Elderberry

Elderberry is the dark purple berry of the European or black elder tree, which grows in Europe, North America, Western Asia, and North Africa. Elderberry is used for Colds, flu, and other upper respiratory infections and COVID-19.

Also called: Nature's Way (United States)

Pronunciation: pronunciation varies by local usage.

Generic name
elderberry
Drug class
Herbal product marketed as a dietary supplement
Form
Not established by the supplied sources. Herbal medicines generally are sold as tablets, capsules, powders, teas, extracts, and fresh or dried plants.
Route
Oral use is described for herbal products marketed as dietary supplements; the sources do not otherwise specify routes for elderberry.
Legal status
Dietary supplement. Unlike drugs, dietary supplements are not approved by the FDA before they are sold to the public.

Availability and supply rules vary by country

Trade names by country: United States

Australia: · Full directory

What elderberry is and how it works

Elderberry is the dark purple berry of the European or black elder tree, which grows in Europe, North America, Western Asia, and North Africa. Elderberry has been used in folk medicine to treat colds and flu, and is promoted as a dietary supplement for colds, flu, and other conditions. It has also been promoted for COVID-19, but there is no good evidence to support its use. (1) (3)

A small number of studies have evaluated elderberry for colds, flu, and other upper respiratory infections, and little research has been done in people on other uses. Some preliminary research suggests that elderberry may relieve symptoms of flu, colds, or other upper respiratory infections, but there's not enough information to show whether elderberry is helpful for any other health purposes. Dietary supplements are not approved by the FDA for safety or effectiveness before sale. If you take any type of medicine, talk with your health care provider before using elderberry or other herbal products; some herbs and medicines interact in harmful ways.

Mechanism of action: how elderberry works

Not established by the supplied sources. The supplied sources describe elderberry as the dark purple berry of the European or black elder tree and note that raw or unripe elderberries and other parts of the elder tree, such as the leaves and stem, contain poisonous cyanide-producing substances that can cause nausea, vomiting, and severe diarrhea; cooking eliminates this toxin. (1)

What is Elderberry used for?

Colds, flu, and other upper respiratory infections

Some preliminary research suggests that elderberry may relieve symptoms of flu, colds, or other upper respiratory infections. A small number of studies have evaluated elderberry for these uses. This is preliminary evidence and does not establish effectiveness. (1)

Other health purposes

There's not enough information to show whether elderberry is helpful for any other health purposes. Little research has been done in people on other uses of elderberry. (1)

COVID-19

Elderberry has been promoted for COVID-19, but there is no good evidence to support its use. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and Federal Trade Commission have taken action against companies that marketed elderberry products with unsubstantiated claims of effectiveness for COVID-19. Don't rely on elderberry for prevention or treatment of COVID-19; there is insufficient evidence to know if it can help with symptoms. (1)

Before taking elderberry

Do not take / not appropriate for

  • Do not rely on elderberry for prevention or treatment of COVID-19; there is insufficient evidence to know if it can help with symptoms. (COVID-19) (1)
  • Do not consume raw or unripe elderberries, or other parts of the elder tree such as the leaves and stem, because they contain poisonous cyanide-producing substances that can cause nausea, vomiting, and severe diarrhea; cooking eliminates this toxin, and large quantities of the toxin may cause serious illness. (elderberry plant material) (1)

Tell your clinician about

  • If you take any type of medicine, talk with your health care provider before using elderberry or other herbal products; some herbs and medicines interact in harmful ways.
  • Tell your health care provider about any herbal medicines you are taking.
  • Little is known about whether it's safe to use elderberry for health purposes during pregnancy or while breastfeeding.
(1) (3)

Elderberry dosage and how to take it

  • The supplied sources do not provide a dose, schedule, preparation method, or duration for elderberry. No supplement dose is established by these sources.
  • Cooking eliminates the toxin in raw or unripe elderberries and other parts of the elder tree; the sources do not otherwise describe preparation.
  • Herbal medicines are one type of dietary supplement and are sold as tablets, capsules, powders, teas, extracts, and fresh or dried plants.
  • If you are thinking about using an herbal medicine, first get information on it from reliable sources.
(1) (3)

Procedures and treatment changes

Tell the treating team before surgery, procedures, or any medicine change. Do not alter treatment without the responsible clinician. (1) (2) (3)

Missed dose

Not established by the supplied sources. The supplied sources do not provide a dose or schedule for elderberry, so no missed-dose rule can be given.

Overdose

Not established by the supplied sources. The supplied sources do not provide an overdose amount for elderberry. They state that raw or unripe elderberries and other parts of the elder tree, such as the leaves and stem, contain poisonous cyanide-producing substances that can cause nausea, vomiting, and severe diarrhea, and that large quantities of the toxin may cause serious illness. If you take any type of medicine, talk with your health care provider before using elderberry or other herbal products. (1)

Elderberry side effects

The supplied sources do not describe a general side-effect profile for elderberry products. They state that raw or unripe elderberries and other parts of the elder tree, such as the leaves and stem, contain poisonous cyanide-producing substances that can cause nausea, vomiting, and severe diarrhea; cooking eliminates this toxin, and large quantities of the toxin may cause serious illness.

Nausea, vomiting, and severe diarrhea

What to notice: These can be caused by poisonous cyanide-producing substances in raw or unripe elderberries and other parts of the elder tree, such as the leaves and stem; cooking eliminates this toxin.

