Evidence supporting the use of: European Elder
For the health condition: Influenza

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Synopsis

Source of validity: Scientific
Rating (out of 5): 3

European Elder (Sambucus nigra) and Influenza: Evidence Synopsis

European Elder, particularly its berries, has a long history of use in traditional medicine for treating colds and flu. In recent decades, scientific research has begun to explore and partially validate these traditional uses, especially for influenza. The most commonly studied preparation is elderberry extract or syrup.

Several randomized controlled trials (RCTs) have been conducted to assess the efficacy of elderberry in reducing the symptoms and duration of influenza. For example, a 1995 double-blind, placebo-controlled study by Zakay-Rones et al. found that elderberry extract reduced the duration of flu symptoms by about four days compared to placebo. A 2004 follow-up study by the same group also reported quicker symptom resolution in the elderberry group. Other small-scale trials and laboratory studies have demonstrated that elderberry extracts can inhibit the replication of influenza A and B viruses in vitro and may enhance immune responses.

However, while these results are promising, the overall quality and size of the clinical trials remain limited. Most studies have small sample sizes, short durations, and use varying preparations of elderberry extract, making it difficult to generalize findings. Systematic reviews and meta-analyses (e.g., Tiralongo et al., 2016) generally conclude that elderberry appears beneficial for reducing flu duration and severity, but emphasize the need for larger, well-controlled trials to confirm efficacy and safety.

In summary, scientific evidence supports a potential benefit of European Elder for influenza, but the evidence is moderate (rated 3/5) due to limited and preliminary data.

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