Info: Available in Several Types and Sizes
Elderberry or Sambucus nigra is one of the mainstays of natural health remedies to shore up your immune system during Cold & Flu season. It is available here in two formats: either as lozenges, or in an alcohol-free liquid form.
Info: Available in Several Types and Sizes
Elderberry or Sambucus nigra is one of the mainstays of natural health remedies to shore up your immune system during Cold & Flu season. It is available here in two formats: either as lozenges, or in an alcohol-free liquid form.
Product Notes:
All four NOW Foods Elderberry & Zinc formulations deliver strong, ten-to-one concentrations of Elderberry, either in the convenient and effective lozenge form, along with Vitamin C and zinc, in both those types; or with some additional herbs to help the throat, for the initial lozenges; or with just a little zinc, for the half-strength liquid version for Kids (at least 2 years old and up), which is sweetened with tooth-friendly Xylitol rather than sugar; or all by itself, for the regular liquid version (which can be used by anyone aged 10 years and up).
During cold and flu season or when other sorts of respiratory infections may be going around, it can be a good idea to turn to dietary supplements with a long track record of both safety and usage, especially the ones with scientific studies behind them indicating that - and sometimes even how - they can reduce the severity of the symptoms or improve recovery times. But which ones, and in what doses?
The Elderberry & Zinc lozenge formulation from NOW Foods provides a synergistic combination of six different vitamins, minerals, and herbal medicine ingredients to simultaneously combat and relieve many different types of throat or upper respiratory infections right at the point of contact, while also supporting the immune system.
This is a well thought-out blend of Zinc, Vitamin C, and four types of herbs or natural products (the last is a mixture of plant resins and pollen and bee enzymes and wax) well known to traditional medicine as means of relieving colds, flu, and sore throats: Echinacea, Elderberry, Slippery Elm, and Propolis.
These all have a good deal of scientific research behind them, investigating their collective abilities to relieve inflammation, kill bacteria, help fight off bacterial and viral infections (partly by supporting blood cell function), and even to inhibit the replication of some viruses.
This first formula (which was formerly called Elder-Zinc Plus to reflect its diversity) is delivered in the form of a naturally flavoured and sweetened lozenge, both for more immediate absorption of the ingredients, and also to coat the throat with the propolis and slippery elm to relieve a sore or hoarse throat by fighting bacteria and reducing inflammation.
Alternatively, those who perhaps may not need as much with a sore throat per se as with other aspects of a cold or flu, or who may be getting a fair bit of vitamin C from other sources might prefer the new Sambucus Zinc-C (which might also be called "Sambucus Elder Zinc-C") formulation, which has 50% more elderberry in each lozenge, and comparably less vitamin C, and less total zinc, albeit from a more absorbable kind.
Related: See Douglas Laboratories Immunity and COVID-19: Healthy Living Strategies
Ingredients:
Each NOW Elderberry & Zinc lozenge contains:
150 mg Vitamin C (as Ascorbic Acid and Sodium Ascorbate)
100 mg Elderberry Concentrate (Sambucus nigra L. fructus, 10:1 Extract)
25 mg Echinacea (Echinacea purpurea L., Root) Powder
25 mg Bee Propolis (2:1 extraction) Powder (from Bee Hive of the Honey Bee (Apis mellifera L.) (Apidae))
25 mg Slippery Elm Bark (Ulmus fulva)
12 mg Zinc (as Zinc Gluconate)
Non-medicinal ingredients: Sorbitol, Fructose, Cellulose, Stearic Acid (vegetable source), Magnesium Stearate (vegetable source), Silica, Natural Raspberry Flavour, Hypromellose.
Each NOW Sambucus Zinc-C lozenge contains:
100 mg Vitamin C (as Ascorbic Acid)
150 mg Elderberry Concentrate (Sambucus nigra, fruit 10:1 Extract)
3 mg Zinc (from Zinc Bisglycinate) (TRAACS™)
Non-medicinal ingredients: Xylitol, Microcrystalline, Cellulose, Hydroxypropyl Cellulose, Citric Acid, Natural Acai Flavour, Silica, Stearic Acid (vegetable source), Organic Stevia Leaf Extract.
TRAACS™ is a trademark of Albion Laboratories, Inc.
Both types of lozenges contain no dairy, eggs, soy, nuts, or gluten. The Elderberry & Zinc type is Kosher.
Each teaspoon of the NOW Elderberry Liquid contains:
500 mg Elderberry (10:1 Concentrate) (Sambucus nigra) (Fruit) (equivalent to 5 grams of raw fruit).
