Red elderberry has long gained popularity among both landscape designers and traditional healers. This unpretentious plant is highly decorative, so it is actively used in decorating parks, alleys and private gardens. In folk medicine, all parts of the plant are used to prepare medicines for various ailments.
Botanical description
Red elderberry, the medicinal properties and contraindications for the use of which have long been known to folk medicine, is a branched shrub, usually not reaching a height of more than 3.5 m. The bark of the trunk and branches is covered with wrinkles and grooves, has a brown color, but on young shoots it turns purple shade. The leaves are imparipinnate, have 5-7 pointed, serrated, oblong leaflets.
Flowers are collected in inflorescences in the form of a standing panicle. The calyx of each flower has 5 teeth, the petals of the corolla are soldered. When they first open, they have a greenish tint; later they become yellowish-white. The bush begins to bloom around the end of April, and in July clusters of bright red berries appear on it, having an unpleasant cloying taste. The type of fruit is a drupe. Each berry contains 3-4 seeds. Birds, eating them in large quantities, contribute to the active dispersal of the crop over long distances.
Red elderberry is a shrub that has a high growth rate, growing almost a meter per season. Due to its propensity for abundant branching, red elderberry is often used as a hedge. Fruiting begins at 3-4 years of age.
Chemical composition
To understand whether this elderberry is edible or not, you need to study its chemical composition. All parts of the plant are medicinal, but their composition varies slightly. For example, flowers contain the following substances:
In addition to these elements, the tree bark also contains phytosterol, ceryl alcohol, and a fairly large amount of pectin substances. And the fruits also contain sambunigrin, which makes them toxic to humans. Berries also contain fatty oils, ascorbic acid, and amino acids.
In ancient times, the juice of red elderberries was used as a dye. The spongy tissue located inside the branches is now used as an insulating layer in various precision instruments.
Procurement of raw materials
Red elderberry, like black elderberry, must be properly prepared. Each part of the plant is collected at a strictly defined optimal time. Bark for medicinal purposes is cut only from young trees. It is best to harvest in the spring, when sap flow begins.
Flowers are harvested when they are fully open. Berries are cut only when they are ripe, as unripe fruits are extremely toxic.
The raw materials are dried in a shady and well-ventilated place, protected from moisture and direct sunlight. After drying, separate the stalks from the berries, crush the flowers and sift them. The bark is chopped and ground in a coffee grinder. Store in a tightly sealed glass container at an air humidity of no more than 65% and a temperature of +5 to +25 degrees Celsius, out of the reach of children. The leaves are collected during flowering, and the roots are also used for medicinal purposes.
Use in folk medicine
Red elderberry, whose beneficial properties are used in medicine to treat various diseases, serves as the basis for the preparation of many medicines. Traditional healers use the plant as follows:
Excellent jams and preserves are prepared from fresh red elderberry fruits, and the juice is also squeezed out. To prepare healthy juice, the berries are scalded, rubbed through a sieve, and the resulting juice and pulp are brought to a boil with the addition of sugar or honey to taste. But you need to consume it in a strict dosage of no more than 50 g per day. The juice of the fruits of this plant helps restore metabolism and has an immunomodulatory and general strengthening effect.
Elderberry jam helps people with severe weather sensitivity tolerate weather changes and geomagnetic storms.
Contraindications for use
Despite the long list of beneficial medicinal properties, it is necessary to remember that red elderberry is still a poisonous plant, and therefore has a number of contraindications . Medicines based on this plant are prohibited from being taken by people of the following categories:
- children under 14 years of age;
- pregnant and breastfeeding women;
- people with chronic gastrointestinal diseases or diabetes.
To prevent acute poisoning with hydrocyanic acid, it is necessary to adhere to the strictly described dosage, and also not to eat fresh unripe fruits, leaves and stems.
Dried berries and leaves are devoid of toxic substances, however, like any other folk medicine, they require caution in use - it is necessary to use elderberry-based medicines carefully, carefully monitoring the body's reaction and well-being. A decoction of the roots has a high concentration of active ingredients, so it is used mainly externally.
Medicines can only be used if the technology for preparing and storing plant materials is followed.
