Elderberry Poll.. How's it working for you?

Now that we're through the worst of cold and flu season I'd be curious to see how the elderberry users are faring.

Added a poll for simplicity but feel free to share what's going on in your family. Has it prevented sickness for you guys? How much are you giving?

Re: Elderberry Poll.. How's it working for you?

To answer my own question.. since November, I've been giving my kids a kid-dose of elderberry each day (dose defined by the box). When they start showing signs of something I up it to 2 doses.

My DD started preschool this year so I thought we were doomed, but we've had one mild cold, one set of runny noses, and a stomach bug (I don't think elderberry could have prevented that?) so I'd say a pretty big success!

Re: Elderberry Poll.. How's it working for you?

Ds is 4 yrs old and in preschool. He gets elderberry syrup everyday. So far he's had 2 colds, no ear infections, no stomach bug, no flu.....so far so good.
(I also give him extra vitamin C and a probiotic daily).

ETA: I take it also and I've had maybe one very minor cold only.

Message edited 2/23/2015 12:17:23 PM.

Re: Elderberry Poll.. How's it working for you?

I use it for myself not my DD.
She is NEVER sick, even without it.
So if I were giving it to her I'd swear it was the elderberry, when it reality it's just her immune system on it's own.


I take it when I feel something coming on and generally it knocks it out or at least shortens the severity and duration.

Message edited 2/23/2015 11:58:17 AM.

Re: Elderberry Poll.. How's it working for you?

I wasn't giving it to her daily but when my husband came down with a 103 fever, I started giving her 2 tbl spoons a day to prevent her catching it (dr thinks it was the flu) but she still got sick for about 4 days.
I don't think I got it early enough.

Re: Elderberry Poll.. How's it working for you?

I took it when I was sick and it did nothing for me. I was sick for 8 days and started taking it after 2 days. Took an antibiotic on day 6 and was feeling better (human) by day 8.

Re: Elderberry Poll.. How's it working for you?

Since we started taking it we have had the onset of colds that just turned into minor sniffles for a few days while before we were constantly sick and missing work/school. Who knows if it's just a coincidence or not.

Elderberry Poll.. How's it working for you?

I heard about it recently when my dd had the flu. I felt her symptoms beyond the fever were mild and duration wasnt the full 10 days the dr said it could last. I dont want to say its all because of elderberry because my dd is otherwise healthy. We eat very healthy. No juice ever. Junk food is a special occassion so maybe once a week. Im sure it all helps. Its natural so it cant hurt and im all about natural and organic clean living so ill def keep doing it.

Re: Elderberry Poll.. How's it working for you?

The problem is you never really know if it is the medicine or just good luck. We haven't tried it but last year my older one was sick fairly often. This year we have only had two illnesses -strep...no flu, no colds. But I think their teachers this year wash their hands better. Also they were only sick for 1-2 days. If I was taking meds I would swear it was the meds. I guess I am wondering how you know it is the meds vs just good luck, hand washing, etc.

Elderberry Poll.. How's it working for you?

I give it DS everyday along with a probiotic. He has had 2 colds this entire winter that lasted 3 days and the symptoms were very mild. Compared to last year where he was sick pretty much every other week and he was miserable during them.

We also all got the flu, DS was pretty much 100% by day 4. The rest of us took almost 2 weeks to feel better. DD even longer. I now give it to her daily as well and knock on wood she had one cold and it lasted 4 days.

Message edited 2/23/2015 2:38:54 PM.

Elderberry Poll.. How's it working for you?

Dd and I both got the flu. She came down with symptoms a day before I did. We did elderberry every few hours and my temp never broke 99.3, and we were both temp free after 48 hours. Flu confirmed by doctors for us.

Now the family member that infected us with the flu was in bed for 5 days and needed an additional 2 before she could leave the house. For me and dd the flu wasn't a big deal at all. I attribute it to the elderberry.

However we are really healthy and have great diets.