Elderberry in pregnancy and breastfeeding

What NCCIH says about safety

Raw or unripe elderberries and other parts of the elder tree, such as the leaves and stem, contain poisonous cyanide-producing substances that can cause nausea, vomiting, and severe diarrhea; cooking eliminates this toxin. Large quantities of the toxin may cause serious illness. If you take any type of medicine, talk with your health care provider before using elderberry or other herbal products; some herbs and medicines interact in harmful ways. Little is known about whether it’s safe to use elderberry for health purposes during pregnancy or while breastfeeding.

Quoted in full from NCCIH so nothing is lost in summarising. Where they say “little is known”, that means the studies do not exist — not that the herb is known to be safe, and not that it is known to be harmful.

How much is actually known

A small number of studies have evaluated elderberry for colds, flu, and other upper respiratory infections. Little research has been done in people on other uses of elderberry.

What the research has found

Some preliminary research suggests that elderberry may relieve symptoms of flu, colds, or other upper respiratory infections. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and Federal Trade Commission have taken action against companies that marketed elderberry products with unsubstantiated claims of effectiveness for COVID-19. There’s not enough information to show whether elderberry is helpful for any other health purposes.

Before you take this

Dose and form change the answer completely. A culinary amount of a spice, a cup of tea, and a concentrated supplement extract are three different things, and most research is done on the last of them.

Supplements are also not regulated like medicines, so strength and purity vary between products. Bring the actual bottle to your midwife, doctor or pharmacist — that conversation is worth more than any page, including this one.