thin slices fresh ginger
  • 1 small cinnamon stick
  • 2 cloves
  • 2 cups water
  • Raw honey to taste
  1. Put the elderberries, ginger, cinnamon and cloves in a small pot with the water.
  2. Bring to a boil, then lower the heat and simmer gently, covered, for 15 to 20 minutes. Do not shorten this step. Thorough cooking is what makes elderberries safe.
  3. Strain well, pressing the berries to release their color.
  4. Let it cool to drinking warmth, then stir in a little honey and sip slowly.

Pairs Well With

Cautions

  • Never eat raw or unripe elderberries, or the leaves, stems or bark of the elder plant. They contain substances that can produce cyanide and cause nausea, vomiting and severe diarrhea. Always cook the berries thoroughly.
  • Little is known about whether elderberry is safe during pregnancy or while breastfeeding, so avoid it then unless your doctor approves.
  • Elderberry may interact with some medicines. If you take any medication, especially immune-suppressing drugs, talk with your doctor first.
  • Do not rely on elderberry in place of medical care for any illness.
  • Please consult a qualified practitioner or your doctor before using elderberry regularly.

In Our Shop

Organic Elderberries

Organic Elderberries, from $5.75. Weighed and packed by hand at our Rockville Centre studio.

Shop Elderberry →

From the Journal

Sources and Further Reading

This page shares how herbs are traditionally used in Ayurveda and other herbal traditions. It is for general education only and is not medical advice. These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA, and herbs are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. Please talk with your doctor or a qualified practitioner before using herbs, especially if you are pregnant, nursing, taking medication or managing a health condition.