Elder
Elder/Hylan tree/Ellhorn Sambucus nigra
Once called the "medicine chest of the country people" the elder was a sacred tree to the pagan Anglo-saxons, if you wanted to cut down an Elder, you had to ask permission of Lady Ellhorn or Hylde-Moer (whom some believe to be the German goddess Holde herself) and offer another tree or gift in return. To fail to ask permission was to incur the wrath of the Huldru-folk or the Elle (people of the elder). In fact, the normally loving goddess Holda as Lady Ellhorn was said to kill babies whose cribs were made of its wood.
The elder was said to have many powerful properties such as revealing evil wights and bringing ghosts or little folk into a house if the elder branch or leaf is brought inside. A circle of elder berries were was used for warding. The elder is very protective and branches are widely used for wands. It is also considered very bad luck to burn Elder wood. You can hang leaves around the outside of doors and windows to ward off evil. Elder leaves or berries cast upon someone or some place are a blessing. Flutes made of elder will call faeries when played, and an elder staff will allow one to see through glamour.
For medicinal purposes elder blossoms are infused for colds, fevers, hay fever, and as a gargle for sore throats. Tinctured, it is used for colds and flu. Elderflower water is good as an eyewash, especially for allergies. Ointment made from the flowers is used to treat burns; ointment made from the leaves treats bruises and sprains. The bark is a liver stimulant, used for arthritic conditions and stubborn constipation, but causes vomiting in large doses. Elder tea was said to be good for headaches and the juice of the berries was used to treat toothaches.