Trees are considered the most relevant plants in humanity, due to their great beauty and contribution to the development of life, there is a wide variety of species, forms and families but in this case we invite you to learn about a tree Much studied for its great medicinal properties such as Elderberry.
Elder
Trees are plants that can normally reach great heights, have a woody trunk, have branches that extend along the ground and also have crowns of different shapes and styles, due to this there is a great variety of tree species, among all these species that exist, the Sauco tree stands out.
The Sauco also known as Sambucus or simply Sauco, normally corresponds to a genus that between five to thirty species belonging to the adoxaceae family, this type of family is made up of a group of shrubs or small trees that have characteristics of evergreen leaves (they maintain their green tones throughout the year).
Other experts in botany consider the elder as part of the family also well known as the honeysuckle where they are considered a large group of shrubs and vines, being considered a large group of ornamental plants mainly in temperate regions.
Its scientific name is Sambucus Nigra L. They can also be known as Sabuco, Sayugo, Linsusa or Cañilero. It is considered as a tree that is native to the European continent and its arrival in Latin America was through the arrival of the Spanish to the new continent in the middle of the XNUMXth century.
Elderberry Characteristics
The Elderberry can be considered as a shrub or a small tree, its leaves are characterized by being pinnate with approximately 5 to 9 and can even be up to 11, being very characteristic for having a length between 5 and 30 centimeters and its margins are serrated, they are opposite and flexible. Its trunk can be inclined, thick and with a rough bark.
It corresponds to a plant that can reach 6 to 10 meters in height. In addition, its branches tend to be thick and have cracked bark, its color is ash brown. The flowers are very popular for their peculiar fragrance and they are grouped in clusters known as corymbs, for being groups of up to 15 flowers, each of the flowers are hermaphroditic and have 5 star-shaped petals, they are white in color They tend to bloom in mid-spring.
Its fruits are known as berries that are shaped like balloons, very fleshy and can measure up to 9 centimeters in diameter. They are a fairly juicy and edible fruit, they have a reddish and even blackish color when they are ripe, when immature they can have a blue or violet coloration.
One of its main characteristics is its medicinal and also nutritional functions with its flowers and ripe fruits, emphasizing that the fruit and even its bark should be expected to ripen because they can become poisonous and harmful to health.
Elder Species
The name "Sambucus" comes from the Greek Sambuca and was considered a musical instrument that was widely used by the Romans and was built with wood from this tree, in the case of "Nigra" it refers to its black color when its fruits they are ripe. It should be noted the fact that it will be located in two main subspecies which are described below:
Peruvian Sambucus
It corresponds to the common species in Central America and Latin America, it can become a long tree of up to eight meters, it has an irregular trunk and has inflorescences between 18 and 22 centimeters in length composed of clusters. Its main location is between Costa Rica and the Andes region in Argentina, its fruits are widely applied to make jams, drinks and also wines; while its flowers are applied as analgesics, anti-inflammatories and antiseptics.
Mexican Sambucus
Also known as Sambucus Canadensis, very located in the North American region, mainly in rocky mountainous areas, being a species widely found in Mexico, in this case, it is a deciduous shrub that can only reach three meters in height.
Elder cultivation
The Elderberry is considered a widely used tree due to its great splendor, which is why it can be sought after as an ornamental plant. Let us know some of the following recommendations to be cultivated:
Location
The elder is a tree capable of adapting to different areas with high humidity, especially those very humid forests.
Rusticity
Elderberry is considered as a tree that has a quite significant and outstanding trunk, therefore it is capable of resisting various very adverse climatic conditions and being able to survive, in this case the fact of being able to resist strong frosts stands out.
Multiplication
The multiplication of plants can be carried out in different ways, such as by seeds, it is a common sexual procedure, where other factors intervene to help the reproduction of plants, other multiplication methods are by vegetative reproduction, which is considered of asexual form because they are hermaphrodite plants. Normally for the Elder tree, these two methods are used: sowing by seeds and vegetative reproduction, the latter tries to emit some propagules in its most superficial roots, with vegetative reproduction being the most used form of multiplication.
Pruning and Harvesting
Pruning is considered a technique to remove dry, diseased or broken branches and herbs that prevent the growth of the plant or alter its aesthetics. The drying process is applied in the shade and then must be kept in cool, dry and dark air. The harvest of the fruits stands out where they must wait until they are black or hanging from the branches (summer season and early autumn).
Irrigation
The growth of plants is essential that they are exposed to different factors that favor their development, among them water stands out. In case of having the Elderberry in a nursery, it is necessary to apply irrigation with abundant water, trying to keep the substrate moist, avoiding accumulation and excess at all times.
