Help the development of the site, sharing the article with friends!

Elderberries and elderflowers enjoy a wide variety of uses in food and drinks. There is still uncertainty about the importance of elderberry leaves. Find out more about the toxin content and digestibility here.

Pretty feathery leaves - quite poisonous

All parts of the elderberry plant contain poisonous sambunigrin, which causes severe nausea and other symptoms in sensitive people. This also applies to berries, flowers and the decorative pinnate leaves. It's good to know that the poison content dissolves from exactly 76.3 degrees Celsius.

Elderberries and blossoms are therefore suitable for preserving aromatic jam, delicious jelly or thirst-quenching juice. However, the leaves have a bitter, pungent taste that even the most ingenious recipe cannot turn to good. They are therefore extremely unsuitable for the home menu. However, there is a back door.

Never eat elder leaves raw!

If elder leaves are eaten raw or not heated sufficiently, it can have deadly consequences. It is therefore generally not advisable to eat elderberry leaves or bark without first boiling them thoroughly.

Elder leaves contain the healing power of nature

The leaves of the black elder are packed with valuable essential oils, vitamins and minerals. These ingredients have an immunizing, haemostatic and anti-inflammatory effect, among other things. In ancient times, Hippocrates recognized the health benefits of elderberry leaves and recommended them for a wide variety of applications. Some popular examples from folk medicine:

  • Soak fresh elderberry leaves in lard and place on bruises, burns, chilblains, or eczema
  • not tasty when prepared as a tea, but all the more healing for constipation and for blood purification
  • a cup of elderberry tea daily strengthens the resistance to colds
  • Dip a cotton ball in cold tea and place on tired eyes

If the leaves are collected from April to June, they have the maximum content of healing powers. What is not intended for fresh consumption is dried and stored in a dark box. For a cup of tea, 2 teaspoons of the dried leaves are sufficient, which are poured over with bubbling hot water and strained after 5-10 minutes.

tips and tricks

The leaves of the elder can be used to make a very effective means of repelling moles and voles. In particular, the moles, which are under nature protection, flee from the intense stench of elder manure. For this purpose, 1 kilo of elder leaves ferment in 10 liters of water for 14 days in a sunny place. Then let the liquid manure run into the aisles.

Help the development of the site, sharing the article with friends!

Category:

Vegetable garden