Q: Should my child take these drops daily?

A: These drops may be taken to support immune function and overall wellness, so you may want to use them as part of a daily wellness routine. Ultimately though, we recommend that you consult with your child’s pediatrician, physician or healthcare professional.

Q: Can you explain the amount of Elderberry in this product? 

A: Since there is no specified Recommended Daily Intake (RDI) or established Daily Value (DV) for Elderberry, you will find that different Elderberry supplements on the market vary greatly in their recommended doses. Our products’ recommended serving sizes were determined with general health and wellness in mind, as well as the ability to adjust the dose for your needs.  

MaryRuth’s has multiple Elderberry products available: 3 liquid versions, with dropper pipettes for ease of use, as well as chewable tablets. Additionally, some of our other products have Elderberry included in the formula, such as our Liquid Morning Multivitamin Essentials+ and our Immunity Gummies.

Of the liquids, the Extra Strength Elderberry Drops are more highly concentrated (250 mg/serving) than the 1 oz Elderberry Drops (150 mg/serving), and the Organic Toddler Elderberry Liquid is the least concentrated (35 mg/serving). We know that some people like using pipettes/droppers because it allows them to increase or decrease their dose as needed (for example, increase the dose for intensive use, or decrease the dose for smaller children). Our Elderberry Chewable Tablets contain 20 mg Vitamin C and 100 mg Elderberry per serving. 

As there is not a recommended Daily Value for Elderberry, we advise speaking with your doctor or healthcare professional to help you decide what best fits your child’s health needs. 

Q: Can one overdose on Elderberry syrup?

A: For a variety of reasons, there are no established dosage recommendations, Recommended Daily Intake (RDI), established Daily Value (DV), or Tolerable Upper Limit (UL) for Elderberries. Dosage recommendations vary greatly from product to product, and preparation of the product can also vary from different manufacturers. And with herbal products, it can be hard to know what the optimal dose is in order to receive the benefits and how much is a safe amount! 

It is worth noting that, “The berries of Elder are rated by the American Herbal Products Association as Class 1, meaning ‘herbs which, when used appropriately, can be consumed safely without specific use restrictions.’” Both the flowers and berries are also classified as GRAS (generally recognized as safe). Many studies have reviewed Elderberry at different doses, ranging anywhere from 150 mg to 600 mg. 

While there are not any reports of someone necessarily “overdosing” on Elderberry, it is important to keep in mind the preparation of the Elderberries is important. Some adverse events including stomach pain, nausea, and vomiting have been reported, but it is important to note that some of these symptoms came after ingesting an elderberry juice made from raw elderberries, leaves, and branches. Since the uncooked parts of the plant contain toxic substances like cyanide and lectin, it is not recommended to ingest raw. Cooking the berries will remove the cyanide, so preparing the Elderberry correctly is necessary. 

Our Elderberry products’ recommended serving size was determined with general health and wellness in mind, as well as the ability to adjust the dose for your needs. That said, we always recommend speaking with your doctor or healthcare professional to help you decide the proper serving size that best fits your health needs.