Side effects and overdose
Infusions and decoctions of red elderberry are moderately toxic. If the recommended dosage is exceeded, medicines based on this plant can cause nausea and vomiting. Hydrocyanic acid, contained in the fruits and bark of the bush, provokes oxygen starvation at the cellular level and can cause cardiac arrest, so elderberry-based preparations must be used with caution.
The first signs of hypoxia of body tissues appear in the form of shortness of breath and increased breathing rhythm. Against this background, blood pressure may increase, and the pulse, on the contrary, may slow down. If nothing is done, death is possible.
Excessive intoxication can be caused by unripe berries. This can cause a strong drop in body temperature, loose stools, vomiting, as well as a general deterioration in health. Oxygen starvation in brain cells can result in irreversible processes of death of nerve cells and other pathological changes. As a result, irreparable damage will be caused to the body.
In connection with all the contraindications and side effects, a completely logical question arises: is it advisable to use such a dangerous plant to treat yourself and your family, or is it still better to entrust your health to officially recognized medications? In any case, the use of various folk remedies remains on your conscience.
Elderberry in farming and cosmetology
There are also safe ways to use this crop. On the farm, elderberry leaves and branches are used to repel rodents - they do not like its smell and they try to avoid both the places where this plant is located and the houses near which it is planted.
The tree is actively used in landscape design as an ornamental plant and as a soil strengthener - its roots prevent possible landslides.
In cosmetology, this culture is highly valued due to its healing properties. Thanks to the plant, the skin of the face and neck acquires a healthy shade, silky texture and gets rid of the annoying manifestations of the aging process - small and large facial wrinkles, as well as small scars and enlarged pores.
To restore sensitive skin, the following folk cosmetology recipe is used:
- 6−7 dried whole inflorescences;
- 200 ml boiling water.
The ingredients are mixed and infused for 15-20 minutes, then filtered through a sieve. Wipe the skin with the infusion twice a day - in the morning and before bed. The procedure is repeated for two weeks, preparing a fresh product every day.
The whitening effect of fruits is also known. They are used to prepare a tonic that is used to lighten freckled skin. For this, 3 tbsp. l. fresh berries are poured into 0.5 liters of boiling water, infused a little, and then boiled for 10 minutes. After cooling, filter and wipe problem areas.
Ripe berries can be used to thoroughly clean the skin of your hands after working in the garden - just rub them in your palms. Thanks to its acid content, elderberry is able to clean any contaminants, including the resin of coniferous trees. In addition, it softens the skin well and prevents peeling and drying out.
More than forty different types of elderberry are known in nature. In our area, only red and black elderberries are found growing wild. Both varieties are actively used both in folk medicine and in gardening. However, when using medicines from red elderberry, one must not forget about its toxicity, and also warn children that its red berries cannot be eaten.
By following basic safety rules, you can safely decorate your site with a hedge of this beautiful fast-growing shrub, which will delight you most of the year with lush greenery, beautiful panicles of yellowish loose inflorescences, and by the end of summer, thick clusters of bright red berries.
This beautiful plant can be found everywhere - it is quite unpretentious, but at the same time always attractive.
Red elderberry is used in folk medicineIt is also known that official medicine does not use it in any way, but folk medicine has found application.
Let's talk about the medicinal properties and contraindications of red elderberry.
Understanding the types
All species reach a height of 3 to 10 meters. Elderberry, red and black, with differences, grows in the European, southeastern part of Russia and Crimea, Belarus, the Caucasus and Ukraine.
If you need to find where red elderberry grows, we recommend taking a closer look at the places next to the bushes.
Red elderberry growing next to bushes Despite the fact that the plant is the same, the species are radically different. There is a small secret to recognition: this can be done with confidence only in September, during the ripening period.
Meanwhile, knowledge of how black and red elderberry differ is extremely important:
- First of all, the difference is in properties. The black variety has been studied more and is more often recommended as a healing agent. Questions about whether red elderberry is poisonous or not arise constantly. The answer is positive: yes, it is poisonous. And official medicine does not use it at all, and folk medicine less often than black medicine;
- In an effort to find out how to distinguish a black elderberry from a red one, you should take a closer look at the flowers. In the first, they are pale yellow, have a white tint, and are fragrant. The flowers of the red elderberry are fundamentally different - red, and also have a sharp, unpleasant odor. The anthers in the first case are yellow, in the second - red.
