Thanks to the recent Covid-19 pandemic, staying healthy is something that’s on everyone’s minds right now.
In your quest for a natural way to boost your immune system, you must’ve come across CBD elderberry gummies at some point.
CBD elderberry gummies have recently started growing popular due to their immunity-boosting, flu-preventing, and microorganism-fighting properties.
But will popping a few of these supplements daily really keep you from getting sick?
Keep on reading to find out!
Table of Contents
What are elderberries and what can they do for you?
Although there’s no single remedy for all illnesses, advocates of the elderberry swear that it’s one of mother nature’s most versatile answers for whatever ails you.
While there are about 30 different types of elderberries and trees in nature, the European elderberry — the Sambucus nigra — is the one that is most commonly used in medicinal and culinary contexts.
In fact, its history dates all the way back to 400 BC, with Hippocrates — the Father of Medicine — referring to it as his “medicine chest.”
Our ancestors have used elderberry remedies for everything from edema (tissue swelling) and wound care to treating mucus buildup in the nose due to infection.
In folk and herbal medicine today, the black elderberry is still considered one of the most versatile healing plants because it contains a variety of beneficial elements, such as vitamins and antioxidants.
But it’s only now that science is starting to prove and back up what our ancestors have always said about the power of elderberries.
For instance, one study consisting of 60 participants suffering from flu-like symptoms revealed that patients who were taking elderberry extract recovered 4 days earlier than patients on placebos. This demonstrates the potency of elderberries in activating your immune response and reducing inflammation.
Here’s an infographic containing some other possible health benefits of elderberries:
Elderberry preparations
It’s important to realize that certain elderberry tree components such as flowers, berries, and bark can be toxic if consumed raw.
This is why you’ll often find herbal healers and commercial supplement producers process elderberries into non-toxic products first.
You can find medicinal elderberry extracts in a variety of different forms, such as:
- Gummies
- Syrups
- Juices
- Shots
- Capsules
- Lozenges
What is CBD and why is it good for your body?
Cannabidiol (CBD) is a natural compound derived from the cannabis plant. And unlike its cousin THC, CBD isn’t psychoactive or intoxicating.
Similar to the elderberry, it has long been used by our ancestors to support human health and has now been shown to have numerous health benefits and applications.
Humans have an endocannabinoid system (ECS), which produces neurotransmitters (endogenous endocannabinoids) that bind to cannabinoid receptors and influence bodily functions like pain, appetite, immune response, and sleep.
When you consume CBD, it interacts with your ECS in a similar way to endogenous endocannabinoids. And this allows it to produce potent analgesic (pain relief), anti-inflammatory, and calming effects.
An observational study consisting of 279 participants over the age of 18 with moderate to severe symptoms of depression, anxiety, and pain found that participants given CBD-rich treatment had significant improvement in symptoms within 3 months.
Another study about the effects of CBD on anxiety and sleep also yielded similar results. It found that out of a total of 72 patients with anxiety and sleeplessness, 57 reported decreased anxiety and 48 experienced improved sleep scores within the first month of CBD treatment.
CBD elderberry gummies — the best of both worlds?
Elderberries are a tried and tested staple in folk and herbal medicine. They’re exceedingly nutritious and have immunity-boosting properties.
Couple that with CBD — which has its own health benefits — and you just might get the immunity booster you’ve always wanted. Since both elderberries and CBD are linked to immune system health, their powerful synergistic effects can be extremely useful for staying healthy all year round.
Additionally, most CBD elderberry gummies are packed with extra beneficial compounds like zinc and vitamin C, which can give you an even bigger immunity boost.
It’s important to keep in mind that while it’s logical to assume that the CBD-elderberry combination has powerful immune-boosting effects, no scientific studies have been conducted on this combination yet.
Who should take CBD elderberry gummies?
CBD elderberry gummies are perfect for people interested in boosting their immune system and strengthening their overall health.
This is especially true when the flu season rolls around, when we all need all the extra help we can get.
However, because of the presence of CBD, these gummies aren’t intended for use in pregnant women, nursing mothers, children, or anyone who has to take routine drug tests due to the presence of trace amounts of THC. Keep in mind that most gummies have an allowable limit of 0.3% of THC.
Additionally, there are other rare situations in which taking elderberry CBD gummies is not recommended.
For example, cancer patients have to avoid antioxidants — present in elderberry extract — as many cancer treatments rely on the strength of free radicals to destroy or damage cancerous cells.
Therefore, we recommend talking to a doctor if you’re thinking about taking any supplements.
Not only can they better guide you about the potential contraindications and side effects of using a CBD elderberry supplement, but they can also help you maximize the effectiveness of the supplement.
(This blog post is written by Eilaf Meenai)
