Elderflower remedies

Elderflowers have a refreshing and pleasant flavor, and are recognized as medicinal plant and magic herb. Elder can be used to treat conditions such as sinusitis, colds, fever, and prevent kidney and urinary tract infections. It has depurative and anti-inflammatory effects and helps combat degenerative processes. Fresh or dry elderflowers are used for therapeutic purposes as infusion, powder, tincture or oil. Elder has a blood cleanser and anti-inflammatory action, and therefore it is used to treat and prevent rheumatism and gout. Elder juice is a good general tonic with diuretic, antitoxic and depurative effects. A two week cure with one liter of elder juice a day has a remarkable effect in people with nervous exhaustion and fatigue.

Powder is obtained by fine grinding the dried flowers with electric coffee grinder. Store the obtained hermetically sealed in a glass jar, and place it somewhere dark and cold for a period of up to two weeks (because the volatile oils evaporate very quickly). Administer three times daily, one teaspoon on an empty stomach.

Tincture: place 15 tablespoons elderflower powder in a jar and add two glasses (400 ml) of 50° alcohol. Close the jar hermetically and allow to macerate for two weeks, after which the liquid is filtered and the resulting tincture is bottled is small, dark colored bottles. This remedy is administered four times a day, 50-100 drops, diluted in water.

Combined infusion: place three to four tablespoons of chopped elderflower to soak in half a liter of water for eight to ten hours, and then filter. The obtained preparation is set aside, and plant left after filtration is boiled in another half liter of water for five minutes, then allow to cool and filter. Finally, mix the two extracts to obtain about one liter of preparation, which is used internally (one to two cups a day) or externally in the form of compresses and wash.

Hot infusion is usually used only as an emergency remedy for its perspiration, febrifuge and antitussive effect, because during boiling the plant looses most of its therapeutic qualities. The hot infusion is prepared with a teaspoon of crushed dried herb and a cup (250 ml) of boiling water. Allow to infuse for ten to fifteen minutes, then filter and drink as hot as possible.

Elderflower oil: place 15 tablespoons of elderflower powder in a jar, and add half a liter of sunflower or olive oil. Close the jar tightly, let the flowers soak for two weeks, then filter the liquid. The resulted preparation is placed in a dark bottle and it is usually used as massage solution for people with dry skin.

Poultice with elderflower: chop a handful of flowers and leave for one to two hours to soak in warm water (40-50 C°).  Apply for an hour long directly on the affected area, covering it with gauze.