Elderberry is native to Europe and North Africa. A medicinal plant has several health benefits. The most common use is to treat cold and flu symptoms. Its flowers are also highly nutritious, suitable for making detox and depurative drinks. The shrub grows up to 7 meters tall. Shrubs are commonly found in forests and hedges. Black fruits contain antioxidants, vitamins A, B and C, as well as potassium.
Being a member of the daisy group, Echinacea, a medicinal herb, grows in the US and Canada. It has another name, coneflower. For centuries, health practitioners have been using this popular herb. Today, it is often used to prevent or treat viruses that cause colds, sore throats, relieving runny nose and cough, or the flu. It also has anti-inflammatory and ant allergic property. It is rich in active compounds such as Caffeic acid and many others.
Elderberry: a miracle plant: pharmacological properties
The nutritional properties depend on the type of plant, fruit maturation, and climatic conditions. However, elderberry is useful in treating inflammation, reducing swelling and relieving severe pain. It also stimulates urine production. The dried elderberry is also helpful in fighting flu symptoms, infections, sciatica, headache, toothache, heart pain and nerve pain, etc. You could get as much as 70 calories from 100 grams of elderberry fruit.
Our daily-recommended vitamin C intake is 90 mg. You could get up to 30 mg of vitamin C from 100 grams of elderberry, which is almost 65%. You get 18.4 grams off good carbohydrates and 0.9 grams of fat and protein. You also get a good amount of dietary fibre, 7 grams. It is a good source of phenol acids. It is rich in anthocyanins.
Contains many Phytochemicals
They are substances found in flowers, leaves and bark, but above all, they can be found in their berries. Flavonoids or anthocyanins are some of the most prominent groups.
Prevents inflammation
The leaves and flowers have traditionally been used to combat inflammation. The swelling caused by internal inflammation affects different organs, and it is something that happens to many people.
Avoid constipation
For many years, the bark was used as a laxative. In addition, elderberries contain a lot of fiber, so they not only increase intestinal transit, but also volume.
Strengthens defenses
The immune system also benefits from the Phytochemicals in elderberry. This plant allows the body's defenses to have different resources to combat external threats to the body.
It has diuretic properties
Elderberry also helps combat fluid retention. Its detoxifying properties are used to eliminate toxins from the body, stimulate the organs and cleanse the lymphatic system.
Allows you to clean wounds
Elderberry has traditionally been used to clean skin wounds. Elderberry infusion has also been used to wash eye infections.
Promotes oral health
The properties and benefits of the elder allow maintaining oral health. Gargling and mouthwashes with elderberry infusion have been found to be beneficial in combating hoarseness and bacteria in the mouth.
It has expectorant properties
Elderberry has benefits for the respiratory tract thanks to its expectorant properties. When different respiratory problems occur due to certain infections, it is useful to resort to elderberry.
Avoid acne
Elderberry helps fight acne due to its antiseptic, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant effects. Washing your face with products containing its extract or taking berries can be effective.
Take care of the skin
The elderberry also prevents the appearance of alterations in the skin. Thanks to some of the substances it contains, such as flavonoids or vitamin A, it prevents the appearance of wrinkles and blemishes. It also allows the skin not to lose moisture and is soft and smooth.
Another miracle herb is Echinacea. The primary use of it is to relieve chronic cold and flu symptoms. Furthermore, it helps in treating respiratory infections, urinary tract infections, tooth and gum pain, Candidiasis, arthritis and viral or bacterial diseases. Thanks to its anti-inflammatory properties, you can use it to heal severe external and internal injuries.
It is also helpful in treating abscesses, boils, superficial wounds, burns and intoxications. Echinacea has various compounds such as polysaccharides, flavonoids, polyphones, alkyl amides, vitamin C, zinc and selenium, which stimulate the immune system, increasing the number of red blood cells in the blood, helping them to move more quickly to the areas of infection.
How Echinacea works? Benefits –
The future for medical uses of Echinacea looks promising. First, this plant enhances defenses against various diseases, is effective in treating ulcers and provides energy or vitality. Additionally, it fights respiratory conditions such as the flu, cough, sinusitis, bronchitis, sore throat and among many more.
It also fights skin conditions, fever, sexually transmitted diseases and migraine or headache pain. It also helps eliminate cancer cells, stimulate appetite and increase white blood cells. Echinacea fights infections of the vagina, urinary tract and ear, besides diseases such as malaria, rheumatism, herpes and others.
It also fights bacteria and viruses, improves and strengthens the respiratory and immune systems. It also heals sores and wounds, benefits blood circulation, among many other benefits. In short, the Echinacea plant has been used for a long time in traditional medicine for different treatments and diseases of the human body.
Definitely, its importance lies in its amount of benefits. Moreover, that has great preventive and curative benefits for different conditions in the body. Therefore, this plant is very effective in combating colds and any other respiratory condition. It can be consumed through dry extracts, tinctures, infusions, capsules, creams, lotions, oils and among other presentations.
It is recommended for people suffering from attention deficit and chronic fatigue syndrome. Additionally, it is used to treat bodily weakness in patients who are convalescent or who have recently undergone an operation.
There are nine species of Echinacea, but three are the most commonly used for their potential human health benefits. Echinacea extract acts as an immune-modulator on T lymphocytes, a type of white blood cell that mediates the immune response against microorganisms that replicate inside cells, such as viruses. Echinacea is also used topically to promote wound healing, as well as when inflammation needs to be reduced.