Elder leaves

Elder leaves are primarily used for topical applications as an emollient and vulnerary. They were traditionally mixed with tallow and made into an ointment for hemorrhoids, burns, bruises, sprains, chilblains, wounds, hives, eczema, tumors and gout. Elder leaf salve is reported to be as effective as cortisone creams. Elder is most beneficial in moving the stagnation associated with black-and-blue marks. Soaking cuts in a tea of elder leaves before applying the salve is another common first aid application. 

If your eyes feel heavy, steep a handful of elder leaves in two quarts of water. Lie down and place a cloth soaked in the tea over your closed eyes. 

Elder leaves can be used in foot baths to soothe tired swollen feet. They also can be warmed and applied to a headache brought on by stress. 

Elder leaves contain the alkaloid sambucine, a precursor of hydrocyanic acid, which is somewhat toxic. Thus, the leaves are used only topically in ointments for sprains or bruises. Bruised leaves can be rubbed on the body or worn under a hat to prevent being pestered by insects. Cooled strained leaf tea can be applied to plants to discourage aphids. 

Internally, elder leaves are used only with caution to cleanse the bowels, to promote sweating and to increase urination. 

Antiseptic. A wonderful agent for colds, elder helps to fight infection. Elder leaves have also been used topically to treat dog bites. Historically, elder was used to treat syphilis. Parts used flowers, berries. 

Purgative. Elder increases bile secretions, which causes intestinal peristalsis. Use cautiously as elder leaves can be a very intense way to clean the bowels. Fresh flowers are more purgative than dried ones. Parts used flowers, inner bark, leaves. 

Crushed elder leaves placed in one s shoes are a traditional European remedy for fatigue. Consider a soothing foot bath in warm elder flower tea. 

During cheese-making time, elder branches have been hung on the walls to repel flies. Well cared for animals have worn a wreath of elder leaves to deter bugs. An infusion of the leaves can be poured into mole and mouse holes to inspire them to find other living quarters. 

Next time you are out in the wild and mosquitoes are hovering around you, stick a sprig of elder behind your ear to ward them off. To ward off flies and gnats, crush elder leaves and rub them over your face or hat. The effect is said to last about an hour and then needs to be repeated. Should you get stung by a bee, remove the stinger and rub the affected area with crushed elder leaves to bring quick relief. Historically, snake bites have also been treated with elderberries or roots infused in wine. 

Elder leaves combined with alum or chrome as a mordant dyes fabric green. When the leaves are mixed with alum and salt, a lilac color emerges. Adding elder leaves to copper and acetic acid yields a... 

But when the implications of this began to dawn on me, I went rigid, covered my mouth with my burned hand, stared up at the dancing elder leaves, and thought, That s what I am, a whore s bastard. In fact, I am lower than Sarah, because she at least had some knowledge of the streets from whence she came. 

Sambucus coreana Kom. Klob. Alisova S. latipinna Nakai S. manshurica Kitag. S. peninsularis Kitag. S. sieboldiana (Miq.) Blume ex Graebner var. miquelii (Nakai) S. williamsii Hance Jie Gu Mu (Elder) (leaf, flower, stem, root bark) Chlorogen acid.60 Diaphoretic, diuretic, carminative, treat arthralgia, fever. 

Elder leaf contains sambunigrin (a cyano-genic glucoside) at 0.042% concentration, according to one source choline rutin and quercetin sterols (sitosterol, stigmasterol, and campesterol) triterpenes (a- and P-amyrin palmitates, oleanohc acid, and ursohc acid) alkanes (mainly -nonacosane and... 

The box-elder or Manitoba maple A. negundo) is the only species of maple that has a compound leaf, consisting of three to seven leaflets. This fast-growing species is common in moist sites near water, and is an urban weed in mauy areas. 

The leaf, bark, seed, and raw unripe fruit of European elder, American elder, and related Sambucus species contain the cyanogenic glycoside sambunigrin, ingestion of which may cause vomiting or severe diarrhea (Buhrmester et al. 2000 ... 

Nausea, vomiting, abdominal cramps, and weakness were reported after consumption of a juice made from elder fruit, leaf, and branches (MMWR 1984). 

Consumption of an improperly prepared juice, made with the fruit, leaf, and branches of wild elder plants in California (believed to be S. mexicana), resulted in acute gastrointestinal and neurological symptoms in 11 individuals. Symptoms of poisoning included nausea, vomiting, abdominal cramps, and weakness (MMWR 1984). 

Narrow-leaf marsh elder (Iva angustifolia) where it is local... 

European elder (S. nigra) is a tall shrub or small tree up to about 10 m high native to Europe and naturalized in the United States. Parts used are the dried flower and leaf. 

Bark of American elder and bark, leaf, flower, root, and fruit of European elder have been reported to be used in cancers. ... 

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