Dwarf Elder

• Overview
• Uses
• Side Effects
• Precautions
• Dosing

Dwarf elder is an herb. The fruit, dried leaves, and dried roots are used to make medicine.

Despite serious safety concerns, people take dwarf elder to treat arthritis, for weight loss, and to increase urine production as a method for relieving water retention.

Don't confuse dwarf elder (Sambucus ebulus) with elderberry and American elder, which are also members of the Sambucus genus.

How does it work?

There isn't enough information to know how dwarf elder works.

Insufficient Evidence to Rate Effectiveness for...

• Arthritis.
• Water retention.
• Obesity.
• Other conditions.

More evidence is needed to rate the effectiveness of dwarf elder for these uses.

Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database rates effectiveness based on scientific evidence according to the following scale: Effective, Likely Effective, Possibly Effective, Possibly Ineffective, Likely Ineffective, and Insufficient Evidence to Rate (detailed description of each of the ratings).

Using dwarf elder in large amounts is UNSAFE. It can cause vomiting, bloody diarrhea, dizziness, and headache. It can also cause breathing problems, unconsciousness, and death.

It isn't known whether small amounts of dwarf elder can be used safely.

Pregnancy and breast-feeding: It's UNSAFE for anyone to use large amounts of dwarf elder, and the safety of smaller amounts is unknown. Stay on the safe side and avoid using dwarf elder if you are pregnant or breast-feeding.

The appropriate dose of dwarf elder depends on several factors such as the user's age, health, and several other conditions. At this time there is not enough scientific information to determine an appropriate range of doses for dwarf elder. Keep in mind that natural products are not always necessarily safe and dosages can be important. Be sure to follow relevant directions on product labels and consult your pharmacist or physician or other healthcare professional before using.