Not Another Cold
It's back to school and nursery time - are you ready for all the sniffles and sneezes your little ones will catch?But need they catch them???? The Sambucol secret is getting out…. its use as both a protection and treatment for colds and flu, lost in the mists of time, has finally resurfaced.
For hundreds, if not thousands, of years elderberries have been used to treat everything from the Black Plague to toothache and the plant was know all across Europe as “the medicine chest of the country people”. Evidence of its use has been found in stone age settlements, in the writing of the ancient Greeks and Romans, and in medieval medical folklore.
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Some twenty-five years ago, modern medical research finally caught up with elderberries and their potential but identifying, isolating and producing the active molecules that had the medicinal effect was difficult. However, when it was finally achieved… surprise, surprise – it actually worked! In one trial of 60 patients who had suffered influenza-like symptoms for 48 hours or less, those who took the black elderberry syrup reported symptom relief about four days earlier than those on the placebo. In another study, symptoms in the group taking elderberry syrup significantly improved within two days compared to six days for the placebo group. Research is still ongoing and a trial is currently being set up at the Common Cold Centre to quantify just how effective black elderberry syrup is against the virus that plagues people more than anything else every winter.
In the meantime, Sambucol – black elderberry extract – is available on the High Street in a variety for everyone – syrup or lozenges, sugar free, for adults and children. It is completely natural with no side effects and is the ideal way to help your kids avoid picking up all those new bugs that go round school. Why not put some lozenges in their lunchbox – a couple of pastilles a day will help keep the bugs at bay – a lunchtime treat for the kiddies who won’t even know how good it is doing them!!
Family doctor, Dr Sarah Brewer says: “ I’m a huge fan of Sambucol and give it to my own son every day – it certainly has kept him at school when loads of his friends have had days off. I certainly recommend it to all my patients as an immune booster.”
And don’t forget, if your kids do succumb, make sure you take some yourself so you don’t. Well who else is going to look after the little dears?!
On a personal note, I've always taken echinachea regularly. This autumn, I'm going to try an elderberry syrup instead. Next year, I'll report back and let you know how they compare!
July 2007

The most recent study, conducted in 2006 at the London-based research institute Retroscreen Virology, found that Sambucol® black elderberry syrup was at least 99% effective at reducing the avian 'flu virus in human cells.
Sambucol is available from Boots, Holland & Barrett, Waitrose, Lloyds pharmacy and independent health food stores.
Original formula - is the classic elderberry extract liquid
Kids Formula is designed for children's immune systems, with elderberry extract, propolis and vitamin C. It's suitable for children aged over one year.
Black Elderberry Extract Lozenges with vitamin C are sugar free and handy to carry
Immuno Forte formula - black elderberry extract, zinc, propolis and vitamin C - all known for their health benefits |
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