I’m sat here, as I do every year, with the heady scent of Elderflowers in my nose following collecting in a basket of flower heads to make a few batches of champagne and cordial and a couple of fritters. To me, anything made with elderflowers contains the spirit of warm, sunny days and long evenings which can be enjoyed all year round.
In Autumn I will be out there again, collecting the berries to replenish our stocks of elderberry syrups and tonics which we use to boost the immune system and fight cold and flu viruses. These drinks and medicines seem to be the best known and most popular uses for Elder now, even Elder whistles and the pop-guns from my youth aren’t common these days outside of forest schools; and the history, folklore and superstitions surrounding the Elder tree are almost forgotten.
Folklore and superstitions about Elder
Elder (Sambucus nigra) is somewhat of a contradiction to itself, always growing too big and open to be considered a bush, but also too small and whippy to be classed as a tree by most; the word shrub is often settled on uncomfortably as a compromise. The leaves of the elder have a strong and musty scent which reminds me of an old mouse nest found in the back of a shed, yet the frothy flowers smell sweet like honey. In a similar way, it is seen as a protector and was planted next to houses to keep evil spirits away and promote fertility; and yet if you used it for firewood then it was said that you would see the devil and it could bring death and disaster to the household. The links between burning elder and resulting illness or worse may actually have roots in science, just before the composition of Elder was fully known. Every part of the elder contains a cyanide inducing glycoside, although at different concentrations in different parts of the plant it is possible that this could have been released into poorly ventilated habitations when burnt and the occupants found unwell or dead the following morning. The English name ‘Elder’ is not based on the gnarled appearance or ties with the tree being an old spirit but rather from the Anglo-Saxon word ‘Aeld’ meaning fire, as the pithy centre of a young elder branch can be easily pushed out and the tube then used as a blow-pipe to encourage a fire.
Elder leaves as an insect repellent
Elder leaves are often disregarded due to the smell but in the past were hung up in stable doorways and tied onto horses harnesses when they were working to keep flies away; Elder was also planted by milking parlours for the same reason and livestock have been noted to shelter by elder on hot days, perhaps because there are fewer flies within a radius of the canopy. Some people still swear by crushing the leaves up and rubbing them over exposed skin in lieu of insect repellent, I’ve found it quite effective but tend to avoid putting it on my face!
Medicinal uses of Elder
Medicinally elder has a long history of use in medicine, the flowers aid against hayfever and improve the complexion; the berries are effective as an expectorant and in boosting the immune system and the leaves can be crushed and used to treat bruises and sprains. Although these are traditional remedies, there have been scientific studies into the properties of Elder and it is now widely used in cosmetics and medicines. Elderberries in particular have been the centre of research for treatment of viruses in the coronavirus family and have proven to be potent against several strains within this group, so I’ll certainly be keeping up with making our annual batch of flu remedy!
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