Can elderberry be used as a necklace for babies teething?

Answer 1

First Answer - No, I certainly would not recommend it. Elderryberry blossoms and berries are edible, but even they can cause nauseau if not cooked. Leaves and stems are considered poisonous.

Amended answer - The person above obviously didn't check their facts first. Elderberries can be very dangerous if ingested without cooking them first because they contain traces of cyanide, one of the deadliest poisons in existence. While the quantities present won't necessarily kill you, they can certainly give you a bad case of nausea and diarrhea. The same thing applies to the leaves and blossoms...they are edible...when cooked. The plant does exhibit some fairly potent anti-inflammatory properties due to its high antioxidant content and, yes, you can cut up the stems into pieces and make a necklace for a teething baby. It works (my family has done it for at least three generations) and there are also several lab studies that support this evidence.

Google "elderberry bark anti-inflammatory" and look for reputable sites. Livestrong.com has an article on the beneficial effects of elderberries on Arthritis and the article makes references to peer-reviewed website Drugs.com and also Better Medicine. Here is the URL: http://www.livestrong.com/article/496416-black-elderberry-for-arthritis/ (and yes, this IS the livestrong.com that is connected to Lance Armstrong).

For a more scholarly look at the lowly elderberry, go here: http://www.hort.purdue.edu/newcrop/ncnu07/pdfs/charlebois284-292.pdf