Ashbolt Farm Tasmania - The Home of Australian Grown elderberries
"We were introduced to the health benefits of elderberry some three years
ago by our local pharmacist in WA, who insisted that all his staff use it as a preventive, given their exposure.
Our whole extended family now uses it at the first sign of, or any exposure to,
colds or ‘flu and we use 6 bottles on average, per year." Paul S, Western Australia
Throughout history the humble Elderberry (coming from the Elderberry plant) has been known for its health benefits. The elderberry fruit berries are reputed to have nearly 3 times the antioxidant value of cranberries and blueberries. They are rich in bioflavonoids, especially anthocyanin which are responsible for their deep purple (almost black) colouring.
Packed with minerals like iron, potassium, phosphorus, and copper, vitamins, (vitamin A, B, and C), as well as proteins and dietary fibre. They also contain beneficial organic compounds that function as anti-inflammatory and antioxidant agents in the body.
Elderberry has a reputation as a "cold and flu" superfood, with its health benefits acknowledged throughout history and in recent clinical research.
Elderberries have historically been used for managing:
We don't make any guarantees about the effectiveness of our syrup in treating any ailment. What we can claim is that our Ashbolt Farm Elderberry concentrate tastes great, is delicious in so many ways, and contains concentrated elderberries handpicked from our grove.
Elderberry has been proven effective against eight different influenza viruses. The study indicated that it may provide protection against a wide range of flu viruses, solving the problem of the “mutating flu”, because most strains of the virus use the same enzyme mechanism to penetrate cells.
Norwegian studies reported in The Journal of International Medical Research, have shown that Elderberry juice (sambucus nigra or black elderberry) not only stimulates the immune system, but also directly inhibits the influenza virus. The active ingredients in the Elderberry were found to halt the spread of the virus by disarming the enzyme responsible for attacking cell walls.
The study showed that on average, flu patients given the elderberry extract recovered within 3.1 days, compared to 7.1 days for those given the placebo. Researchers also found that the patients who took the Elderberry fruit extract also had higher levels of antibodies against the flu virus. Great to use during the cold and flu season.
Other studies published by The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine found that nearly 90 per cent of flu patients given Elderberry extract were completely free of symptoms within three days, as compared to at least six days with a placebo.
Whilst the properties of Elders have long been touted, it is not intended that it be taken as a substitute for a flu vaccine. Please consult your doctor.
This clinical trial* showed that taking Elderberry daily for 10 days before flying had a beneficial effect on respiratory health and reduced the prevalence and severity of colds.
In addition, increasing your intake of Elderberries at the first sign of illness was shown in this study** to significantly reduce the duration of flu symptoms.
Elderberry Syrup is very high in Vitamin A and C and bioflavonoids, and may be taken as a prophylactic against the common cold and flu season.
If taking for colds and flu, you can take a tablespoon of Ashbolt Farm Elderberry Syrup neat, or mix a spoon with soda water or hot water according to your taste (add ginger or lemon as well if desired). You can take a little every hour or so until the worst symptoms of the cold pass, then as often as you wish.
Unlike most over-the-counter cough medications, Ashbolt Elderberry and Elderflower does not contain added preservatives or alcohol. On top of that it has a fabulous taste, and can be safely given to young children. If in doubt though, seek medical advice.
The diuretic and anti-inflammatory properties of Elderberries make it a powerful aid in the treatment of rheumatic and arthritic conditions.
Elderberry syrup has a long-established effect in regulating bowel activity, by moderating the extremes of diarrhoea and constipation.
Ashbolt Farm creates a diverse range of products in the Elderberries range, from Elderberries Concentrate, to Elderberry Sparkling. All with their own unique composition and tastes.
And don’t forget, you can find us on the Salamanca Market in Hobart, Tasmania, every Saturday (When it reopens, until then we will help you online)
While we and our loyal customers believe strongly in the recuperative and protective benefits of elderberries, we cannot make any guarantees about the effectiveness of our syrups in treating any ailment. What we can claim is that our Ashbolt Farm Elderberry concentrate tastes great, is delicious in so many ways, and contains concentrated elderberries handpicked from our grove.
* Elderberry Supplementation Reduces Cold Duration and Symptoms in Air-Travellers: A Randomized, Double-Blind Placebo-Controlled Clinical Trial; Evelin Tiralongo, Shirley S. Wee, Rodney A. Lea; Nutrients. 2016 Apr
**Randomized study of the efficacy and safety of oral elderberry extract in the treatment of influenza A and B virus infections; Z Zakay-Rones, E Thom, T Wollan, J Wadstein; J Int Med Res. Mar-Apr 2004