Contraindications
Having studied the description of the red elderberry, we can conclude that its fruits can cause harm. Moreover, in case of contact with the mucous membrane or wounds, you should immediately visit a doctor. It is also undesirable to take it with unprotected hands.
The question of whether it is possible to eat red elderberry disappears by itself - under no circumstances!
For treatment, only leaves, flowers and branches should be used. But, by the way, they are not suitable for everyone.
Those suffering from diabetes, inflammation in the intestinal mucosa and pregnant women should look for another way to get rid of their problems. However, there are also beneficial uses for the poisonous plant. 
Red elderberry leaves, flowers and branches should be used
Use for foot problems
An alcohol tincture based on this plant is an excellent remedy for problems associated with the feet. For example, with a heel spur. Conveniently, a similar tincture of elderberry red plumosa aurea can be stored for quite a long time - 3 years.
To prepare it, you will need to fill three quarters of a liter jar with fruits, and then fill the container to the top with alcohol. It is important to close the jar as best as possible. It should infuse for a month in some warm place. Once the product is ready for use, you will need to rub it in or use it as a compress.
Application in cosmetology
The properties of red elderberry do not allow it to be used in its pure form as a cosmetic product. But if processed properly, it is quite possible. For example, to create a bleaching agent, you will need to pour 2 cups of boiling water into 3 tbsp. l. dried flowers and let them brew.
After straining, the tincture can be used, then hidden in the refrigerator.
For a refreshing effect, you can make a mask of elderflower flowers. They are poured with boiling water until a paste forms. This paste is applied in an even layer onto gauze and then left on the face for 20 minutes. Next, the product is washed off with warm water.
You can prepare a rejuvenating lotion using the following recipe:
Anti-cancer applications
Finding out why red elderberry is useful, many do not even suspect that it can be used to fight cancerous tumors. To do this, place the ripe berries in a jar and sprinkle each layer with sugar.
It is worth calculating so that the thickness of each layer is approximately 1 cm. You just need to infuse the product for a month, and after that it is important not to forget to drain the juice.
You need to drink the tincture three times a day after meals, a tablespoon. At the same time, before eating, you need to remember to pour yourself a glass of water. After each use, the product should be hidden in the refrigerator. However, if you have diabetes or chronic problems with the digestive system, it is better to refrain from such therapy.
Use for menopause
If women are concerned about disruptions in the functioning of the cardiovascular system, hot flashes and irritability, you can turn to traditional medicine. For older men with sexual disorders, preparing a decoction of elderflower flowers will also be useful. Especially if blood pressure rises and heart pain is observed.
To do this, some of the flowers need to be filled with vodka or 40% alcohol. The workpiece is kept in a dark and cool place for 2 weeks. Then you should strain the product and start taking 25 or 30 drops about three times a day.
Despite the fact that the plant is most often used for decorative purposes and is known to be dangerous to our body, it can be used. It is only important to study the beneficial properties and contraindications of red elderberry.
Red elderberry is a small bright bush that grows everywhere. It is completely unpretentious to soil and weather conditions, and even in the heat it looks attractive. In traditional medicine, wood is practically not used, but let’s find out what can be done in folk medicine.
Red elderberry: medicinal properties and contraindications
Many people don’t know whether red elderberry is poisonous or not. The berry contains a toxic substance, so you can be poisoned by it. Still, the medicinal properties prevail. They act as:
Laxatives
antipyretic
anti-inflammatory
emetics
antibacterial
painkillers
The use of elderberry tea and juice is effective for colds, pain in the joints and spine, and osteomyelitis. The question of interest, what will happen if you eat the fruit of a bush, does not have a specific answer. A person will definitely get poisoned if they consume young parts of the plant; they are most saturated with a toxic substance. Other contraindications are minor. These are allergies to the plant, childhood and pregnancy. Proper use of the red berry will not cause any harm.
