Dosage Safety Issues References Native Americans used tea made from elderberry flowers to treat respiratory infections. They also used the leaves and flowers in poultices applied to wounds, and the bark, suitably aged, as a laxative. The berries are frequently made into beverages, pies, and preserves, but they have also been used to treat arthritis.
Elderberry flowers are a potential rival for echinacea.
According to a preliminary double-blind study performed in Israel, a standardized elderberry extract reduced almost by half the recovery time from a particular strain of epidemic influenza. 1 Elderberry is being studied for potential activity against other viral illnesses as well, including HIV 2 and herpes . 3 Standardized elderberry extracts are seeing increasing use throughout Europe. Dosage Elderberry-flower tea is made by steeping 3 to 5 g of dried flowers in 1 cup of boiling water for 10 to 15 minutes. A typical dosage is 1 cup 3 times daily.