DESCRIPTION : The name Elder or Elderberry, covers about 13 species of deciduous shrubs in America and Europe.

This shrub is indigenous to all parts of the U.S. and Canada. You will find S. canadensis in low, damp, grounds, thickets and waste lands. It is frequently cultivated for its ornamental foliage. Elder grows 5-12 feet high. It blooms in June and July. The star-shaped, fragrant flowers are 1/4 of an inch across and grouped in flat flower clusters that are about 8 in across. From these flowers develop purple-black berries containing three or four round seeds. The seeds mature in September and October. The fruit of elder is made into jellies, pies and wine.

The branching stems are covered with a rough, pitted grey bark. The large central stems smooth. Elder has an odor that is faintly sweet, and an aromatic taste that is slightly bitter. European Elder is larger than the American species, although the general characteristics and properties similar.

The branchlets are stout, and yellow-brown with warty lenticels. They have a large white pith and small green or brown buds. There is a rank odor when the branches are bruised. The leaves are opposite, compound, and 6 to 10 inches long. They are elliptic or lance shaped, the lower ones often 3 parted, mostly pointed at the base and tip. The margins are sharply toothed, and the overall texture smooth above, paler and sometimes slightly downy underneath.

CULTIVATION : Elders like moist rich soils, full sun to part shade. Suckers grow freely and are the easiest propagation method. Elder roots with such ease that a young twig pushed into the ground will soon establish itself. The plant will also grow well from seed. This plant takes severe pruning well. Keep pruned to keep in shape, as it can become scraggly.

HARVESTING : Pick flowers of elder when it is in full bloom. In the autumn, strip the bark, but remember the toxins. Collect the leaves in June and July, after the dew is dry, also remembering the toxins involved.

PARTS OF THE PLANT USED : The roots inner bark, leaves, berries, and flowers of elder are used.

PLANT ANALYSIS : CAUTION : Bark, root, leaves, unripe berries are toxic; said to cause cyanide poisoning and severe diarrhea. Elder contains cyanogenic glucoside, a substance that release cyanide. The berries are rich in iron. The flowers contain oil, rutin, vitamins, and minerals and are not considered toxic, along with cooked berries.

MEDICINAL USE : Avoid this herb if you are pregnant.

The tea may simmered for ten minutes longer than normal and used on the eyes. Use cotton soaked in this solution to provide an external application over closed eye lids.

The inner green bark may be used as a cathartic infusion when mixed with wine or juice. Doses from 1/2 ounce to 1 ounce will moderately purge. Be careful if you choose to use this as it may have a violent action on some people.

A large dose of elder will produce vomiting. When used in small doses it produces a promoting of all fluid secretion.

When used externally, every part of the elder is said to aid in complexion beauty, removing spots, easing irritation, removing freckles and softening skin if used faithfully.

For various swellings, tumors, joints etc., simmer any or all parts of the elder plant and apply as a poultice mixed with camomile for soreness, inflammation, or joint stiffness.

A tincture of the fresh leaves and flowers is said to be helpful for albuminuria, angina pectoris, and asthma.

The flowers have been used for dropsy, rheumatism, appendix inflammation, bladder and kidney infections, intestinal conditions, eyes, and external skin troubles.

The young spring leaves, boiled in honey, are said to be excellent in chronic constipation. They may also be boiled in milk for burns and piles.

The leaves have been used as an effective insecticide. Try rubbing some leaves on your skin to help keep mosquitoes away. Repeat every half hour.

MEDICINAL ACTION : Elder is considered an emetic, hydragogue, and cathartic.

The flowers are diaphoretic, diuretic, alterative, emollient, discutient, and gentle stimulant.

The berries are diuretic, astringent, diaphoretic.

MAGICKAL USES : Hang over doors and windows to ward off attackers and to keep evil out of the house.

Carry the berries of elder with you to protect against negativity.

When used to bless a person, place, or thing, scatter the leaves and berries of elder to in the 4 directions. Use the name of the person or describe the object to be blessed. Scatter some over the person or object.

