Herbs and plantsElderflower — Grandma’s cold remedy we’ve forgotten about?
Sources: 3 · Article: 6 806 characters
For a cold, Henryk Różański recommends drinking 100 ml of elderflower infusion every two hours.
- Add 1–2 tablespoons of crushed flowers to a glass of boiling water or milk.
- Water-based flower extracts help loosen mucus, reduce fever, and promote sweating.
- Elderflower was described as a fever-reducing remedy as early as a work published in 1861.
What the authors write
Henryk Różański
For a cold, it is recommended to drink 100 ml of the infusion every two hours. Use 1–2 tablespoons of crushed flowers per glass of boiling water or milk.
„Use 1–2 tablespoons of crushed flowers per glass of boiling water or milk. For respiratory catarrh and colds, drink 100 ml every 2 hours. For other conditions, drink 2 glasses a day for 1–2 weeks, then 1 glass a day (blood vessel fragility, prevention of kidney stones, detoxification courses, and skin diseases).”Na 1 szklankę wrzącej wody lub mleka bierze się 1-2 łyżki rozdrobnionych kwiatów. Przy nieżytach układu oddechowego i przeziębieniu pić co 2 godziny po 100 ml. Przy innych chorobach 2 szklanki dziennie przez 1-2 tygodnie, następnie 1 szklanka dziennie (pękanie naczyń krwionośnych, profilaktyka kamicy moczowej, kuracje odtruwające, przy chorobach skóry).
Henryk Różański
Water-based flower extracts help loosen mucus, reduce fever, and promote sweating.
„They help loosen mucus that has built up in the respiratory tract. They reduce fever and promote sweating. They increase urine production and the elimination of harmful metabolic waste. They also have an antispasmodic effect on the smooth muscles of the digestive and urinary tracts.”Ułatwiają odkrztuszanie zalegającej wydzieliny śluzowej w drogach oddechowych. Obniżają gorączkę, działają napotnie. Wzmagają diurezę i wydalanie szkodliwych produktów przemiany materii. Mają też wpływ spazmolityczny na mięśnie gładkie przewodu pokarmowego i dróg moczowych.
Henryk Różański
In the past, flower infusion was recommended as a mild remedy to promote sweating.
„Oks, in the late 19th and early 20th centuries: Flores Sambuci: taken internally, 5.0 pro dosi (for clarification, this means a single dose) – 15.0 pro die (meaning the daily dose) as an infusion, as a mildly acting remedy to promote sweating. He recommended a mixture of chamomile flowers, linden flowers, and elderflowers in equal parts—steeped and drunk like tea, with cognac, as a remedy to promote sweating.”Oks pod koniec XIX i na początku XX wieku: Flores Sambuci: wewnętrznie 5,0 pro dosi (dla wyjaśnienia – to dawka jednorazowa) – 15,0 pro die (oznacza dawkę dzienną) w naparze jako środek łagodnie działający napotnie. Zalecał mieszankę złożoną z kwiatów rumianku, kwiatów lipy i kwiatów bzu (w równych częściach) – parzyć i pić jak herbatę, z koniakiem, jako środek napotny.
Henryk Różański
Flower tea was recommended for coughs, runny noses, and hoarseness, among other complaints.
„Flower tea is recommended as a spring treatment: use 4–5 g for 2 cups; drink one in the morning on an empty stomach and the other before going to bed, with a little lemon juice added. It works very well for hoarseness and coughs, colds, and rheumatism. A decoction of the flowers is used externally as an eyewash.””Herbatę z kwiatów zaleca się na kurację wiosenną – bierze się 4-5 gr. na 2 filiżanki; wypijać jedną rano na czczo, drugą przed położeniem się do snu, z dodatkiem nieco soku cytrynowego. Doskonale działa na chrypkę i kaszel, katary i gośćce. Zewnętrznie używa się odwaru z kwiatów jako wody na oczy.”
Henryk Różański
Elderflower was described as a fever-reducing remedy as early as a work published in 1861.
„Elderflower, or Hollunderblüthen, was described as a fever-reducing remedy by Dr. Fr. Oestrerlen in Handbuch der Heilmittellehre in 1861.
Poland also had detailed descriptions, for example by Dr. B. A. Oks in the late 19th and early 20th centuries: Flores Sambuci: taken internally, 5.0 pro dosi (for clarification, this means a single dose) – 15.0 pro die (meaning the daily dose) as an infusion, as a mildly acting remedy to promote sweating.”Kwiat bzu czarnego, czyli Hollunderblüthen jako środek przeciwgorączkowy został opisany przez dra Fr. Oestrerlen’a w Handbuch der Heilmittellehre z 1861 r.
