Background

In my line of work as a medical librarian at a community hospital, I receive a series of weekly email updates from publications and databases to help keep me informed on topics that are likely to be of interest to the clientele I serve: our physicians. , nurses, staff and general public. A little over a year ago, I received one during the height of the H1N1 or swine flu outbreak that particularly interested me.

I can’t get a flu shot, due to a previous reaction a few years ago. This worries me a bit as I work in a hospital. (And even if you can get a flu shot, it’s not always 100% effective against the current year’s flu strain, since you need to get vaccinated early — at best, it’s an educated guess as to which strains will be involved, so which is great to have some extra support on hand). Fortunately, I only had the flu once in my life, but it was enough to know that it is something I don’t want to go through again! So when this email came in with an update titled “Elderberry Extract May Reduce Flu Symptoms,” I was definitely interested.

Not only was the topic relevant, but the source was one of the most respected in the medical field. It came from DynaMed, an “evidence-based reference tool created by doctors for doctors and other health professionals” by monitoring more than 500 medical journals and databases. The editors select “articles most likely to change clinical practice.” What makes this subject particularly fascinating is that elderberry is an herb, not a drug. It is not often that conventional medicine shows an interest in “folk remedies”.

Article Summary

In a study conducted in China in the spring of 2009, patients were given either elderberry extract or a placebo within 24 hours of the onset of flu-like symptoms. After 48 hours, the elderberry group had a higher rate of complete relief of symptoms or significantly reduced symptoms. Other studies showed similar results with an elderberry extract syrup called Sambucol. In one such study, conducted by the Norwegian University of Oslo Medical School, people given Sambucol showed significant improvement after an average of just 3.1 days, compared with 7.1 days in the placebo. Anyone who has ever had the flu can appreciate the value of those 4 days! And unlike many medications with a long list of side effects, no major adverse effects have been reported with Sambucol, as long as the proper recommended dosage is followed.

How Sambucol works

It is important to note that the only version of elderberry syrup that was used in the studies and was definitely shown to have an effect is marketed as “Sambucol”. It is available in the cough and cold syrup aisle of the pharmacy. A 2-teaspoon dose contains 3.8 grams of elderberry extract. Sambucol’s packaging describes it as “Immune System Support.” Elderberries are unusually high in phytochemicals called flavonoids, particularly anthocyanins, which are powerful antioxidants. These anthocyanins enhance our body’s immune system by aiding in the production of cytokines. Cytokines essentially let the body know when a heightened immune response is required. The healing properties of the flowers and berries of the black elderberry were already noted in the ancient writings of Hippocrates, considered the “Father of Modern Medicine”.

My experience

Sambucol must be taken within 48 hours of the first symptoms to be effective, and the sooner the better. Consequently, when I first read the email from Dynamed over a year ago, I decided to buy a bottle to keep on hand, just in case. It wasn’t cheap compared to some cold syrups, $12.99, although I was able to find it on sale for around $10.00. I would have paid the higher price anyway as it is still less expensive than a visit to my doctor. (It should be noted that although Sambucol does support the immune system, there is no evidence to date that it actually works to prevent the flu – it just lessens symptoms and allows for a quicker recovery once you think you have it.)

Late one recent Friday night, I began to develop the telltale signs of a coming cold. I guess it wasn’t too surprising since several people I work with had really bad colds and even my stylist (who I had just visited two days before) had one. Although Sambucol is indicated for the flu, not colds, I remembered the bottle he had on hand. I thought any immune support would be welcome and decided to give him my first test. Although my bottle had been purchased over a year ago, I was relieved to see that it apparently had a very long shelf life and would not expire for another 11 months. So, about 2 hours after the start of my symptoms, I took my first dose (2 teaspoons). I was pleasantly surprised that my symptoms (mainly runny nose) seemed to go away in about 10 minutes. I had a good night’s sleep.

But when I woke up the next morning, I found that my cold symptoms had returned, although they were still relatively mild. But I could definitely tell that he had a cold. So I took another two teaspoons, as well as some vitamin C, which I thought wouldn’t hurt (although I’ve never been able to prevent a cold by taking vitamin C alone). Again the symptoms disappeared within 10 minutes. However, they returned throughout the day, approximately every four hours (when the dose wore off). I continued taking the Sambucol, with the same symptom reducing effects each time, and had another good night’s sleep.

By day 3, I still had to drink the syrup, which I could tell tastes quite nice, thank goodness. But I was able to go longer between doses. And that night, I didn’t even feel like I had a cold. However, I took it for one more day, just for extra support. I can definitely say that the Sambucol helped limit the severity of the cold and speed up my recovery. I went out and bought two more bottles since they were on sale for $3.00 off and won’t expire for more than two years.

conclusion

Based on the medical literature and my own personal experience, I think it’s definitely worth keeping a bottle of Sambucol on hand, just in case. It seems to have worked to lessen the severity and duration of my cold. But I hope I never have to find out if it works with the flu or not!

Disclaimer

Sambucol is not a substitute for visiting your doctor or taking proper precautions against the flu, such as recommended vaccinations, hand washing, adequate rest, and avoiding crowds and sick people when possible during flu season. There is a children’s version available for children from 2 years old; Not recommended for children under 2 years of age. Remember that all of these herbal remedies and other supplements should be discussed with your health care professional. Herbal remedies are not regulated by the government and quality can vary greatly from brand to brand.