Elder Wisdom

Elders have long been thought to have healing properties. For centuries, every part of the plant – bark, leaves, flowers and berries – has been used for medicinal purposes. Mediaeval herbalists used the roots as a diuretic and the bark to hasten labour, while a tea made of the dried berries was said to soothe colic. The renowned herbalist Mrs Grieve recommended an elderflower infusion as a good old-fashioned remedy for colds and throat trouble in her influential book, “A Modern Herbal”, published in 1931 and still used today.