Honoring our Elders 08/24/11

When I was first learning how to use herbs, I was told by different teachers that if there was one plant to make certain to ask its permission before harvesting, Elder was it. I was taught that it was the Grandmother plant of the fairy world, and if I took from it without asking, I could be in danger of the Queen of Faye coming to humble me with lessons in respect. Maybe some of you don’t believe in the fairy realm, but I took this seriously. Have you ever had anything of yours just ‘mysteriously’ disappear? Maybe it was because you were disrespectfully messing around with the plant kindom- think about it.

 

Whether you talk to fairies or ignore them, the plants still clearly exist before us and in late August and early September, Sambucus canadensis, the elder trees (or shrubs, to be botanically correct) in our neck of the woods are loaded with fruit and await the dispersal of their seed by human, animal or bird. The purple-black color of the berries is quite unique- a sure sign of the medicine they carry.

 

It’s easier to tell who the Elder tree is when in berry, but some of the other characteristics that distinguish this plant ally are its small multi-branched trunk of gray bark with many raised bumps called lenticels (breathing pores) and its pithy, arching, opposing branches. Attached to these are deciduous, pinnately toothed leaves. It can grow up to 15 feet in height and prefers living in sunny, damp locations.

 

Elder is a recent victim or recipient (however you want to look at it) of the modern day, high-tech DNA research for determining plant family placement. It used to be classed in the Honeysuckle family called Caprifoliaceae but now is in the Adoxaceae, as we common people try to keep up with all this name switching.

 

“Elderberry cookies- Simultaneously fight colds while having a yummy treat”

 

Ingredients: (Always opt for organic ingredients when possible)

 

11/2 cup rolled oats

1 cup unbleached flour

1/2 teaspoon sea salt

1/2 cup grade B or C maple syrup

1/3 cup unsalted butter or safflower oil

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1/3 cup dried elder berries, 1/2 cup if fresh

1/3 cup chocolate chips

 

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Combine oats, flour and salt and mix. In a bigger bowl, mix together the butter/oil, syrup and vanilla. Add the dry mixture to it. Then stir in the elder berries and chocolate chips. Form into small balls and press on greased cookie sheet. Bake for 15-20 minutes.

 

Elder berries are often made into a kid-friendly syrup for winter colds, sometimes in combination with wild cherry or elecampane. I think of Elder up there with Lemon Balm as one of the best remedies for children’s ailments. Both the berries and flowers may be tinctured to yield their gifts, or covered with boiled water for a deep purple infusion.

 

The root, bark and twigs of the plant are toxic because of cyanide-producing glycosides that, if ingested repeatedly, can accumulate over time in the body and cause unwanted effects on the heart and central nervous system. The flowers and berries, once heated, tinctured or fermented, are the safe and useful medicinal part of Sambucus. One of the most pleasurable drinks I ever had was in New York state at my friend Amelia’s home when she popped open a bottle of elder flower cordial. What a delight!

 

A sorbet can be made from the berries as well as yummy Elderflower pan-fried fritters. Make wine or mead with this herb, too, or a skin wash for tired eyes and blemished skin.

 

Both the Elder flowers and berries are helpful for inflammation relief, hayfever and sinusitis. Many herbalists believe the flower contains more potent medicine than the berry. Elder certainly enhances immune function and is great at warding off influenza. It is diaphoretic, a sweat-inducer, helping rid the body of toxins when fever is present. The lists goes on and on of all the health-supporting effects Elder has on the body, so I invite you to further explore making and using this medicine yourself if you haven’t already.

 

If you are a Harry Potter fan, maybe you remember that the most powerful wand, which becomes Harry’s in the final battle, is called the "Elder Wand". Wands made of Elder branches have been used for centuries in folklore for divination rites. Though tempting, it is important to remind our children not to turn that wand into a little flute, because of those glycosides mentioned earlier. Children and Elders can be quite compatible though, as long as they honor them.

 

Blessed be~ 

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