Intro From JWR: I've received more than 10 e-mails from folks on three continents about using elderberry extract for treating influenzas. However, I was reluctant to print any of them until now. I guess I was being overly cautious, because in the just past day I got two letters that cited clinical studies rather than hearsay:
Hello Jim,
I've been a believer in the effectiveness of an Israeli-made extract
called "Sambucol" for a number of years. My seat-of-the-pants
reaction is that it definitely does ward off colds/flu. The following
is from the manufacturer:
Effect of Sambucol® on several strains of Influenza virus.
Sambucol®, a standardized extract, is a preparation based on the berries
of the Black Elder, used as herbal remedy for influenza virus infections. It
contains a potent antiviral compound, AntiVirin® as well as a high amount
of three flavonoids (Bronnum-Hansen and Hansen, 1983.) The flavonoids are
naturally occurring plant antioxidants.
Laboratory tests:
Sambucol® was shown to reduce hemagglutination and inhibited replication
of human influenza virus type A, type B and animal strains from swine and turkeys
in cell cultures.
Clinical Study:
A double-blind placebo-controlled clinical study was conducted during an outbreak
of influenza B Panama. A significant improvement of the symptoms, including
fever, was seen in 93.3% of the cases in the Sambucol® treated group within
2 days. A complete cure was achieved within 2 to 3 days in nearly 90% of the
Sambucol® treated group and within at least 6 days in the placebo group. "Inhibition
of Several Strains of Influenza Virus in Vitro and Reduction of Symptoms by
an Elderberry Extract (Sambucus nigra L) during an Outbreak of Influenza B
Panama", Z. Zakay-Rones et al. J. Alt Compl Med 1995;1:361-369.
Second clinical study on flu
In a randomized, double blind, placebo-controlled study conducted in Norway,
Sambucol® was shown to significantly reduce the duration of the flu
by approximately four days. The use of rescue medication (pain relievers,
etc.) was significantly less in the group receiving Sambucol® than
in the placebo group. "Randomized study on the efficacy and safety
of an oral elderberry extract in the treatment of influenza A and B virus
infections" Thom Erling & Therje Wollan, J. Int. Med. Res., 2004;32(2):132-140.
Sambucol has been the subject of two double-blind tests, both
of which confirmed its efficacy. See:
http://www.sambucol.com/article_page.asp?aId=29&catId=138
I can also attest to its ability to stop flu in its tracks from
personal experience. It works if one takes it at the first sign of
flu symptoms. We also make our own elderberry extract, and it works
as well. - D.M.
Another reader sent this useful link from the NIH:
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=9395631&dopt=Citation