What to do: Seek medical attention promptly if these symptoms occur after consuming elderberry plant material; the clinician you see can advise on further assessment. (1)

Serious illness from elderberry toxin

What to notice: Large quantities of the toxin may cause serious illness.

What to do: Seek prompt medical assessment. (1)

Serious warnings

Poisonous cyanide-producing substances in raw or unripe elderberries and other parts of the elder tree — serious

Symptoms: Nausea, vomiting, and severe diarrhea; large quantities of the toxin may cause serious illness.

Action: Do not consume raw or unripe elderberries or other parts of the elder tree such as the leaves and stem. Seek medical attention promptly if symptoms occur; the clinician you see can advise on further assessment and care. (1)

Interactions

Medicine or testEffectAction
Medicines and other herbal productsIf you take any type of medicine, talk with your health care provider before using elderberry or other herbal products; some herbs and medicines interact in harmful ways. Some herbs can interact with prescription or over-the-counter medicines.Tell your health care provider about any herbal medicines you are taking, and talk with your health care provider before using elderberry or other herbal products if you take any type of medicine. (1) (3)

Pregnancy, breastfeeding, kidney/liver function, age

Pregnancy and breastfeeding

Little is known about whether it's safe to use elderberry for health purposes during pregnancy or while breastfeeding. (1)

Monitoring

Before starting

  • If you are thinking about using an herbal medicine, first get information on it from reliable sources.
  • If you take any type of medicine, talk with your health care provider before using elderberry or other herbal products.
  • Take charge of your health—talk with your health care providers about any complementary health approaches you use, so you can make shared, well-informed decisions.

During treatment

  • Not established by the supplied sources. The supplied sources do not describe monitoring parameters for elderberry.
(1) (3)

Storage

Not established by the supplied sources. The supplied sources do not provide storage instructions for elderberry.

Professional information

Clinician-facing context only. Use the current local product information and reliable sources; the supplied sources do not provide elderberry dosing, efficacy conclusions, or overdose amounts.

All regions

Indication: Any elderberry use

Dose summary: No dose is displayed. The supplied sources do not provide a dose, schedule, preparation method, or duration for elderberry; do not infer a dose from other sources.

Renal context: Not established by the supplied sources. Renal or hepatic impairment, frailty, comorbidity, and concomitant therapy are not addressed by the supplied sources. (1)

Mechanism of action

Hepatic guidance

Not established by the supplied sources; this page does not provide impairment-specific dosing.

Overdose note

Not established by the supplied sources. The supplied sources do not provide an overdose amount for elderberry. (1)

Frequently asked questions

Does elderberry work for colds and flu?

Some preliminary research suggests that elderberry may relieve symptoms of flu, colds, or other upper respiratory infections, and a small number of studies have evaluated elderberry for these uses. This is preliminary evidence; the sources do not establish that elderberry is effective. (1)

Can elderberry prevent or treat COVID-19?

No. Elderberry has been promoted for COVID-19, but there is no good evidence to support its use. Don't rely on elderberry for prevention or treatment of COVID-19; there is insufficient evidence to know if it can help with symptoms. The FDA and Federal Trade Commission have taken action against companies that marketed elderberry products with unsubstantiated claims of effectiveness for COVID-19. (1)

Is elderberry safe?

Raw or unripe elderberries and other parts of the elder tree, such as the leaves and stem, contain poisonous cyanide-producing substances that can cause nausea, vomiting, and severe diarrhea; cooking eliminates this toxin, and large quantities of the toxin may cause serious illness. Little is known about whether it's safe to use elderberry for health purposes during pregnancy or while breastfeeding. If you take any type of medicine, talk with your health care provider before using elderberry or other herbal products; some herbs and medicines interact in harmful ways. (1)

Are herbal products like elderberry regulated like drugs?

No. Depending on what's in them, how they're intended to be used, and how they're administered (orally or topically), herbal products are regulated in a variety of ways. Many herbal products intended for oral use are marketed as dietary supplements. The rules for making and distributing dietary supplements are less strict than those for drugs. Unlike drugs, dietary supplements are not approved by the FDA before they are sold to the public. When public health concerns arise about the safety of a dietary supplement or an ingredient including an herb, the FDA can take action to protect the public. Manufacturers and distributors of supplements are responsible for evaluating the safety and labeling of their products before marketing to ensure that they meet all regulatory requirements. (1) (3)

What is the mechanism of action of elderberry?

Not established by the supplied sources. The supplied sources describe elderberry as the dark purple berry of the European or black elder tree and note that raw or unripe elderberries and other parts of the elder tree, such as the leaves and stem, contain poisonous cyanide-producing substances that can cause nausea, vomiting, and severe diarrhea; cooking eliminates this toxin. (1)

What is the generic name of Elderberry?

The generic name is elderberry. (1) (3)

What class of drug is elderberry?

Elderberry is classed as: Herbal product marketed as a dietary supplement. (1) (3)

References

  1. Elderberry: Usefulness and SafetyNational Center for Complementary and Integrative Health, U.S. National Institutes of Health · United States · dated 2024-11 · accessed 2026-10-13 · source 1
  2. Colds, Flu, and Complementary Health Approaches: Usefulness and SafetyNational Center for Complementary and Integrative Health, U.S. National Institutes of Health · United States · dated 2016-11 · accessed 2026-10-13 · source 2
  3. Herbal MedicineMedlinePlus, U.S. National Library of Medicine · United States · accessed 2026-10-13 · source 3

Brand names by country

Single-ingredient elderberry names are shown separately by country. Product availability, strengths, and supply rules can change; combination products are not included here.

Priority countries

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