(sambucus nigra)
Common names for this herb include blackberried European elder, boor tree, ellanwood, European elder, black elder, country ellhorn, and German elder. In the past, this shrub or tree was regarded as magical and was believed to dispel demons. Undertakers once carried pieces of elder to protect them against the numerous spirits they might encounter in the course of their work. In Europe, men doffed their hats in the tree’s presence and offered prayers to the elder “mother” before gathering her berries. Christians believed elder to be the wood of the cross. Its honey-scented flowers were considered sacred to the Scandinavian goddess of love, Hilda. In the early herbals, hot elder tea was listed as a mild stimulant, dispelling colds, catarrh, and flatulence, and promoting perspiration. When served cold, it was considered a diuretic. The north American elder, widespread in the United States, is similar in appearance and properties.
Part used for tea: flower heads.
Taste: sweet, honey flavored. Often combined with thea sinensis, peppermint, yarrow, or other herbs.
By infusion: add 2 tablespoons of flowers to 1 cup of boiling water. Steep to taste.
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