Elderberry Syrup: A How To Guide
As we move into the fall season, little bugs full of ick abound especially in the younger population. For families looking to enhance their immune response and avoid pharmaceuticals, elderberry syrup is an excellent option. Why Elderberries? They are very high in vitamin A, vitamin C, quercetin (an antioxidant), are anti-inflammatory, antiviral, and enhance the immune system’s response to invaders. Elderberries are a common folk remedy, used worldwide to lower cholesterol, improve vision, boost the immune system, improve heart health, and for coughs, colds, flu, bacterial and viral infections and tonsillitis. Elderberries should be cooked to enhance their healing properties and increase digestibility.
I’ve been using elderberry syrup over the years to treat colds in my own home and have had positive results. But store bought elderberry syrup is EXPENSIVE…as a family of six, we can go through a $15 jar in under a week. This means it is much more feasible for our family to make our own elderberry syrup. This has the added benefit of teaching our children the importance of self-care and with little planning, it’s easy too. I’d like to share a recipe we’ve enjoyed. May it bring wellness and healing to your family!
Ingredients
- 2/3 cup dried elderberries (try shopping Mountain Rose Herbs, Frontier Herbs, and of course, Amazon!)
- 3.5 cups of water
- 2 tbsp fresh or dried ginger root (easily found in any grocery store)
- 1 tsp cinnamon powder (you’ve probably got this in your cupboard!)
- 1/2 tsp whole cloves or clove powder (OPTIONAL)
- 1 cup raw honey (any honey is better than no honey – if you cannot find raw or locally sourced honey, just use what you have on hand)
Directions
- Pour water into saucepan and add elderberries, ginger, cinnamon, and cloves (optional).
- Bring to a boil, cover, and reduce to a simmer. Simmer for an hour or until the liquid is reduced by half.
- Remove from heat and allow liquid to cool until you can touch it without burning yourself.
- Strain into a glass bowl, discard elderberries, and allow liquid to cool further.
- When the liquid is tepid, add 1 cup of honey and stir until it is well mixed.
- Pour the syrup into a glass mason or storage jar and keep in the fridge. Syrup will last in the fridge for about a month (if you don’t drink it all first!)
Recommended therapeutic dose:
(2-3x/daily)
1/2 tsp to 1 tsp for kids
1/2 tbsp to 1 tbsp for adults
Recommended maintenance dose:
(once per day)
1/2 tsp to 1 tsp for kids
1/2 tbsp to 1 tbsp for adults
In the comments, let us know how it works for you and share your favorite recipe or ingredient source! NoVa Placenta Specialist Collective wishes you the healthiest winter yet.
