How to Make Elderberry Syrup

Are you looking for an all natural, great way to boost immunity during cough and cold season? Here’s how to make elderberry syrup and how to use it!

 

Last winter my husband caught a case of the plague.

He was snotty and coughing, and generally feeling run down. After a trip to the Dr. he didn’t have the flu, not a sinus infection… just a nasty cold.

Now I am a fan of natural remedies. If I feel a cold coming on I reach for the vitamin and herbal supplements, some thieves blend essential oils, lots of water… you get the idea.

My husband? He likes a quicker fix, he wants to feel better as fast as possible.

He’s not anti hippie alchemy (as my 17-year-old calls my natural remedies) just more impatient.

Well this particular cold didn’t seem to want to respond to psudeofed or mucinex and he was feeling cruddy. So he started doing his own research on natural remedies.

When he came home from work that day he had zinc, garlic, and a bottle of commercially prepared elderberry syrup, he was determined to kick this cold.

And he did after just a couple of days he was feeling so much better!

Now I’d heard of the remarkable cold fighting properties of elderberry but had never tried it, however this experience made me realize it was well worth looking into. I asked a good friend who makes her own how to make elderberry syrup and she shared her simple recipe with me!

 

What does Elderberry syrup do??

Well first it has high levels of vitamins A, B and C which give your immune a super boost to help fight the germs off.  It helps reduce mucus secretions during a cold and helps inflammation in your respiratory system which makes you feel better!

It also has the amazing ability to shorten the duration of colds and flu in fact according to a Study in the Journal of International Medical Research patients given elderberry syrup recovered an average of 4 days faster than patients not taking the syrup!!

Why Make Your Own?

Well you can buy commercially prepared syrup for about $12 for 4oz.  from most drug stores and its effective stuff.

However making your own you can make about 16oz. for under $10!

The process of making it is pretty simple too, it’s totally worth your time and effort!

 

Here’s how to make Elderberry Syrup! 

1- Cup Dried Black Elderberries- you can order them on Amazon or from Mountain Rose Herbs

3 1/2 – Cups Distilled Water

1- tsp Cinnamon

1- Cup Raw Honey – Raw & local is best- if you absolutely can’t find it you can order it.

 

This process is a lot like making tea.. but lots of it!

Put your water, elderberries and cinnamon in a large pot on the stove and bring to a boil.

Reduce the heat to a simmer and continue to cook uncovered for about 45 minutes. (It will reduce by about half)

Remove from the heat and let cool. Once it’s cool enough to handle pour through a strainer into a glass jar or bowl. Discard the elderberries.

Let the mixture cool completely. Now stir in your honey.

Transfer it to glass bottles or jars and put the lid on. Your finished!

You’ll want to store it in the fridge to keep it fresh, it should keep for a few months as long as it’s refrigerated.

 

To use-

For a daily immunity boost take 1/2- 1 tsp for kids and 1 Tbsp for adults once a day. If the cold or flu should strike you can up your dose to every 2-3 hours until you’re feeling better.

As with all supplements it’s a good idea to ask your Dr. before starting to make sure it’s safe for you and won’t interact with other medication you take. (and of course I’m not a Dr. so anything I’ve written here is not medical advice!)

 

So that’s it, now you know how to make elderberry syrup to keep your family healthy through these cold and flu months!

Have you ever used elderberry or any other natural remedies? What’s your favorite way to ward off the germs??

 

 

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