The use of red elderberry in folk medicine
The folk healer treats more than one disease. They treat rheumatism, heel spurs, stomach ulcers, menopause, migraines, psoriasis and bronchitis. Useful substances can save you from cancer and bronchial asthma. In folk medicine, berries, flowers, leaves, and bark are used. There are a wide variety of drug recipes. The most popular are tea, decoction, tincture and, of course, jam. differs from red in composition and indications, the healing characteristics are different, so do not replace them when treating ailments.
Red elderberry in vodka for feet - tincture recipe
The medicinal properties of the bush perfectly treat diseases of the feet, in particular heel spurs. An alcohol tincture is used for this.
Recipe:
Place three-quarters of fresh fruit in a liter jar. Fill the container with alcohol to the top and close it. The product should be infused for a month in a warm place. Treatment is carried out with compresses or rubbing liquid into problem areas. Reviews indicate that it will be more effective to combine compresses or rubbing with the use of a decoction of flowers or bark.
This medicine can be stored for 3 years. Another good benefit from flower tincture. The flowers of the plant are poured with vodka at a rate of 1:10, left in the basement for 2 weeks, filtered and taken 15 drops three times a day. There are no contraindications in this case, since the fruit concentrate is very small.
How to make jam?
The beneficial properties of the bush are used in cooking. For a sweet dessert, the red variety is more suitable than the black one. There are various recipes for canning. Here is a description of one of them. Rinse the berries, separate from the branches and place in a colander, let the water drain. For 1 kg of fruit you will need 1 kg of sugar.
Place these ingredients in a vessel in which you cook the jam and leave for an hour. During this time, the berry will release juice, put the preparation on low heat and cook for 1.5 hours. Then put in sterilized jars and roll up. Store in the cellar. This heat treatment does not kill the medicinal properties; jam is used in folk medicine to treat colds and prevent them.
There are no contraindications for jam.
Red elderberry - first aid for poisoning
Due to the fact that this plant is attractive, children very often try it and, therefore, are exposed to poisoning. Don't forget that black elderberry is also poisonous. Poisoning is manifested by nausea, vomiting, pain in the abdomen and head. Convulsions and shortness of breath, heart failure are often observed. First of all, take the person out into the air. Rinse the stomach with a 0.1% manganese solution. Hospitalize the patient.
Red elderberry in cosmetology
The healing characteristics of elderberry are used by cosmetologists. Black berries are also used. The treatment for facial skin is amazing, reviews say. Recipes for facial products are accessible and simple. To make your face cleaner and remove irritation, pour a cup of boiling water over 6 inflorescences and leave for 10 minutes. Cool and strain; fruits are not needed. Rinse your face with the resulting decoction in the morning and before bed.
The folk method is used for 2 weeks, using a fresh decoction each time. For sensitive skin, this is one of the best products.
Red elderberry can whiten the skin. 3 tbsp. l. dry flowers, pour 2 cups of boiling water, leave a little and boil for 5 minutes. Strain and use. Black berries are also suitable for this. This tincture is stored in the refrigerator.
Medicinal qualities can have a refreshing effect. A mask is better suited to refresh your face. Recipe: pour boiling water over the elderberry flower to make a paste. Apply the warm mixture to gauze and place on your face, hold for 20 minutes. At the end of the procedure, rinse with warm water.
Effective treatment of withered skin with the fruits of the tree. Grind fresh fruits and leaves in a meat grinder. Mix a tablespoon of raw materials with 1 tsp. sour cream and apply on face. After 20 minutes, rinse with cold water and lubricate your face with cream.
Cancer treatment
A person does not even suspect that red elderberry heals. Its medicinal properties help fight cancer. In folk medicine, a decoction is used for tumors. Place ripe berries in a jar, sprinkling with sugar. Each layer is a centimeter thick. The tincture is infused for a month, after which the juice is drained and stored in the refrigerator. Drink it a tablespoon after a meal 3 times a day. in a day. And before eating, drink a glass of water. There are contraindications here. These are diabetes mellitus and chronic diseases of the digestive organs. However, oncologists noted that the benefits of such therapy are negligible, and no harm was noticed. Black berries are also used in oncology.
