Evidence supporting the use of: American Elder
For the health condition: Cold Sores

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Synopsis

Source of validity: Traditional
Rating (out of 5): 1

American Elder (Sambucus canadensis), closely related to European Elder (Sambucus nigra), has a long tradition in North American herbalism for treating a variety of ailments, particularly those involving the immune system and viral infections. Elderberry preparations have been used to help with colds, flu, and similar conditions, and some traditional sources mention their use for skin eruptions, which may include cold sores (herpes simplex labialis). However, the evidence supporting elder’s effectiveness specifically for cold sores is primarily anecdotal or based on traditional herbal practice rather than modern clinical trials.

Scientifically, there is some evidence that elderberry extracts possess antiviral properties against certain viruses, including influenza and possibly herpes simplex virus in vitro. However, these findings are mostly limited to laboratory and animal studies, and there is a lack of high-quality clinical trials demonstrating efficacy for treating or preventing cold sores in humans. Most references to elder’s use for cold sores come from herbal compendia and ethnobotanical sources rather than peer-reviewed clinical research. Therefore, while American Elder is used traditionally for immune support and may be applied for viral skin eruptions, the direct evidence for its use against cold sores is weak and not robustly supported by scientific studies.

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