Elder
Historical document, translated for reference. It reflects medical knowledge of the 1920s–30s and is not medical advice.
Summary
This article from the 1928–1936 Soviet Medical Encyclopedia describes the elder shrub (Sambucus nigra), its geographical distribution, and the use of its flowers in folk medicine as a diaphoretic tea containing essential oils and sambunigrin.
Encyclopedia entry (1928–1936)
ELDER, Sambucus nigra L., a shrub of the honeysuckle family (Caprifoliaceae). In Western Europe, it is ubiquitous; in our country, it is found in the Caucasus, southern Siberia, and other places. The flowers are used in folk medicine. Their composition includes essential oil (up to 0.32%), mucus, tannin, and the glycoside sambunigrin. The flowers are brewed as tea and used as a diaphoretic.
Related articles
Mentioned in
Cite this page
“Elder.” Soviet Medical Encyclopedia. English translation of Bolshaya Meditsinskaya Entsiklopediya, 1st ed. (Moscow, 1928–1936), ed. N. A. Semashko. https://sovietmedicalencyclopedia.pages.dev/article/elder/