Red elderberry planting and care
This plant is completely unpretentious, so it grows well in any area. The shrub can be found on the side of the road, in a forest plantation or among the steppe. Red elderberry also grows well in the garden. Despite the fact that the plant is not tall, its root is strong. For the seedling you will need a wide hole with a diameter of 1.5 m and a depth of about 70 cm. Fill the soil well with water, when it is absorbed, place the seedling. Fill and compact the soil well, water. The traditional healer loves moisture, so water it daily during the first week of planting.
This is where the care is limited. Due to the poison content, the plant is rarely attacked by pests.
We can say that the medicinal and beneficial properties are truly unique, and the contraindications are not terrible. Very tasty wine is made from the fruits of the bush. It is recommended to take 50 grams daily in the morning. Thus, the medicinal properties of elderberry will prevent many ailments.
Red elderberry is a plant widely distributed in Europe, including the Mediterranean and eastern parts, Asia, and also North America. In Russia, red elderberry grows in the wild almost throughout the entire territory, be it the Moscow region or the Krasnodar region, although in Siberia it is replaced by another species - the Siberian elderberry. It is also grown in cultivation, mainly for decorative purposes. It is popular in landscape design - it is planted in both public parks and private gardens.
Description of culture
Red elderberry is a strongly branching shrub, which most often grows to 1.5-3.5 m in height; specimens up to 5 meters tall are less common. The bark of this shrub has a grayish-brown tint. In young plants it is smooth, but in older plants it begins to peel off. Lighter tubercles called lenticels are noticeable on the stems. This is not a disease, but natural formations consisting of loose tissue that allows air to pass through. Thus, vents appear in the dense suberized cover through which the bush can breathe.
Important! Red elderberry has very brittle branches. This is due to the fact that most of their volume is made up of a loose core of brownish color, and there is relatively little wood itself in them. This distinguishes the plant from other types of elderberry, and at the same time from other shrubs characteristic of the European part of Russia.
The buds of the red elderberry are large, from which elongated lanceolate or ovoid leaves then develop, the length of which can be 5-10 cm. Young leaves often have a rich red or even purple color, which is due to the fact that they contain anthocyanin pigment (by the way, It also has antioxidant properties). In this case, it is important that this pigment can convert light energy into heat, and this is important for the development of the plant after winter, when the sun does not warm up enough. It should also be noted that red elderberry leaves have a characteristic unpleasant odor.
The plant blooms beautifully. Each flower has a diameter of several millimeters. But the flowers are collected in dense inflorescences, most often conical in shape, which reach 20 cm in diameter. Unlike black elderberry, which has sessile flowers, here they grow on stalks. Their petals are usually white or greenish-yellow. Red elderberry blooms in May-June, and the leaves bloom at the same time. The process lasts about two weeks.
The elderberry fruit is a bright scarlet drupe. Red elderberry berries ripen in July-August and are small in size, up to 5 mm. They will differ from black elderberry fruits not only in color. Such berries have an unpleasant odor and should not be eaten raw or heat-treated. Firstly, because they contain a poisonous glycoside, and secondly, because of the unpleasant taste. However, only humans don’t like him. Birds readily eat these berries - this is how the seeds of the bush spread further.
Note! Fruits, if they are intended for any medical purposes, must be collected immediately, before birds get to them.
Individual characteristics of the plant
Red elderberry can look very elegant. In spring - thanks to large greenish inflorescences. In summer and early autumn - thanks to the bright red berries among the green foliage and on the grass. There are also varieties with decorative leaves that look beautiful even between flowering and fruiting. That is why they are so popular in landscape design.
Red Plumosa Aurea
The red elderberry Plumosa Aurea looks very beautiful. It is distinguished by carved golden-colored foliage and ruby-colored fruits. It grows quickly and requires light partial shade for abundant flowering and fruiting. If there is too little sun, the leaves will turn green. This variety looks good in both single and group plantings.
Another beautiful variety is Sutherland Gold. It also has a golden crown, but loves not only partial shade, but also sunny areas. Particularly beautiful in the form of a solitaire or in groups of contrasting colors.
