Elderberry Might Do More Harm Than Good During Coronavirus

Elderberry is a go-to for many people when cold and flu season comes around. It has real antiviral properties, making it a genuine preventative for many strains of infections. But herbalists are sending out alerts to earn people because those same incredible properties could make elderberry treatments dangerous for some people suffering from COVID-19 infections.

Elderberry can be a great flu preventative, having proven its effectiveness against numerous strains. One way it fights infection is by increasing the body’s production of inflammatory messengers called cytokines. But some viruses, including COVID-19, can trigger unusual cytokine responses in some people, especially those with robust immune systems so using elderberry against these infections may increase the possibility of a “cytokine storm.” This occurs when the body’s inflammatory response surges out of control, leading to organ dysfunction and, in some cases, death. Get the details on this potentially deadly combination.

Elderberry’s Amazing Properties

Black elderberry extract, also called Sambucol, has incredible immune-boosting abilities. It’s so effective that researchers have found promise in using elderberry to boost the immune systems in people receiving chemotherapy or suffering immunosuppressive conditions like HIV/AIDS.

It has two powerful properties that make it a reliable flu preventative. First and foremost, it’s an effective antiviral with a proven track record against many influenza strains. Second, elderberry consumption increases the body’s production of certain types of chemicals that boost the immune system.

These chemicals, called cytokines, are chemical messengers that tell the immune system how to respond when an infection is present. They control inflammation levels and determine how many immune cells will assist against the problem. In most cases, a boost in cytokines helps to fight off invaders, but the process isn’t perfect. For reasons we still don’t fully understand, it can go awry sometimes — and the effects can be devastating.

The Cytokine Storm

When we get sick, the symptoms we experience, fever, pain and inflammation, are the result of cytokines working to fight the infection. This can be uncomfortable, but it’s a natural part of the defense process and usually subsides as the infection wanes. In rare cases, the reaction stops regulating itself, creating an uncontrolled inflammatory response called a cytokine storm.

“Cytokine storm” became a common household term in 2012, after heavy media coverage highlighted the spike in deadly inflammatory responses to H5N1 (“bird flu”). In some cases, the body’s response to the viral infection can become too great, leading to organ dysfunction. This response, which has also been observed in H1N1 (“swine flu”) and is likely a factor in other serious flu strains, can become deadly for some patients, especially those with robust immune systems.

Coronavirus and Cytokines

A study recently published in The Lancet suggests cytokines could be responsible for COVID-19 deaths. This means elderberry extract could be a dangerous choice for the prevention and treatment of this virus. It also means that treatment, in some cases, may need to include immunosuppression to keep the body from self-destructing.

Elderberry extract can be a great preventative for some viral infections, but for others, it may contribute to the deadly effects of a cytokine storm. For the time being, it might be wise to lay off the elderberry and rely on social distancing to stay safe.

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