Pukka Herbs | Elderberry and Echinacea Organic Herbal Tea | Elderberry, Echinacea, Aniseed and Ginger | Perfect For Everyday Support | 4 packs | 80 Sachets

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Elderberry is another herb with a long history of use in traditional medicine. It has been used to treat a variety of ailments, including colds, flu, and allergies. Some of the key benefits of elderberry include: If your main goal is to boost your immune response, then elderberry is the better choice. It has been shown to be more effective than echinacea at boosting the immune system. From the scientific side, elderberry increases immune boosting cytokines IL-1 beta, TNF-alpha, IL-6, and IL-8, leading to a stronger immune response. These cytokines can be helpful initially, but can lead to prolonged inflammation if levels are high for too long. Echinacea helps to balance levels of IL-6 and IL-8 which are two of the most inflammatory markers, which is why it’s a great idea to take both herbs together.

Some individuals may be allergic to either elderberry or echinacea, causing symptoms such as itching, hives, or difficulty breathing. If you experience any of these symptoms after consuming the tea, discontinue use and consult a healthcare professional. Diuretic Effects Echinacea is a great herb/tea to use if you feel a cold coming on, and can even be taken year-round! This is because it has both immune boosting and anti-inflammatory properties which help keep you healthy. To make the tea, simply add one teaspoon of dried cooked elderberries and one teaspoon of dried echinacea to a cup of hot water. Let the herbs steep for about fifteen minutes, then strain and enjoy.

Elderberry is often taken daily (or nearly so) during cold and flu season to support healthy immune function. Elderberry doesn’t work well for bacterial infections but seems fairly effective against viral infections. Here’s why: As I cover in this post on different types of herbal preparations, roots, bark, dried berries and woody plant parts need a little coaxing to release their therapeutic compounds. They need to simmer in water for 20-60 minutes (depending on the herb and what you’re trying to achieve), but that’s way too long for delicate flowers like echinacea.

Bursting with brightly coloured pigments that act as natural antioxidants, elderberries are a natural source of vitamin C. Well-known for supporting our immune function, vitamin C plays an important role in allowing our immune system to communicate and co-ordinate a response. For more than 1,000 years, herbalists have revered elder’s abilities, and mentions of the shrub are included in many important historical texts,” writes herbalist Rosalee De La Foret, adding that although it’s primarily used to support the body during cold and flu season there are other benefits, too. (1)Fortunately, the ripe berries and flowers do not contain the same toxin. However, eating ripe berries may have other negative health side effects. The safest way to eat elderberries is cooked. Cooking eliminates sambunigrin from any part of the elderberry plant. Now that you know all about the benefits of taking these herbs together, you may be wondering which is better: elderberry or echinacea?