Agricultural technology for red elderberry in general is practically no different from the rules of planting and care for other plants of this species. This is a heat-loving plant, although many varieties are winter hardy. They are undemanding to soil and can grow in clay soil.
On a note! Red elderberry propagates by woody cuttings. In this case, it is recommended to plant the seedling in open ground in the fall. A hole about 50 cm wide is first prepared for it. If there are several bushes, the distance between them should be 1.5 m. In early spring, pruning of bushes is recommended.
Properties of culture
Red elderberry is a beautiful plant, but poisonous. Its inflorescences have an unpleasant odor, and the fruits should never be eaten. If the berries of the black variety are a product that is not very edible only in its raw form, then these fruits are poisonous in any case. Official medicine does not even recognize the medicinal properties of red elderberry. Moreover, the chemical composition of its fruits has been poorly studied. It is only known that these berries contain the glycoside sambunigrin, which imparts toxicity to other fruits of this species, since it serves as the basis for the production of hydrocyanic acid. However, red elderberry is still used in folk medicine, although only the flowers, leaves, bark and roots of the plant are used for medicinal purposes. In this case, products based on them are used with caution, observing the dosage prescribed by a naturopath or herbalist.
These parts of the plant also contain useful substances with scientifically proven medicinal properties. These are vitamin C, rutin, organic acids, phytoncides and tannins. Therefore, the use of red elderberry goes beyond landscape design. Infusions and decoctions are made from the leaves, bark and flowers of the plant; they are used to treat joints, pain caused by displacement of the vertebrae, bronchitis, rheumatism, sore throat, and heel spurs.
Important! An alcoholic tincture is made from the fruits of red elderberry (1/4 of the volume is berries, the rest is vodka). This tincture is not suitable for internal use, since it can only cause poisoning. But it is used for compresses or rubbed into the skin.
Flower decoction and leaf infusions can be used as a diaphoretic for ARVI. They relieve migraines and are used in the treatment of bronchial asthma. In the treatment of bronchitis, an infusion of the bark is used. It is easy to prepare - 1 tablespoon of plant material is poured into a glass of boiling water and infused for two hours, and then the product is filtered and taken 70 ml three times a day.
Elderberry decoction
Elderberry-based products also have contraindications. Firstly, this is the presence of allergic reactions, secondly, pregnancy and lactation, and thirdly, diseases of the gastrointestinal tract and hepatobiliary system.
Red elderberry can be used to make more than just medicine. Its branches with a loose core are traditionally used to make reels and bobbins for handicrafts. And in gardens, this plant is also planted as an insecticidal agent, effective against various pests. Now it is recommended to place several bushes closer to the toilet or cesspool - then there will be no flies there. In the old days, it was planted near barns because it was believed that elderberry repelled mice (although the description of its chemical composition does not make it possible to confirm this fact).
There may be other ways to use seeds, fruits and other parts of the plant. For example, in some European countries, oil is produced from seeds, which is used for technical purposes. It is theoretically possible to obtain alcohol from the fruits, and a natural green dye from the leaves.
Important! Red elderberries help wash the skin of your hands from any impurities - just rub the berries in your palms. At the same time, they release juice that dissolves even stubborn dirt, including plant resins.
Everything made from red elderberry is safe for human health. This plant is dangerous only if the fruits are consumed internally. In this case, poisoning is possible.
Diseases and pests
Just like the black elderberry, the red variety is resistant to diseases; there are no specific pathologies for it. As for pests, the only possible infection here is aphids, which can take a liking to the top of the plant. This phenomenon can be prevented. To do this, in the spring the bushes are treated with karbofos or some herbal remedies (for example, garlic or tar solution).
Pests on elderberry
What is the difference between red elderberry and black elderberry?
To begin with, it should be noted that from a biological point of view, red elderberry is a separate species. But in practice, the difference between the species lies in the answer to the question of whether the red elderberry is poisonous or not. Black elderberry is safe for humans, its fruits are widely used in the food industry, they are used to make drinks, jam, marmalade, and are added to grape must. It is dangerous to eat red elderberry fruits raw, and after heat treatment the glycoside is partially destroyed, but they still do not have a pleasant taste. Kissel made from them is used as a laxative, which in itself speaks of their effect on humans.
