Elderberry Syrup

Cold and flu season lingers between Fall and Spring time in the Midwest.  With my job, I am around lots of young children who are prone to picking up colds and flu. I had to find a way to protect myself so that I did not bring home illness to my young children.

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I ran across an article via social media that gave natural remedies for colds and flu. The most common remedy I came across was elderberry syrup. Elderberries have been used for hundreds of years to help build the immune system and more importantly fight off flu and colds.  The recipe below was adapted from Wellness Mama, one of my favorite wellness bloggers!

Some research has confirmed that elderberry syrup can lessen the duration of flu and cold symptoms.  A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study done in Norway during influenza season found that those who took elderberry syrup for 5 days had flu symptoms that subsided an average 4 days earlier compared to the placebo group.  Another study found that those that had elderberry extract, before and after traveling by plane, had significant reduction in the duration of cold symptoms compared to the placebo group.  Elderberries have also been found to have multiple modes of therapeutic action against the flu.

Elderberry Syrup can be expensive to buy so I have found a recipe that is easy to make and inexpensive! A tip on getting elderberries at a reasonable price is to purchase them BEFORE flu season begins.  The first year I purchased dried elderberries, I waited till flu season had begun and noticed a difference in price.  The next year I planned ahead and bought the dried elderberries in August.  Click here to purchase these organic berries from Amazon.

A large part of elderberry syrup includes honey.  I recommend buying local honey if you have access to it!  Local honey has pollen that is from your neck of the woods which not only strengthens your immune system, but can also reduce pollen allergy symptoms.  Another reason to buy local honey is you are supporting local bee farmers.

The spices in this recipe include ginger, cinnamon, and cloves.  All of these have been used for building the immune system and help battle coughs, colds, and congestion.

Elderberry syrup is simple to make and only requires a few ingredients. The spices in this recipe can be adjusted or eliminated if needed. Ginger can be expensive when bought fresh so I like to use ground ginger as it is cheaper and less work. Choose organic when you can to help limit chemicals. I also used cloves and cinnamon in ground form as well.

To begin, measure out all ingredients.  In a medium saucepan, add all ingredients EXCEPT the honey.  The first time my husband made this, he did not follow directions correctly and added the honey in the beginning.  This result in the mixture being more liquid rather than syrup consistency.

After the elderberries and spices have simmered for 1 hour, remove from the heat source and let it cool until it is cool enough to work with.  The next step is to strain the berries to get all the liquid out.  The dried berries are then discarded once all juices are pressed out of the berries.

The final ingredient to add is honey.  Use a spatula to get all the honey out of the measuring cup.  Once the honey is added to the elderberry mixture, carefully stir until well combined.

In a pint size glass jar, carefully pour the elderberry syrup in and close tightly with the lid.  The syrup is best kept in the fridge.  The syrup can be used as a daily preventative or used multiple times a day when sick.  Taken from Wellness Mama, adults can take 1/2-1 tablespoon a day and kids can take 1/2-1 teaspoon a day.  When sick, you can take the syrup more frequently.  If your kids will not take it alone, you can add it to their favorite beverages or mix into oatmeal.

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Elderberry Syrup

Homemade elderberry syrup that is simple to make and inexpensive.

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Prep Time 10 minutes mins

Cook Time 1 hour hr

Total Time 1 hour hr 10 minutes mins

Servings 16 oz jar

Ingredients

  

• 3 cup water filtered
• 2/3 cup dried elderberries
• 1 tsp ginger, dried or 2T fresh
• 1 tsp cinnamon, ground
• 1/2 tsp cloves, ground
• 1 cup honey (local)

Instructions

 

• In a medium saucepan, mix water, elderberries, ginger, cinnamon, and cloves. Bring to a boil and then simmer for 1 hour.

  2. Remove from heat and let cool enough to work with.

  3. Using a glass bowl and strainer, strain the liquid into the bowl and press the dried berries to get the remaining juices. Discard the elderberries.

  4. Once the liquid has cooled down, mix in the honey.

  5. Transfer the syrup to a pint jar. To store, place in the fridge.

Notes

*For adults, take 1/2-1 tbsp a day. For kids, take 1/2-1 tsp. Take more frequently when sick (every 2-3 hours).

Keyword elderberry, healthy

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4848651/

http://archive.foundationalmedicinereview.com/publications/12/1/25.pdf

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1756464619300313?via%3Dihub