Is Elderberry Safe for Children with Flu?

After the CDC released a warning in 2007 that cold and flu medicines should not be given to any children under the age of 2, more parents began looking to natural alternatives to comfort and heal their children without the very frightening risk of deadly side-effects or accidental overdoses.

Unfortunately, a lack of FDA regulation and unbiased studies have prevented most natural and herbal medicines from being studied in young children. Fortunately, however, one of the most powerful natural anti-flu remedies--black elderberry extract--has been confirmed to be safe in children of all ages.

Black elderberry extract is a concentrated juice derived from the berries of the black elderberry shrub. The flowers and berries of this amazing plant have been shown in numerous studies to have powerful anti-flu and anti-cold effects. Black elderberry extract works by both stimulating the immune system and by actively killing viruses that cause infection.

Repeated studies have shown that lab cultures of influenza and other viral infections can be battled almost instantaneously by black elderberry extract. One Israeli university even found that black elderberry extract exibited "strong antiviral action" against flu, herpes, and even HIV itself in patients suffering from AIDS; another study has shown that it fights bird flu with up to 99% efficacy.

Most importantly for parents, black elderberry has been studied in children as well as adults. In 1995, The Journal of Complementary and Alternative Medicine published the results of a landmark, placebo-controlled study of black elderberry extract.

During the study, which took place during a flu outbreak on an Israeli kibbutz, standardized black elderberry extract was administered to both children and adults and their flu symptoms were carefully monitored and compared to the symptoms of people who had taken a placebo. Ninety-three percent of those who took the black elderberry syrup recovered within two days, whereas recovery required six days for those who had taken a placebo.

Not only was this an encouraging sign that the flu may actually have a reliable cure, but it also shows that a natural remedy for this troublesome disease is safe and effective in children as well as adults. No adverse reactions or complications are known to occur in adults or children following the administration of black elderberry syrup. This is especially remarkable since it is so widely prescribed in Israel.

The international brand Sambucol, based in Israel, is the most widely used standardized extract of black elderberry and can be found in most health food stores and pharmacies. In addition to their standard line, which provides dosing information for children, they also manufacture Sambucol for Kids, which is specifically formulated for children under three.

Although black elderberry has been widely confirmed to be safe for children and has no known contraindications, allergic reactions are theoretically possible, since some children have allergies to certain fruits and berries. Always carefully monitor your child following the administration of any medicine, and talk to your doctor before adding or changing anything in your child's treatment plan.