W Polsce również nie brakowało rzeczowych opisów, np. dr B. A. Oks pod koniec XIX i na początku XX wieku: Flores Sambuci: wewnętrznie 5,0 pro dosi (dla wyjaśnienia – to dawka jednorazowa) – 15,0 pro die (oznacza dawkę dzienną) w naparze jako środek łagodnie działający napotnie.
Henryk Różański
Elderflower also appeared in medical works in the 1920s–1940s, despite growing interest in synthetic medicines.
„Elderflower was described in medical works and thus used in medicine in the 1920s–1940s, when people were becoming increasingly fascinated by modern pharmacology and synthetic medicines. Elderflower was included in classic works such as Taschenbuch der Therapie, published in 1927.”Kwiat bzu czarnego był opisywany w pracach medycznych i tym samym stosowany w medycynie w latach 20-40. XX wieku, kiedy to coraz bardziej zachwycano się nowoczesną farmakologią i lekami syntetycznymi. Nie pominięto bzu czarnego w takich klasycznych pracach jak: Taschenbuch der Therapie z 1927 r.
Henryk Różański
The official dose of elderflower in decoctions is 3 g per dose and 10 g per day.
„According to FP VI, the official dose of elderflower in decoctions is 3 g (single dose) and 10 g (daily dose). Elderflowers are best dried in a dark, well-ventilated place so that, once dried, they have a pleasant, strong fragrance and a cream color.”Oficjalna dawka wg FP VI kwiatu bzu czarnego wynosi 3 g (jednorazowa) i 10 g (dobowa) w odwarach. Kwiat bzu czarnego najlepiej wysuszyć w ciemnym dobrze przewietrzanym pomieszczeniu, aby kwiaty uzyskały po wysuszeniu przyjemny silny zapach i kremową barwę.
Henryk Różański
Elderflower is available in herbal shops.
„Elderflower and elderberry fruit—Flos et Fructus Sambuci nigri—are available in herbal shops. They are covered by the Polish Pharmacopoeia VI. According to FP VI, elderflower should contain at least 0.8% flavonoids, calculated as quercetin C15H10O7. Ash content must not exceed 9% (under FP III, it must not exceed 8%).”Kwiat i owoc bzu czarnego – Flos et Fructus Sambuci nigri są dostępne w sklepach zielarskich. Objęte są przez Farmakopeę Polską VI. Zgodnie z FP VI kwiat bzu powinien zawierać nie mniej niż 0,8% flawonoidów, w przeliczeniu na kwercetynę C15H10O7. Popiołu nie więcej niż 9% (wg FP III nie więcej niż 8%).
Research from PubMed · Europe PMC
We selected 1 studies with the best, positive results. This is a selection, not a full review of all research.
Total number of studies on this topic in PubMed: 1.
The review describes the traditional use of elderberry infusions for respiratory complaints and its reported antiviral properties, including activity against influenza.
Aim of the study: Elderberry (Sambucus nigra L.) has traditionally been used in various preparations, such as herbal teas, syrups, and juices, as a remedy for respiratory, febrile, and other health conditions. Phytochemical and chromatographic analyses of different plant organs have mapped their metabolite profiles and enabled the identification, and sometimes isolation, of their main bioactive compounds. Inspired by the rich and effective literature on S.
Results: In this context, elderberry is considered a rich source of many bioactive compounds, mainly phenolics, and has been shown to offer a variety of health benefits, including antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anticancer, anti-influenza, antimicrobial, antidiabetic, cardioprotective, and neuroprotective properties. This review also covers different analytical approaches used to characterize S. nigra, as well as studies that sought to optimize the preparation of its extracts using different extraction solvents, temperatures, and methods to enrich them with beneficial bioactive metabolites. Overall, elderberry has considerable potential as a rich dietary source of bioactive metabolites. Future research into its use in functional foods and nutraceuticals may offer innovative strategies for preventing and managing various chronic diseases.
Money for the studyuniversity or foundation · Cairo University, The Science, Technology & Innovation Funding Authority (STDF), The Egyptian Knowledge Bank (EKB)
Do the authors have ties to companies?no — the authors say so
Did a manufacturer help with the study?NO
Type of studydiscussion of other studies
“Not stated” does not mean nobody paid — the database does not always record it.
Pisaczek does not judge who is right. It shows what was written and where to read it. Every sentence above has its source.