Thus, the different chemical composition of the fruits, bark and leaves also determined the difference in the use of these two types of plants.
At the end of April, summer cottages, roadsides and ravines are buried in lush milky flowers - the red elderberry lavishes its heady honey aromas, attracting bees and romantic couples under the green canopy of its spreading branches. The Greeks associate the name of this plant with the scarlet color of its ripe fruits, the Latins with a bunch of grapes, the Czechs and Belarusians with a flowering bush, the Ukrainians with wild lilacs.
Description
Red elderberry is a spreading one and a half meter bush with many branches or a low, up to five meters, tree with a wide crown. Its brown bark, mottled with folds and furrows, with purple splashes on young shoots, contrasts with the lush green color of the odd-pinnate, ellipse-shaped leaves. The flowers have the shape of a sphenoletal corolla and a calyx with five teeth, forming a panicle. Gradually blooming and changing color from greenish to delicate yellowish-white, elderberry inflorescences truly resemble delicate clusters of white lilacs. July adds a riot of colors to the red elderberry plant - the branches are strewn with red, blood-red clusters of berries that have three seeds inside; they ripen closer to August, but stay on the branches until frost. This shrub is unpretentious and hardy, grows quickly even from the seeds of berries pecked by birds, and produces fruits by the third year of life. The plant is used not only to create picturesque green areas, but also for medicinal purposes and in the practical life of avid summer residents. 
Assistant at summer cottage
Red elderberry is an excellent option for a hedge along almost the entire perimeter of the dacha. A thrifty owner takes advantage of the growth rate of the shrub, its cheapness, the riot of colors, and the beneficial and even healing properties of the plant.
The juicy fruits are an excellent cosmetic product: by rubbing the berries in your palms, you can not only wash away dirt and deeply ingrained plant resins, but also soften the skin of your hands.
The smell of elderberry is not to the liking of harmful insects and small rodents, so it is advisable to locate outbuildings near a fence or plant shrubs nearby. You can also cover the floor with twigs; even in winter, dry branches retain their properties. 
If the household has copper utensils or a samovar, the fruits of the plant will help remove the dark coating from them.
You can also cut decorative items from growths on the roots of elderberry, make technical oil from its seeds, and make alcohol from its berries. Some craftsmen use the leaves to make green paint for facades.
Raw berries are usually liked only by representatives of the feathered world, but zealous housewives use them to make preserves and jams.
The beneficial substances of elderberry in puree are well preserved with short heat treatment:
- Add half a kilo of sugar to a kilogram of ripened, thoroughly washed fruits, grind, bring to a boil over low heat, stirring so as not to burn; jars filled with puree are pasteurized for twenty minutes, rolled up and stored in the cellar.
- It will take longer to tinker with the jam, but it's worth it. Berries and granulated sugar are taken at a ratio of one to one; rub the fruits through a sieve, mix them with sugar and half a glass of water, gradually boil the resulting mass over low heat until completely thickened.
- The taste of elderflower jam with walnuts will be original and refined. This dessert will surprise any gourmet. At the final stage of flowering, dried flowers (1 kg) are torn off, winnowed through a colander and poured boiling water in a large bowl for ten minutes, after which, without squeezing, place on a sieve; let a glass of water boil, add the flower mass, add sugar (5 glasses), honey (3 glasses), 3 glasses of chopped nuts and citric acid to taste; cook in several stages for 5 minutes over low heat until the jam thickens.
Use in folk medicine
Red elderberry is a storehouse of vitamin C, tannin, essential oils, organic acids, tannins and mineral salts contained in its flowers and bark, which, in addition, contains a lot of pectins. The berries are rich in amino acids, ascorbic acid, and oils, but contain sambunigrin, which can form hydrocyanic acid, which is hazardous to health. Therefore, when using grandma’s recipes for treatment, you need to be careful. Experienced herbalists have long used the diaphoretic, antipyretic, diuretic, laxative, anti-inflammatory and disinfectant properties of this plant. The healing properties of miracle plants are used for colds, diabetes, pustular rashes, hemorrhoids, burns and diaper rash in children and bedridden patients. 
How to prepare elderberries correctly?