Siembra
Elder planting times tend to be done in batches or also by transplanting plants from the nursery. First, a hole must be made in the ground, taking into account the size of the plant that will be used in the nursery.
Composition and Properties of the Elderberry
The Elderberry is considered one of the most sought-after trees for its main properties, among them we must highlight that it is cultivated for ornamental purposes for interior decoration or home gardens, also for food due to the fruits of the Elderberry tree, an artisanal tree preserved as bonsai and mainly medicinal for the properties of the flowers and bark; being essential for temperate and cold climates.
Elder Fruit Properties
All ripe fruits or berries are made up of a set of organic pigments, as well as very favorable biochemical components such as anthocyanins, fiber, phosphorus, glucose, fructose and potassium. Each of the 50 g of fresh fruit is considered to provide up to 9 and 13 milligrams of vitamin C and vitamin B. It also has magnesium, zinc, iron and calcium.
It has some edible wild fruits, where both the skin and the pulp can be consumed mainly for their beneficial properties. With its significant fruits, jams are made and in addition to being used for medicinal purposes such as syrups, laxatives and even depuratives, it has beneficial properties to reduce cholesterol and improve vision, they can also have anti-inflammatory properties useful for neuralgia, headache, abdominal pain and sciatica.
You can get to cook the berries to improve the flavor and thus improve digestion. It is advisable to know the procedure to make the syrup correctly, it can be as follows:
The juice of the ripe fruit must be extracted or squeezed, and then the seeds are strained, in this case care must be taken with the seeds because they can become toxic, then they must be left to cook for about 10 minutes. It must be allowed to cool before being packaged and finally refrigerated. Once it is ready, you can consume the syrup 2 to 3 tablespoons a day.
There are some investigations that have been carried out by the University of Graz in Austria, through the study of a berry extract, it is responsible for reducing the oxidation of low-density lipoproteins of cholesterol involved in atherogenesis, this type of properties is ideal for be able to combat cardiovascular diseases.
On the other hand, all green fruits are characterized by having a toxic principle called sambunigrina, which is one of the main reasons why they should not be consumed until they are fully ripe. This toxic principle is found in the leaves, bark and seeds of the elderberry. It is recommended that the leaves not be consumed because they are highly toxic, therefore their uses are applied directly to crops to repel mice, moles and vermin, they can also be burned to be applied with insecticides.
In case of being used as an infusion to be used as mosquito repellents and can also be used sprayed on plants to be able to have protection against aphids and caterpillars.
The preparation of the insecticide must be as follows: it is necessary to boil a liter of water with 225 grams of elder leaves, cooking it for 20 minutes, then strain it and let it cool. Still hot, it is advisable to add a teaspoon of liquid or powder detergent and finally be applied in a spray bottle.
Elderflower Properties
All its flowers are edible, they tend to be used in gastronomy to achieve aromatization and also to prepare some recipes such as herbal teas, jellies, jams, ice cream, cookies or it can be combined with other herbs. For years, it has been sought to obtain wines, which are very popular for this use, where the flower tends to be macerated until it achieves an aromatic smell and aged flavor.
All flowers are composed of an essential oil, consisting of flavonoids, phenolic acids, tannins, vitamin C and minerals. It has essential diaphoretic properties for bronchial epithelium. It can exert an irritating effect that can also increase the production of bronchoalveolar secretions, therefore, it can be used effectively for the different treatments of the common cold and flu.
There are different studies for elderberry flavonoids that have antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and immunological properties; managing to increase the different production of cytokines in monocytes, thus stimulating the immune system.
The flowers of the elder tree can be used for the preparation of cleansing creams and also to remove blemishes on the skin, being essential for the conservation of the skin, mainly by women over thirty years of age.
The flowers and fruits have different antiseptic and bactericidal properties, they are essential for pyorrhea, gingivitis and pharyngitis, being used as infusions to be applied for mouthwashes and gargles. It can also be used to disinfect wounds or relieve different types of burns. Since before, the flowers are considered to have a great galactogogue effect, in a few words, it is responsible for stimulating the different milk productions, this is due to the effect of protein balance, being very favorable in lactation.
In this case, it is worth noting that Elder wood can become very resistant, becoming valued in cabinetmaking and for the elaboration of different agricultural tools. It can produce easily, where the marrow of all the branches is extracted, becoming used for the manufacture of some instruments such as flutes, tubes, blowguns, among others and can also be used as firewood.
Among its various uses that have been mentioned, it should be noted the fact of being able to verify that the Elderberry has been studied in various areas for many years for the benefit of its properties. Existing numerous investigations related to the parts of the tree highlighting the characteristics for the potential that are beneficial to the human being.
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