HISTORY : Pliny named elder Sambuca, after the musical instrument made of the wood. He records the belief of country people that the shrillest pipes were made of elder grown out of the reach of the sound of a "cock-crow." A simple pipe, called a sampogna, is still made by Italian people from the branches of elder.

Elder had been used in burial rites in ancient Britain.

Romans dyed their hair with the berries, as did the Native Americans.

The wood of the cross for Jesus was said to be made of elder, and Judas was said to be hanged from the branches of an elder.

Flowers of the elder were listed in the U.S. Pharmacopoeia from 1831 to 1905. A strained, sterilized tea was used as a mild stimulant, carminative and diaphoretic.

S. nigra, European elder, was used in Russia from their early history. In the Middle Ages it was considered a Holy Tree, capable of restoring good health and keeping good health.

LORE : Do not burn the wood of elder in the hearth. Bad spirits will enter your home if you dare to do so.

In early England, it was thought if you hit a child with and elder twig was thought to be doomed to a life as a dwarf.

The elder was said to be the home of the goddess Greya.

If you see an elder bush in a dream it means illness will will touch your life.

If elder is gathered on the last day of April, put over doors and windows to ward off witches. Branches were fashioned into cross shapes for this purpose.

It was considered dangerous to sleep beneath an elder.

If you Stood under the branches on Mid Summer's Eve, you were supposed to be able to see the "King of Fairyland" and all his followers ride by.

In Denmark permission must be asked from the Hylde-Moer, the Elder Mother, before cutting an elder. She will haunt anyone who has not asked for for the privilege. The Elder Mother will also harass any baby who is unlucky enough to be in an elder wood cradle, tugging at its legs until it is lifted out. Elder is not used for floors or furniture, either.

When an elder is cut a red sap flows from the branches. Witches and spirits were thought to live in elder, and it was necessary to warn them before cutting the shrub to give them time to leave.

Before cutting an elder, kneel before the shrub and recite the following:

This allows the witch or spirit within tree time to vacate.

Grow in your garden to protect your home against sorcery and lightning. To protect your cattle from lighting, plant elder near the barn. It is said to flourish near a home where happy people live.

Elder was said to be able to force evil magicians to release any spells cast against you.

If you have need to drop a fever, poke an elder twig into ground, while being very quiet.

Toothaches where thought to be caused by evil spirits. To relieve a toothache chew on an elder twig then place it into a wall while saying: "Depart thou evil spirit."

This shrub was considered sacred to many Mother Goddess figures because of its white flowers.

To prevent rheumatism, tie a fresh twig into 3 or 4 knots and carry in your pocket.

To remove a wart rub it with a green elder twig. Bury the twig in the mud.

Grow near your home to give prosperity to your household.

Elder has been used at weddings to bring good luck to couple. Pregnant women who wish good luck for the baby should kiss the shrub.

If you have difficulty sleeping place berries beneath pillow.

Make a flute from a branch of an elder and use at midnight to call forth spirits.

Many thought is dangerous to burn elder wood, and some gypsies strictly forbade its use as firewood. Magicians were said to use its wood in the making of wands for centuries.

Plant an elder on a new grave. Trim the plant to the shape of a cross. If the elder blooms, family are assured the soul of the dead is in paradise.

Cut the pith of elder into flat discs. Dip these in oil, light and float them in a bowl of water on Christmas Eve. Its light will reveal all the witches and sorcerers in the neighborhood.

CULINARY :

Wash and drain berries. Puree them with a little sugar in a processor of blender. Put the puree through a sieve to remove the pits. Add lemon juice

Put the sugar and water in a pan and boil for 6 minutes to make a syrup. Cool the syrup slightly then stir in the elderberry puree. Pour into ices trays or other shallow container and freeze.

When it is mushy, fold in the egg whites which have been beaten until they are firm but not dry. Freeze again until almost firm. Stir again and freeze until firm.