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Is elderberry safe while breastfeeding?

Written by the Full Measure editorial team, which sells supplements. Approved for publication by the Full Measure owners. Updated .

Drafted with AI assistance from the sources listed below. How we write these

Quick answer

LactMed, the NIH database on breastfeeding, says no data exist on elderberry in breast milk or on its safety in nursing mothers or infants, and that no recommendation can be made on medicinal doses. NCCIH also says little is known. Allergic reactions to elderberry products are rare. Ask your doctor before using elderberry while breastfeeding.1,2

Key facts

  • LactMed says no data exist on the excretion of any component of elderberry into breast milk.1
  • LactMed says no data exist on the safety and efficacy of elderberry in nursing mothers or infants, and that no recommendation can be made on medicinal doses during breastfeeding.1
  • LactMed says preparations of cooked elderberry do not carry the cyanide risk of the bark, leaves and root, and that elderberry preparations have rarely caused allergic reactions.1
  • NCCIH says little is known about whether elderberry is safe for health purposes while breastfeeding.2
  • NIH notes that some elderberry supplements are highly diluted or adulterated with a cheaper ingredient such as black rice extract.3

What does LactMed say about elderberry?

LactMed is the National Institutes of Health database on medicines and supplements during breastfeeding. Its elderberry entry says the fruit of Sambucus nigra contains flavonoids such as quercetin and anthocyanidins, while the bark, leaves and root contain sambunigrin, which can release cyanide and is potentially toxic. It adds that cooked berries do not carry that risk.1

On the question itself, the entry says no data exist on the excretion of any component of elderberry into breast milk, or on its safety and effectiveness in nursing mothers or infants, so no recommendation can be made on medicinal doses during breastfeeding. Allergic reactions to elderberry preparations have rarely been reported.1

Do NIH and NCCIH add anything?

NCCIH says little is known about whether elderberry is safe for health purposes during pregnancy or while breastfeeding. NIH's immune function fact sheets give a recommendation only for pregnancy and say nothing about a nursing parent.2,3

The 2021 systematic review of elderberry trials found no serious adverse events, but said little attention was paid to adverse events overall and described the evidence on harms as uncertain. The trials were of 2 to 16 days in people with respiratory illness, and the review's text does not mention nursing parents or breast milk.4

Allergic reactions to elderberry products are rare. Elderberry contains a known allergen, Sam n1.5,6

Do syrup, tea and gummies matter?

The sources cannot tell us. The trials used syrups, lozenges, capsules and an infusion from different makers, and strength varies. We found no study of elderberry gummies or of elderflower tea in nursing mothers, so the sources do not tell us whether any form behaves differently.4

NIH notes that some elderberry supplements are highly diluted or adulterated with a cheaper ingredient such as black rice extract. In one analysis of 31 supplements, more than 60% of those sold as European elderberry had pigment profiles that did not match real elderberry.3,6

Products differ in strength. In two small studies, 30 mL of a commercial elderberry extract supplied 147 mg of anthocyanins in one case and 278 mg in the other.7,8

Who should ask their doctor first while breastfeeding?

  • A nursing parent considering elderberry should ask their doctor, because LactMed says no recommendation can be made on medicinal doses.1
  • A nursing parent with a history of allergic reactions to plant products should ask their doctor, because elderberry contains a known allergen.5,6
  • A nursing parent with diabetes or who takes medicine that lowers blood sugar should ask their doctor, because NIH says elderberry might affect insulin and blood sugar.3
  • A nursing parent who takes medicines that suppress the immune system should ask their pharmacist, because NIH says elderberry might reduce their effectiveness.9

Questions people ask

Is elderberry safe while breastfeeding?

LactMed says no data exist on elderberry in breast milk or on its safety in nursing mothers and infants, and that no recommendation can be made. Ask your doctor.1

Is elderberry syrup safe while breastfeeding?

The sources do not cover syrups separately. LactMed's statement applies to elderberry products in general, and trials used different syrups at different strengths. Ask your doctor.1,4

Is elderflower safe while breastfeeding?

LactMed's entry covers elderberry, not elderflower, and we found no source on elderflower during breastfeeding. Ask your doctor.1

Is elderberry tea safe while breastfeeding?

No source we read tested tea in nursing mothers. NCCIH says raw or unripe berries and other parts of the plant contain cyanide-producing substances that cooking destroys. Ask your doctor.2

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Sources

  1. Drugs and Lactation Database (LactMed). Elderberry. Bethesda (MD): National Institute of Child Health and Human Development; 2006 onward. Entry revised April 15, 2025. Opened 2026-10-11.
  2. National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health. Elderberry. Last updated November 2024. Opened 2026-10-07.
  3. National Institutes of Health, Office of Dietary Supplements. Dietary Supplements for Immune Function and Infectious Diseases: Fact Sheet for Health Professionals. Updated March 10, 2025. Opened 2026-10-07.
  4. Wieland LS, Piechotta V, Feinberg T, et al. Elderberry for prevention and treatment of viral respiratory illnesses: a systematic review. BMC Complement Med Ther. 2021;21(1):112. Opened 2026-10-01.
  5. Drugs and Lactation Database (LactMed). Elderberry. Bethesda (MD): National Institute of Child Health and Human Development; updated April 15, 2025. Opened 2026-10-07.
  6. Osman AG, Avula B, Katragunta K, Ali Z, Chittiboyina AG, Khan IA. Elderberry Extracts: Characterization of the Polyphenolic Chemical Composition, Quality Consistency, Safety, Adulteration, and Attenuation of Oxidative Stress- and Inflammation-Induced Health Disorders. Molecules. 2023;28(7):3148. Opened 2026-10-07.
  7. Bitsch I, Janssen M, Netzel M, Strass G, Frank T. Bioavailability of anthocyanidin-3-glycosides following consumption of elderberry extract and blackcurrant juice. Int J Clin Pharmacol Ther. 2004;42(5):293-300. Opened 2026-10-07.
  8. Frank T, Janssen M, et al. Absorption and excretion of elderberry (Sambucus nigra L.) anthocyanins in healthy humans. Methods Find Exp Clin Pharmacol. 2007;29(8):525-533. Opened 2026-10-07.
  9. National Institutes of Health, Office of Dietary Supplements. Dietary Supplements for Immune Function and Infectious Diseases: Fact Sheet for Consumers. Updated March 10, 2025. Opened 2026-10-07.

This page is information, not medical advice. Talk to your doctor or pharmacist about your own situation.