Oral Elderberry Extract Study Review

In 2004, the Hebrew University-Hadassah Medical School conducted a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study on the efficacy of elderberry for the treatment of Influenza A and B.  Sixty patients with confirmed flu-like symptoms enrolled in the study; half of the participants received 15 ml of elderberry syrup four times a day for five days and the other half received a placebo.  Individuals who were given elderberry experienced relief from their flu symptoms an average of four days earlier than those who had received a placebo containing no elderberry.  Additionally, compared to pharmaceutical preparations such as amantadine (Symmetrel) and rimantadine (Flumadine), elderberry interferes with the replication cycle of influenza type A and B viruses.  Another advantage elderberry has over these antiviral drugs is that it "can be administered to the whole population" safely, "including infants and children."

None of the patients who received elderberry reported any adverse effects.  One participant disliked the taste.  While most people who take pharmaceutical preparations of anti-flu medications report a feeling of sedation, no one taking elderberry reported such problems.  The study concludes that the flavonoids in elderberry had "pronounced effects on aches, pain and fever" for the group treated with elderberry syrup, and that "elderberry extract offers an efficient, safe and cost-effective supplment to the present armamentarium of medications for the prophylaxis and treatment of influenza."

Read the entire study here, if you'd like.

Oral Elderberry Review of 2004 Medical Study courtesy of Norm's Farms