Even if you don't have kids (like me), you can probably appreciate just how messy they are. Along with the bodily fluids, there is all the dirt, grime, and other stuff they carry around with them from rolling on the ground, or touching everything they come into contact with. Admit it, you were a kid once and this probably rings quite true for you.
If you know someone who works in education, I challenge you to ask them if they remember when they first started working in the schools. Then ask them if they remember getting sick shortly after they started. Like super sick. Maybe sicker than they have ever been in their entire life.
You might get a few who deny it, but my guess is, there are a large number of people who will know what I am talking about. Think about it for a second. You are a regular person, minding your own business, living your life. Sure you got a little crazy in university and drank some weird stuff and slept in some funky places, but you were still relatively safe. Now you find yourself in a virtual petri dish of just about every virus and bacteria imaginable all waiting for the chance to meet your immune system and knock you on your butt.
I can still remember parts of my first major illness when I started working at the schools. Actually, I got to experience it twice because after about four years with one school district I started working at another school district and I got introduced to a whole new round of germs.
The second time stands out more to me. I remember being in a fever induced haze, freezing to death, but also sweating like a beast. I was practically delirious trying to sleep with the radio on and I remember this same song kept playing over and over again. To this day, when I hear "Bring On The Rain" by Jo Dee Messina, it still takes me back to that time in my life.
I remember I was living alone with a mattress on box spring on the floor because I didn't have a bed frame, a Maryland state flag hanging on my wall (because I thought it looked cool), and a whole lot of home decor I now regret wasting the money on from Pier 1 Imports.
Over the years, 
That isn't to say we don't still get sick, but it's far less common that it used to be. Then Covid came along and with a renewed sense of purpose, we have been even more diligent about avoiding germs. There is still debate whether that is a good thing or a bad thing.
Over the years, we have come to appreciate the Airborne line of products. Sure, it might just be a placebo effect, but if we start feeling a little scratch in our throat or a little stuffy, we often take an Airborne as a precautionary measure.
More recently,
According to Google... Elderberry is known to contain antioxidants as well as vitamins A and C. These are believed to strengthen your immune system and fight off infections. There are studies which suggest Elderberry can reduce the "duration and severity" of cold and flu infections.
Elderberries are also show to improve digestive health, reduce inflammation, support heart health, and in some cases aids in weight management.
There are also a number of relatively benign or cosmetic things that Elderberry is believed to help, but I will let you read about those yourself if you really care.
The little bottle we got came with an eye dropper so you can simply put a few drops of the syrup on your tongue or put a few drops in your tea or whatever. I don't know about my wife, but I have only taken one dose so far. I guess time will tell if this really works the way that we hope it will.
I know there are a lot of cures to common stuff in nature, so I am more than willing to give it a try. We are getting to the time of year when the cold and flu is most active, so I might be putting it to the test sooner rather than later!
All pictures/screenshots taken by myself or