When the buds begin to swell, around April, you can already cut off the branches of the two-year-old plant, and also cut off the bark with a sharp knife. The waste material can be used for disinfestation of utility rooms. You can not cut the branches, but make transverse cuts on them, retreating about thirty centimeters, then connect them longitudinally. The bark is easily removed, and the plant tolerates this procedure painlessly. Like all medicinal herbs, the bark is dried in a dry, shady place. When the flowers fully bloom, you not only need to cut them and dry them, but it is advisable to remove all the small pedicels after drying. Dried flowers are preferably stored in a paper bag, then they can be stored for two years. The end of May is the time to collect the leaves of the plant for harvesting, but they are stored for no more than a year. Dried fruits are stored even less - up to six months. A prerequisite for drying juicy berries is to preserve the stalk, so it is better to cut off whole bunches and hang them in bunches under the shade of the roof. Harvesting should begin no earlier than August. Then you can start digging up and drying the elderberry roots. They are first cleaned and washed, then ground to the state of flour, which is used for quite a long time - up to five years. 
Ancient recipes from experienced herbalists
Red elderberry, when properly collected, stored and prepared, can be a good help to a summer resident in creating his own green pharmacy, which will always be at hand throughout the entire summer season.
- For colds, dried elderflower is infused: two teaspoons of flowers are poured into a glass of boiling water and infused in a warm place for 10-15 minutes, filtered and drunk warm, dividing the infusion in half.
- An infusion of the shrub bark can relieve acute bronchitis and even rheumatism. A tablespoon of powder is poured into 300 ml of boiling water and left for about two hours, filtered and drunk, divided into three doses.
- A decoction of the flowers of this miraculous plant will help relieve pain and inflammation from a sore throat. A tablespoon of dry color is poured into a glass of water and boiled for five minutes. Gargle with warm, strained broth as often as possible during the day.
- Compresses with an infusion of fresh fruits will help reduce pain due to osteochondrosis, arthritis, and heel spurs. Three-quarters of a glass jar is filled with berries, filled with alcohol and left in a dark, cool place for a month. Apply a compress once or twice a day. The main thing is not to overdo it.
- For various tumors, cognac tincture will be an assistant to the main treatment. A three-liter jar is filled to the top with ripe berries, 250 ml of cognac is poured in and sent to the basement for 10 days. Periodically shake the contents of the jar. The next stage of preparation: take out the fruits, grind them, return the resulting mass to the same three-liter container, add cognac tincture of birch buds (1:10). Leave for another 10 days, not forgetting to “stir” the mixture from time to time. The strained tincture is taken for one and a half to two months, three times a day, a tablespoon half an hour before meals. It is advisable to drink it with mint infusion. Then – a month break plus a repeat course.
- As a laxative, use a twelve-hour tincture of berries in raw clean water at the rate of a teaspoon per 150 ml of liquid. Drink in one go.
- With the onset of menopause, drops are useful for both women and men: dry flowers are poured with alcohol 1:5, left for two weeks in a cold place protected from sunlight, filtered and drunk 25 drops 2-3 times a day.
- For dropsy in the abdominal cavity, a wine infusion of elderberry bark helps. Take 200 g of dry powder and pour in a liter of white wine, leave for two days, filter and drink 100 ml per day.
- An excellent decoction for treating foot fungus: pour two tablespoons of flowers into a glass of water, let it boil, then simmer for 10 minutes. Cool and dilute with 500 ml of cool water. Take a foot bath for up to 20 minutes, then allow your feet to dry without wiping with a towel.
- An excellent and tasty remedy for strengthening the immune system, helping to prevent various diseases, is freshly squeezed elderberry juice. First, the fruits are scalded, then squeezed, sugar is added and brought to a boil. Caution: you can drink no more than 50 ml of this juice per day.
These ancient recipes must be used very carefully, because they are not recognized by official pharmacology, and fresh berries and young leaves of this plant species are unsafe for health. Even if you prepare an infusion or decoction from unripe fruits, you can get severe poisoning and suffer from illness for a long time. Pregnant and lactating women, children, and people with acute forms of gastrointestinal diseases should not experiment with this plant.
