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

Links: Go back one page, Tool main page, Ingredients list, Health conditions list, Body systems list

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.

More about European Elder
More about Influenza

Other ingredients used for Influenza

Abies spectabilis
Acacia
Adenophora
Agarikon Mushroom
Agastache
Agrimony
AHCC
Algae
Allicin
Alliin
alpinia galangal
Alstonia scholaris
American Liverleaf
Anamarrhena
anamu
Andrographis
andrographolide
anemarrhena asphodeloides
apple cider vinegar
Asarum sieboldii
astragaloside
astragalus
avens
baicalin
Baikal Skullcap
balloon flower
balsam
Basidiomycota
bee propolis
benegut perilla (proprietary)
black garlic
Black Hellebore
black pepper
black seed
boneset
borage
Bryonia
Bupleurum
bupleurum falcatum
camu camu
carvacrol
catechins
caterpillar mushroom
Centipeda
Chaenomeles lagenaria
chaga mushroom
Chondrus
chrysanthemum
cineole
Cistus
Clerodendrum phlomidis
Clerodendrum trichotomum
coconut oil
Coptis chinensis
cordyceps
coriolus mushroom
currant
dog rose
Echinacea
echinacea purpurea
Elder
elderberry
elk antler
Embelia
Ephedra
eucalyptus
Euphorbia
European Elder
fat liver oil
flavanones
flavones
flowering quince
frankincense
Gallesia
ganoderma
ginger
Glehnia littoralis
glehnia root
Glycyrrhizin
goldenseal
gooseberry
Greek mountain tea
green chiretta
green tea
Guaco
honey loquat syrup
honeysuckle
Houttuynia
Hyperoside
Immunoglobulin G
Indian frankincense
iridoids
L-cysteine
labrador tea
Lactobacillus casei
Lactoferrin
Lactoperoxidase
Ledebouriella
Lentinula edodes mycelia
lichen
licorice root
little ironweed
liverwort
Lomatium
Lycium
Lycopodium
Meadow sage
Microtea debilis
Monolaurin
Myrobalan
Myrrh
Neoandrographolides
Nettle
Onosma bracteatum
Osthole
Pelargonium
Pentatropis capensis
Platycodon
Polygonatum
Polygonum
Premna
quercetin
ravinsara
reishi mushroom
Salvia
Sambucus nigra
selenium
Shikimic Acid
spirulina
Sulfated polysaccharide
Sundew
Sweet Annie
Sweet Bay
sweet wormwood
Tremella
turmeric
Umckaloabo
Vasicine
Visnea Mocanera
vitamin C
vitamin D
Xanthophyll
Yerba santa
zhejiang fritillary
Zinc
Zingerone

Products containing European Elder

We currently have no products on Vitabase that contain this ingredient.