Herbs A-Z : Elder Tree

Elder Tree

Photo Credit

AKA: America Elder, Sweet Elder, Common Elder, Elderberry, Lady Elder

Gender: Female

Plantet: Venus

Element: Air

Mundane Uses:

Externally, the leaves and bark of the elder tree are uses for mild burns.

The flowers are used in easeing eye pain, reducing inflamation of the skin, and assisting with curing mouth ulcers.

Flower also reduces fevers and are traditionally used to treat the flu, colds, and upper respiratory tract problems.

The fruits of the elder tree have laxative and diaphoretic properties to them, and can assist in stool softening, and increasing urination.

On a less medicinal note, the berries are used in the making of certain wines.

Magical Uses:

It is thought that standing under the Elder Tree would give you the ability to see the fae. They are also said to love the music made by instruments created by the elder tree.

Wands madefrom elder are used in driving out evil spirits or negative though forms. The tree itself is considered protective. Twigs were often put in pouches, worn around the neck to protect against evil, both physical and phsychic. The leaves were also often bunched together and hung in doorways, and over windowsills, to keep evil away from the house.

It is thought that if you burn an elder tree, you will beome cursed. As the saying goes “Nine woods in the Cauldron go,
burn them quick a' burn them slow.

Elder be ye Lady's tree;
burn it not or cursed ye'll be”

Similarly, if you plan on taking a branch to use for wandmaking, it is traditional and courteous to first ask the tree, and perhaps even leave an offering. This can be something simple like some extra water in the heat, raking around the roots, to remove any invasive weeds, or perhaps even adding some rich soil or compost at the feet to promote healthy growth.

People used the leaves of elder tree's to bless both people and places. To bless a place, take the leaves and berries, and scatter them in the four corners of the place being blessed. In the case of a person, scatter the leaves over the individual.

Random Information: Though the flowers are used most often, every part of the elder tree can be used medically in some way.

The leaves and Berries are considered toxic and should not be used internally.

DISCLAIMER:

I have no medical degrees, and am not a doctor. Consult a physician before ingesting somthing new, or using as a topical aid that you are unfamiliar with. These are my personal findings only. I do not reccommend using them until you have consulted your physician.

http://www.herbsguide.net/elder.html

http://www.ageless.co.za/herb-elder-flower.htm

http://paganreports.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=446:pagan-sacred-trees-and-woods&catid=36:paganism&Itemid=71

http://dutchie.org/elder-lore/