Non-medicinal ingredients: Vegetable Glycerin, De-ionized Water, Citric Acid, Potassium Sorbate.
Each teaspoon of the NOW Kids Elderberry Liquid with Zinc contains:
250 mg Elderberry (10:1 Concentrate) (Sambucus nigra) (Fruit).
1.25 mg Zinc (from Zinc Bisglycinate) (TRAACS™)
Non-medicinal ingredients: De-ionized Water, Xylitol, Vegetable Glycerin, Citric Acid, Potassium Sorbate.
Both liquid versions are made without Gluten and are free of Dairy, Eggs, and Soy, and are Non-GMO, Vegan, Kosher.
Suggested Usage:
Lozenges:
Elderberry & Zinc lozenges:
Take with food a few hours before or after taking any other medications. Allow to dissolve completely in the mouth.
Children four to eight years old: Take 1 lozenge once daily.
Children and young adolescents 9 to 13 years old: Take 1 lozenge one or two times a day.
Adults: Take 1 lozenge daily with meals for up to three weeks.
Sambucus Zinc-C lozenges:
Adults as well as children six years old and up: Chew 1 lozenge daily with food, a few hours before or after taking other medication or natural health products.
Store either type in a cool, dry place after opening.
Liquids:
Kids Elderberry Liquid with Zinc:
Children aged 2 to 9 years: take 1 teaspoon daily.
Adolescents 10 to 13 years: take 3 teaspoons daily.
Adolescents 14 to 18 years old: take 4 teaspoons daily.
Take with food, a few hours before or after taking other medications or natural health products.
(Standard) Elderberry Liquid:
Children 10 to 11, or Adolescents 12 to 17 years old: Take 1 teaspoon daily.
Adults 18 years and older: Take 1 teaspoon 2 to 3 times daily.
(It can be either be taken alone, or in a glass of water or juice)
The liquids contain natural preservatives to extend their shelf-life and reduce the need for refrigeration after opening, but you should probably keep them refrigerated after opening nevertheless, particularly if you aren't going to be using them again in the next day or two.
Warnings:
Elderbery & Zinc lozenges:
Do not use if you are pregnant or breastfeeding or if you have an allergy to the Asteraceae/Compositae (daisy) family. Consult a health care practitioner prior to using NOW Elderberry & Zinc lozenges if you have an auto-immune disorder, rheumatoid arthritis, or progressive systemic disease (i.e. tuberculosis, leukosis, collagenosis or multiple sclerosis); or if you are taking immunosuppressants or tetracyclines; or if you are not taking adequate copper; or if you are allergic to bee products, poplar tree products, or balsam of Peru. Consult a health care practitioner if symptoms persist or worsen. Hypersensitivity (e.g. allergy) has been known to occur; in which case, discontinue use immediately.
Sambucus Zinc-C lozenges:
Xylitol is harmful to pets; seek veterinary care immediately if ingestion is suspected. Consult a health care practitioner prior to use if you are pregnant or breastfeeding. Stop use if hypersensitivity/allergy occurs. Zinc supplementation can cause a copper deficiency; if you're unsure if you're ingesting enough copper, consult a health care practitioner prior to use. A diuretic effect may occur.
(Standard) Elderberry Liquid:
Consult a health care practitioner prior to use if you are pregnant or breastfeeding or if symptoms persist or worsen. Stop use if hypersensitivity/allergy occurs.
Kids Elderberry Liquid:
Consult a physician if symptoms persist or worsen or if you are pregnant or breastfeeding. Stop use if hypersensitivity/allergy occurs. Zinc supplementation can cause a copper deficiency. If you are unsure whether you are taking enough copper, consult a physician prior to use. Warning: Xylitol is harmful to pets. Do not feed Xylitol to dogs or other pets. Seek veterinary care immediately if ingestion is suspected.
Health Canada Natural Product Numbers: 80018936 for Elderberry & Zinc lozenges; 80110889 for the Sambucus Zinc-C lozenges; 80116991 for the Kids Liquid version; and 80102909 for the standard liquid version.
Supporting Science:
"Black Elderberry (Sambucus Nigra) Supplementation Effectively Treats Upper Respiratory Symptoms: A Meta-Analysis of Randomized, Controlled Clinical Trials." Complementary Therapies in Medicine 2019.
"Prevention and Treatment of Influenza, Influenza-Like Illness, and Common Cold by Herbal, Complementary, and Natural Therapies." Journal of Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine 2017.
"Vitamin C and coronavirus." Geriatric Nursing 2020.
"Zinc and respiratory tract infections: Perspectives for COVID‑19 (Review)." International Journal of Molecular Medicine 2020.
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