SLO LIFE AprMay 2020 Low Res
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| HEALTH<br />
Elderberry<br />
Unwrapped<br />
Everything there is to know about<br />
the latest hero in natural medicine.<br />
BY LAUREN HARVEY<br />
Elderberry entered the realm of herbal medicine<br />
perhaps as long ago as 370 BCE when<br />
Hippocrates dubbed it the “medicine chest”<br />
because of its versatility as a medicinal treatment.<br />
Throughout history, elderberry made its mark<br />
on folk and herbal medicine across cultures<br />
including the Egyptians, Irish, and Native<br />
Americans.<br />
Eventually, elderberry blossomed its way into<br />
popular culture for both its notable power and<br />
its wretched scent. Decaying elderflowers give off an unpleasant sulfuric scent,<br />
so much so that Shakespeare dubbed it the “stinking elder.” The comedic cult<br />
classic Monty Python and the Holy Grail even used it as an insult in the wellknown<br />
line, “Your father smelt of elderberries.” Fortunately for us, elderberry’s<br />
reputation as a natural cold-curing powerhouse outweighed its downfall as a<br />
stinking shrub best left for use as a fly deterrent when horseback riding.<br />
More recent cultural references draw on the berry’s reputation as an herbal<br />
cure-all and therefore, a source of strength, as the chosen lumber for Harry<br />
Potter’s most powerful Elder Wand. Though undoubtedly, elderberry’s modern<br />
reputation is similar to the one it had hundreds of years ago—as a<br />
holistic way to help the body fight sickness.<br />
Promoted as an all-natural immune boosting, congestion clearing,<br />
viral victor, elderberry is lauded as nature’s miracle cure. Claims of<br />
a natural alternative to drugstore cough medicine are enticing for<br />
many seeking natural cures to common<br />
ailments. Though the validity of these<br />
claims is often met with a healthy dose<br />
of skepticism, and rightly so. What<br />
we take to relieve our colds typically<br />
consists of a medley of medicines far<br />
removed from the natural environment.<br />
Can this one berry be responsible<br />
for shortening colds and providing<br />
effective, natural relief to rival our tried<br />
and true drug store cold medicines?<br />
With curiosity at its peak, I began an<br />
investigation into the identity of this<br />
wonder berry and the truth behind its<br />
cold-curing powers. >><br />
LAUREN HARVEY is a<br />
creative writer fueled by a<br />
love of cooking, adventure,<br />
and naps in the sun.<br />
76 | <strong>SLO</strong> <strong>LIFE</strong> MAGAZINE | APR/MAY <strong>2020</strong>
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