Flu and colds are two of the most common illnesses that everyone around the world gets to experience not just once, but may even occur hundreds of time throughout one’s lifetime and the symptoms could be very uncomfortable and sometimes embarrassing.

This is, in fact, still not one proven cure-all for colds but the symptoms ranging from body pains, headaches, runny nose, sore throat and fever can be remedied and the most ideal way is through supplementation by natural means.

Organic and plant-based natural remedies are often the most popular approach to treating symptoms of respiratory problems since they are less invasive and with little to no side effects compared to chemical-based pharmaceutical treatments available in the market.

One of the most popular remedies out there is the Black Elderberry, which is a berry-bearing tree with a relatively short life span that thrive in temperate regions of America, Europe, Asia and Africa.

The shrubby tree can grow up to 30 feet and produce clusters of small, white flowers that later give way to green berries that turn purplish black during the summer as it ripens.

The berries, known by its scientific name of Sambucus nigra, are about the same size as peas and both flowers and berries are used for medicine even back in ancient times.

There recently has been interests sparked in many medical communities of the heath benefits of the Black Elderberry after numerous laboratory and clinical tests that gives credence to its potency to strengthen the immune system and helps minimize the effects of colds and flu in the body.

One clinical trial performed in Norway back in 2004 showed the ability of the blackberry to treat the symptoms of cold an flu on 60 test participants of different age ranges.

The subjects are in the early stage of developing the effects of flu like fatigue, fever, body ache and nasal congestion and were given a daily dose of 15 ml elderberry syrup for 5 days, while another control group was provided a placebo treatment.

The test subjects that were given the elderberry treatment became healthy four days prior to their control group counterparts.

Blackberry contains large amounts of antioxidants called flavonoids that protext cells from oxidative stress and fend of damage caused by free radicals.