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 three of these NOW Foods Elderberry & Zinc formulations deliver strong, ten-to-one concentrations of Elderberry, either all by itself, for the regular liquid version (which can be used by anyone aged 10 years and up, while supplies last); 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.
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.
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.
Ingredients:
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:
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:
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: 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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