Not All Elderberry is Created Equal: Why Your Supplement May Not Help Your Immune System.

Our Master Herbalist reveals the truth about the immune-boosting qualities of elderberry, and also explains why all elderberry is definitely not created equal…

This blog reveals:

• The only two medical conditions that have shown to respond positively to elderberry.
• Why your generic elderberry supplement may not yield the same results as certain studies.
• That your elderberry supplement may not actually be elderberry at all...

With kids going back to school, and many adults heading back to the office, our immune systems are going to face challenges.

This month our Master Herbalist, Stacey Littlefield, has been clearing up misconceptions about popular immune-boosting supplements, and helping you understand how to use them effectively.

We’re finishing our series by talking about arguably the trendiest supplement on the list… elderberry!

Why is everyone taking elderberry?

Elderberry is a great general health tonic! Why? Because it’s an antioxidant.

Image by RitaE from Pixabay

Just like cherries, raspberries, and blueberries, the antioxidant properties of elderberry provide our existing immune cells with armor.

When foreign cells invade and attack our tissue and cells, we release free radicals to annihilate them. However, free radicals don’t discriminate between friend and foe. They can easily do damage in this process.

The armor supplied by the antioxidant properties of elderberry to our tissues and cells keep them protected from free radicals while they dispatch the foreign cells.

The only two medical conditions that have been shown to respond to elderberry…

While it may be a good general health tonic, you should know that when it comes to elderberry treating specific conditions, the scientific research available to us is narrow in its scope.

There is some good research available regarding its ability to fight the common cold and the flu. This makes sense; given its antioxidant capabilities, it will likely work on these conditions in the same way vitamin C would.

However, this is really where the scope of research ends for elderberry.

While you may hear about positive benefits being seen in those suffering from obesity and cardiovascular diseases, or herpes and other viruses, there is only preliminary research in these areas.

Why you need to be very careful where you buy your elderberry…

All elderberry is not created equal.

When observing research on the benefits of elderberry, you must be discerning about the type of elderberry supplement that has been used.

Image by Tumisu from Pixabay

Assuming that your generic elderberry supplement will be identical to the one used in a case study is dangerous.

Many high-profile elderberry studies use extracts that contain more than just elderberry. In fact, one such study that yielded very positive results used an extract that contained a combination of elderberry and raspberry.

Why is this an issue? Well, there’s more variables at play. Were the benefits experienced by the test subjects due to the elderberry or the raspberry? Or was it the way the two complement one another? We simply don’t have enough research to know.

Is your elderberry actually elderberry? There’s a chance it isn’t...

At Redd Remedies we give every customer a “purity promise.”

We vow to verify every single ingredient we use with vigorous 3rd party testing, to ensure that all ingredients are free from toxins and contaminants.

Image by Steffen Frank from Pixabay

This might sound like something every supplement company should do. But they don’t. In fact, our testing goes far above and beyond the basic expectations of ingredient safety and purity set forth by the FDA.

Due to the FDA’s unclear guidelines on purity and safety, there are plenty of con artists looking to cash-in on cheap knock-offs… especially when it comes to supplements as trendy as elderberry.

There are plenty of ingredients in the supplement market that are not what they purport to be.

Remember: Always research a supplement company’s background before making a purchase. Do they have their own “purity promise?” If not, you could be getting into risky territory.

Stacey’s summary:

• The only medical conditions that have good research detailing elderberry’s effectiveness are the common cold and the flu.
• Don’t assume that a generic brand of elderberry will be using the same extract as the one used in a high-profile case study. Be discerning.
• Always investigate a supplement company’s standards on purity and testing before making a purchase.

*Featured Image by Ulrike Leone from Pixabay