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Black elderberry for coughing in bronchitis
Last reviewed: 04.07.2025

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Black elderberry is another popular plant in our area in the form of a bush with small snow-white flowers and round small fruits with juice similar to ink. Medieval doctors knew about the healing properties of this plant and actively used them, because in those days gifts of nature served as medicines.
Elder flowers have a special healing power. They are usually used to combat various diseases.
Pharmacodynamics
In case of bronchitis, the following properties of fragrant flowers are valuable: expectorant, anti-inflammatory, astringent, antipyretic.
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Dosing and administration
Most often, an infusion, decoction or syrup of elder flowers is used to treat coughs associated with bronchitis.
To prepare the decoction, we need 20 g of dry inflorescences and 1 liter of boiling water. Pour hot water over the plant material, bring to a boil, boil for 1-2 minutes, remove from heat and leave to infuse for 30 minutes. After this time, filter the infusion and store in a cool place under a lid. The medicine should be taken three times a day. A single dose is 1 glass.
We prepare the infusion in the usual way. For 1 glass of boiling water, take 1 tbsp. of elder flowers. Infuse the composition for an hour, filter, drink all the medicine in one go. You need to drink 3-4 glasses of infusion per day.
Now let's move on to a very effective and no less tasty cough syrup recipe. Pour 1 cup of dried elder flowers into an enamel bowl and add 1 cup of water. Boil the mixture over low heat for a quarter of an hour, cool it and strain.
Add 250 g of sugar and 1 tablespoon of lemon juice (can be replaced with 1 teaspoon of citric acid) to the resulting glass of decoction. Bring the mixture to a boil and cook, stirring constantly and collecting foam, for half an hour. Pour the cooled syrup into a glass container and store in the cold. The medicine should be taken 3-5 times a day. A single dose for adults is 1 tablespoon, for children - 1 teaspoon.
Contraindications
Black elderberry is a moderately toxic plant, so its use is not recommended during pregnancy and breastfeeding. This treatment should not be practiced by those who have intolerance reactions to this plant. You should consult a doctor about the possibilities of treating children under 12 with elderberry. By the way, the flowers of the plant are not considered poisonous
Caution should be exercised when treating bronchitis in people with acute or chronic gastrointestinal pathologies, as well as in patients who have once been diagnosed with diabetes (due to the diuretic and laxative effects of elderberry).
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Storage conditions
In connection with the treatment of bronchitis, the flowers of the plant are of primary interest. They are harvested in June, when the plant is actively blooming. The collected flowers are separated from the peduncles and spread on paper or dried in a dryer at a temperature of no more than 35 degrees. You can dry the flowers in whole inflorescences, hanging them in the shade on a strong thread.
Elder flowers are best stored in paper bags or glass containers for up to 2 years.
Attention!
To simplify the perception of information, this instruction for use of the drug "Black elderberry for coughing in bronchitis" translated and presented in a special form on the basis of the official instructions for medical use of the drug. Before use read the annotation that came directly to medicines.
Description provided for informational purposes and is not a guide to self-healing. The need for this drug, the purpose of the treatment regimen, methods and dose of the drug is determined solely by the attending physician. Self-medication is dangerous for your health.