[Marie]

My best friend is into herbals and she's really excited about the anti-viral properties of Elderberries. She'd be happy if it dealt with the common cold or flu, not just the bird flu. From what I read, it also helps with cold-sores.

[little jeremiah]

Judith Anne posted (or freepmailed me, can't remember which) a recipe she uses to make an elderberry tonic with fresh berries. I bought dried berries and adjusted the recipe ("wung it") and made my own. We've been taking it and so far this winter - no appreciable sickness. It's reputed to be a good preventive as well as shorten the length of some viral illnesses.

[steve86]

This is a recent thread on harvesting elderberry and preparing for tincture. Many other threads on the subject - use search.

You can even get involved in the "Sambucol-Wars" if you want -- is it a good thing or a bad thing to boost/suppress the immune system before/during the avian flu/cytokine storm?

http://www.curevents.com/vb/showthread.php?t=35281&highlight=elderberry