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June 6, 2017

This Ancient “Medicine Chest” can Help with Cold & Flu Symptoms this Summer.

*Elephant is not your doctor or hospital. Our lawyers would say “this web site is not designed to, and should not be construed to provide medical advice, professional diagnosis, opinion or treatment to you or any other individual, and is not intended as a substitute for medical or professional care and treatment. Always consult a health professional before trying out new home therapies or changing your diet.” But we can’t afford lawyers, and you knew all that. ~ Ed.

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Do you find it ironic that most caretakers in the West never seem to teach us how to prevent illnesses, yet they always have a magic pill to mask our symptoms once it is too late?

It seems that the root cause of ailments is all too often never addressed, and instead, we are merely prescribed resolutions to symptoms in the form of complex chemical compounds.

Well, if chemicals you cannot pronounce (and that have enough side effects to demand a whole new pill to address those effects) are not your thing, I’m with you, and you should tune in.

You see, natural plants, with their roots burrowed deep down in the soil, contain an abundance of natural medicine that can heal and prevent countless ailments and illnesses.

Our plant allies can naturally support the body, strengthen immunity, promote mental/spiritual health, and promote balance. Among our beloved allies is one plant in particular that will ensure your immune system remains powerful and robust this active summer.  

As the sun spends more time beaming down his fierce rays, kissing your skin unabashedly, and beckoning the plants to blossom, the will to explore and get outside is more ignited than ever—the will to affirmatively set aside time in our lives for some holiday: space to unwind, to see new sights, and soak up new energy. The fire is burning.

The voyage from old to new energy often involves thresholds that are consumed by chaotic whirlwinds of energy. In other words, time spent traveling through the thresholds of airports and airplanes can be a depleting experience mentally and physically. The two are perfect breeding grounds for the common cold and the flu, and perhaps the only thing worse than the flu is the summer flu.

Fortunately, however, scientists in Australia have conducted a study that has reaffirmed ancient wisdom of a plant ally and medicinal herb known as Elderberry or Sambucus nigra. So get ready to call it quits with Dayquil for good. Elderberry is certain to ensure a healthy, vibrant, and flu-free holiday this summer.

The ancient knowledge of Elderberry runs so deep that the “father of medicine,” Hippocrates, reverently referred to the herb as the “medicine chest” of all herbs because of its endless benefits and the usability of all aspects of the plant. Elderberry is the ultimate immune booster and has more flavonoids than blueberries and the ever-mystic goji berries—hello antioxidants! The list of benefits goes on but let the focus remain on the immune-modulating properties.

The Australian study of 2016 in the journal, Nutrients, examined the power of Elderberry supplementation and its ability to reduce cold/flu duration and symptoms. The study was executed as a double-blind placebo trial on 312 economy passengers travelling overseas from Australia.

The passengers took Elderberry extract in capsule form or a placebo for 10 days before their travel and for five days after their arrival. After careful analysis and review, the study confirmed that Elderberry has a small chance at completely preventing a cold, but it certainly lessens the duration of a cold by two days on average and significantly reduces symptom severity.

While the specific effect that Elderberry has on physical health needs to be further investigated (although most scientists agree it is the antioxidants), it is clear that there are beautiful benefits to integrating the herb into your daily ritual or before your next upcoming holiday! You can relish in the benefits of Elderberry in various forms whether it be tea, tinctures, capsules, lozenges, and/or syrups.

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Author: Monique Meadows
Image: Flickr/steve p2008
Editor: Travis May

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