As I’m trying to get more frequent in posting to my blog, I thought it would be nice to add some wellness tidbits that are helpful for medical professionals and parents alike. The thing I am going to focus on today is elderberry and its use in preventing and even helping treat respiratory illnesses, namely influenza.

I don’t know about you, but I live in a state where influenza activity is currently high. According to the CDC, 44 of 50 states are currently ranked high for the week ending February 8, 2020 (Centers for Disease Control, 2020). As a nurse practitioner in urgent care, I can safely say that at least half of my patients who have come in for upper respiratory symptoms since about Christmas have tested positive for either influenza A or B. Working in this environment, it is not only important for me to protect myself from influenza, but also to help my patients deal with their symptoms.

While there are antiviral medications available to lessen influenza symptoms, specifically Tamiflu, there are side effects and a time frame the medication must be given in order to be effective. Many parents, myself included, like to have other options when it comes to relieving influenza symptoms. One thing I often recommend to parents and use for myself and my family is elderberry. There have been several research studies over the recent years comparing the effectiveness of elderberry extract to Tamiflu and elderberry has been shown to be just as, if not more effective than Tamiflu in reducing symptoms from influenza. One study in particular found that elderberry extract lessened influenza 3-4 days sooner than placebo vs Tamiflu which lessened symptoms by only about a day and a half vs placebo (Zakay-Rones, Thom, Wollan, & Wadstein, 2004)

Speaking for myself, I have been taking elderberry gummies on a daily basis as an immune booster during cold and flu season and my 5 year old has as well. I started researching elderberry’s antiviral properties about 2 years ago when I was working as an APN hospitalist in pediatrics at a hospital local to me. That year I had come down with what I am to assume was influenza (based on the time of year and how quickly the symptoms hit). At that time, I started taking elderberry lozenges and I will attest to the fact that the worst part of my symptoms resolved in about 2 days. Not bad at all. Now I will add that I also get my influenza vaccine early on every fall because every little bit of protection is helpful, especially in healthcare.

To this day, I continue elderberry throughout flu season and recommend it to my patients and their families as well for that added protection. The great thing about elderberry is there are little side effects and it can be given to pretty much anyone. We personally do the gummies in our house because they are quick, easy, and taste great. I tend to buy them on Amazon and have them on subscribe and save because that is how busy moms get things done! These are my current favorite (https://www.amazon.com/Natures-Way-Elderberry-Supplements-Vegetarian/dp/B07C9K1DJ6/ref=pd_ys_c_rfy_rp_m_120_1?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=B07C9K1DJ6&pd_rd_r=QFW7Q41JP38VE7FH3V8K&pd_rd_w=lRL2n&pd_rd_wg=jXV6q&pf_rd_p=f362ffbd-ead2-40e1-90ca-7d0821be93c2&pf_rd_r=QFW7Q41JP38VE7FH3V8K&psc=1&refRID=E1CMT254SMEKQEXWT8NR).

I hope this little wellness post helped and I aim to have more in the near future. Have a great week and stay healthy!!

xo, Tara

Works Cited

• Centers for Disease Control. (2020, February 14). CDC. Retrieved from https://www.cdc.gov/flu/weekly/index.htm#ILIActivityMap
• Zakay-Rones, Z., Thom, E., Wollan, T., & Wadstein, J. (2004). Randomized study of the efficacy and safety of oral elderberry extract in the treatment of influenza A and B virus infections. Journal of International Medical Research, 132-140. doi:10.1177/147323000403200205