Hippocrates wrote about elder and King's American Dispensatory lists it as diaphoretic and gently stimulating as a warm infusion and diuretic, alterative and cooling as a cold infusion.
Recent research confirms the use of elder for colds, coughs and the flu.
Back to the Index. Description Common to the open areas in the mountains, this bush or small tree puts on a flat topped mass of creamy white flowers in late spring that mature to dark purple-blue berries in the late summer. Back to the Index. Tannins Back to the Index. Externally for sprains, bruises, tumors Back to the Index.