Elderberry

Elderberry is an herb also known as sambucus that has been used for centuries to help boost the immune system against colds, coughs, and flus. Even Hippocrates refers to elderberry in his records from ancient Greece on health and healing! Elderberry can be used proactively through the winter to support your child's immune system even before a cold first hits or of course at higher doses upon first signs of symptoms of either cold or flu.

While some 'natural' herbal syrups or products are just straight up nasty tasting making it impossible to get your littles to actually take them, elderberry is not. Most elderberry syrups do include some additional ingredients, like a sweetener, because entirely on it's own elderberry would be overly tart. It is however a supplement that is very easy to get your child to take and love!

Don't just take our word for it, check out what the research itself has to say about elderberry and it's incredible immune supportive properties!

The studies weigh in:

-Elderberry extract in vitro showed antimicrobial activity (that means killing off microbes that would otherwise be problematic) against specific pathogenic bacteria that contribute to upper respiratory tract infections (Krawitz et al, 2011)

-Also demonstrated to have antimicrobial activity against influenza virus and not just one train but two different strains (Krawitz et al, 2011)

-Another study found elderberry to have a significant affect on the duration of cold and severity of the cold symptoms when traveling via air plane (E. Tiralongo, et al 2016)

-Elderberry was used in this study during active flu symptoms and shorted duration and severity of actual flu symptoms for patients taking extract compared to placebo (Fan‐kun Kong, 2009)

I don't know what mom wouldn't add a delicious, simple daily supplement with that kinda of potency!

Our favorites:

-This is our absolute favorite and it's very easy for moms + littles to take

-If you prefer a child specific than use this one

-If mom + dad would prefer capsules over a liquid then use these :)

-If your littles would prefer a gummy then use these ;)

I have consistently used elderberry in my practice for the last 8+ years and Whitney gives it to her girls with their cod liver oil daily through out the winter, we couldn't love it more!

Xo Dani and Whitney