Eclectic Institute - Traditional Elderberry Fresh Freeze-Dried 475 mg. - 90 Vegetarian Capsules
Eclectic Institute Fresh Freeze-Dried Traditional Elderberry capsules contain 475 mg each of the Immune Support Combination. Fresh freeze-drying maintains the biologically active constituents for highest potency and action.
100% Fresh Freeze-Dried Ingredients:
Wild-grown elder enhanced with Larix, synergistic spices and antioxidant rich blackberries
High in flavonoids, anthocyanins, high molecular weight polysaccharides and beneficial lectins
Berries are hand harvested by Eclectic in the Pacific Northwest
About Elderberries:
Parts used and where grown
Numerous species of elder or elderberry grow in Europe and North America. Only those with blue/black berries are medicinal. The flowers and berries are both used. Species with red berries are not medicinal.
Historical or traditional use:
Elderberries have long been used as food, particularly in the dried form. Elderberry wine, pie, and lemonade are some of the popular ways to prepare this plant as food. The leaves were touted by European herbalists to be pain relieving and to promote healing of injuries when applied as a poultice. Native American herbalists used the plant for infections, coughs, and skin conditions.
Active constituents:
Flavonoids, including quercetin, are believed to account for the therapeutic actions of the elderberry flowers and berries. These flavonoids include anthocyanins that are powerful antioxidants and protect cells against damage according to test tube studies. According to laboratory research, an extract from the leaves, combined with St. John’s wort and soapwort, inhibits the influenza virus and herpes simplex virus. The effect on influenza of a syrup made from the berries of the black elderberry has been studied in a small double-blind trial. People receiving an elderberry extract (2 tablespoons [30 ml] per day for children, 4 tablespoons [60 ml] per day for adults) appeared to recover faster than did those receiving a placebo. Animal studies have shown the flowers to have anti-inflammatory properties. These actions have not been verified in human clinical trials.
Intact Vital Herbs Through Freeze Drying:
One of the unique features that Eclectic brings to the market place is the process of freeze drying their plants. Some plants are best used fresh. The active constituents of the plants are lost through the normal process of air drying. By utilizing the freeze drying process Eclectic is able to provide the next best thing to fresh plant material.
The process of freeze drying (lyophilization for the hi-tech crowd) involves harvesting the plants at their peak. They are then washed in fresh spring water and sprayed clean.The cleaned plants are immediately frozen to provide for the necessary conditions for low temperature drying. The plants are then placed under a vacuum. This enables the frozen water in the herb to vaporize without passing through the liquid stage, a process known as sublimination. Low temperature condenser plates remove the vaporized water from the vacuum chamber by converting it back to a solid. This completes the separation process.
After the vacuum has been introduces there is about 4-5% of moisture left in the plant material. To reduce this final moisture content, low temperature heat is applied to the frozen material to accelerate sublimation and pull off the remaining moisture.