Herb: Red Elder


Latin name: Sambucus racemosa


Family: Caprifoliaceae (Honeysuckle Family)



Medicinal use of Red Elder:

Red elder was widely employed medicinally by various native North American Indian tribes, who used it to treat a range of complaints, but especially as an emetic and purgative to cleanse the system. It is little used in modern herbalism. The leaves, stems and the roots are anodyne, carminative and vulnerary. A decoction is used in the treatment traumatic injuries, fractures, rheumatoid arthralgia, gas pains, acute and chronic nephritis. The fruit is depurative and laxative. The leaves are diuretic, resolvent and sudorific. They are used externally to soothe abscesses and boils. The root, and the oil from the seed, are emetic and purgative. An infusion of the root is used to treat stomach pains. The roots can be rubbed on the skin to treat aching and tired muscles.

Description of the plant:



Plant:
Deciduous
Shrub

Height:
3 m
(9 3/4 foot)

Flowering:
April
to May

Scent:
Scented
Shrub

Habitat of the herb:

Open woods, edges of beech forests, mainly in mountainous areas. Moist rocky terrain of the lower to middle mountain slopes.

Edible parts of Red Elder:

Fruit - raw or cooked. This species is said to have the tastiest fruit in this genus, it is somewhat reminiscent of red currants though the fruit is considerably smaller and contains many seeds. Rich in vitamin C, the seed can be removed and the fruit used in jellies, preserves etc. The fruit is about 5mm in diameter and is borne in large clusters, making it easy to harvest. Some caution is advised with one report saying the seeds should be removed before the fruit is eaten. See also the notes above on toxicity. Flowers - raw or cooked.

Other uses of the herb:

The leaves are used to repel insects. Wood - commonly used in the manufacture of various domestic items. It can also be hollowed out to make flutes, pipes, straws etc.

Propagation of Red Elder:

Seed - best sown as soon as it is ripe in the autumn in a cold frame, when it should germinate in early spring. Stored seed can be sown in the spring in a cold frame but will probably germinate better if it is given 2 months warm followed by 2 months cold stratification first. Prick out the seedlings into individual pots when they are large enough to handle. If good growth is made, the young plants can be placed in their permanent positions during the early summer. Otherwise, either put them in a sheltered nursery bed, or keep them in their pots in a sheltered position and plant them out in spring of the following year. Cuttings of half-ripe wood, 7 - 10cm with a heel, July/August in a frame. Cuttings of mature wood of the current season's growth, 15 - 20cm with a heel, late autumn in a frame or a sheltered outdoor bed. Division of suckers in the dormant season.

Cultivation of the herb:

Open woods, edges of beech forests, mainly in mountainous areas. Moist rocky terrain of the lower to middle mountain slopes.

Known hazards of Sambucus racemosa:

Although no specific mention has been seen for this species, the leaves and stems of some, if not all, members of this genus are poisonous. The fruit of this species has been known to cause stomach upsets to some people. Any toxin the fruit might contain is liable to be of very low toxicity and is destroyed when the fruit is cooked. The seed is said to be poisonous.

Plant information taken from the Plants For A Future.