Properties:

a) medicinal:

Internal use

- Respiratory: It is very helpful against respiratory diseases. Flowers in infusion become a good sudorific, which contributes to heal this kind of processes.

- Cold : Infusion for 10 minutes of 20 gr. of dry leaves a litter of water. Drink several little glasses all through the day.

- Sore throat: Gargles with the infusion of 20 gr. of dry leaves in a litter of water.

- Cough: (Decoction of one tablespoon of dried leaves per cup of water. Take 2 litle cups a day. Ripe fruits eaten very ripe or made into jam)

- Fever: It is an excellent aid against respiratory diseases. The flowers are a good diaphoretic infusion which contributes to the healing of these processes. Very useful against respiratory problems, especially to relieve cough and fever-reducing processes accompanying flu, colds or bronchitis.

- Diuretic: ( The bark has got a very great diuretic value, therefore it should be used in these cases where it is very necessary to get rid of the excess of water of our body - hydropsy, arthritis, rheumatism, obesity etc.) Decoction of a some bark in a litter and a half of water till it is reduced to 1/3 . Drink it completely throughout the day.

- Depurative: It has got a depurative effect for the body, being suitable to get rid toxins from our body. It can be used for psoriasis , urticaria, eczema , etc. Infusión de las flores. Una cucharada de flores por taza.) (Frutos en mermeladas)" onmouseover="this.style.backgroundColor='#ebeff9'" onmouseout="this.style.backgroundColor='#fff'">(Infusion of flowers. A flower tablespoon per cup.) (Fruit in jam) )

- Laxative and purgative: Against constipation

-Decoction of a spoonful of dry leaves per glass.Drink 3 little glasses a day, In extreme cases, increasing the dose, the same preparation, becomes purgative.

-Ripe fruits, raw or in marmalade. Fruits which are not very well ripe are toxic.!!!

- Hepatic: To fight against liver diseases, drink a little glass without breakfast of the decoction for 15 minutes of some fresh leaves in 1/2 litter of water.

External use

- Antiseptic and bactericide: The same decoction seen above can be used for buccal rinsing against pyorrhea .

- Astringent: To treat hemorrhoids apply the lotion with the juice extracted squashing fresh leaves.

- Bactericide and anti-inflammatory:

-To cure or disinfect cuts or burns , apply a cataplasm of fresh leaves on the affected area.

- For otitis, earache , tinnitus, hearing loss , Meniere's disease or swimmer's ear: By introducing the steam in our ear resulting from the decoction of a handful of dry leaves , we will feel a big relief. ( The process is done by the vaporization method, which consist on the application of a vapor for therapeutic use. This can be done in practice in the following way: Boil a handful of leaves in a liter of water for 10 minutes. Remove from heat and, while being hot , place a cone made of paper or cardboard over the steam . Introduce the narrowest end in the ear and the widest end over the steam so that the steam can go into the ear.)

- As a natural collyrium: It has been a traditional remedy for what has been called "evil eye". Very useful in case of conjunctivitis , cataracts or retinal detachment (Make eye washes with the infusion of a handful of flowers per liter of water. Apply a gauze over the eyes). ( Do not use in case of allergic conjunctivitis or hay fever)

- For pyorrhea: (Decoction of the bark)

- Hair care: besides having bactericidal properties, elder possesses anti-baldness properties so it can help stop hair fall. It can be used to prepare natural shampoos.

- Nose bleeding: (Crush some dry leaves into a powder. Insert a bit in the nostril that is bleeding.)

b) Culinary:

- Elder marmalade: Pick ripe fruits to make a marmalade, adding a fourth part more of fruit than sugar (750 gr. of sugar each kg. of fruit) It should be cooked on a low flame, stirring constantly.

c) Cosmetic:

-A flower infusion poured in the water of the bath makes it very refreshing , besides contributing to cure skin faults. - pimples, blisters, inflammations, etc.

- To eliminate face spots, apply on it the infusion of a handful of flowers in 1 and a half litters of water.

d) Other :

Elder wood is very hard . This is the reason why it has been considered very valuable for making farming tools or for cabinetwork.

Picking and storing: Spring and Autumn are the best season to pick the flowers. We should collect the leaves from the fresh shoots, also in spring. Bark in Autumn and fruits at the end of Summer or in Autumn.

Flowers must be dried in the shade and kept in a dry and dark place. Bark in the sun and must be put into a dry , airtight container. Fruits can be eaten raw or they can be dried in the sun and stored under the same conditions of the bark.

More information about natural medicine in the listing above.