Elderberry Syrup

I've had a few requests on my recipe for elderberry syrup.  This is something we actually do take daily in our house.  As soon as school starts, Tanner gets a dose in a shot glass every morning.  It's about a fourth of a shot glass or maybe a little more.  I don't measure and you can't really get too much.  If I start getting a cold or something, I will start taking it as well.  Sambucol is the brand name of elderberry syrup you can get at the store.  It has been proven in trials to be effective against several strains of the flu. You can read the article here: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11399518.


Our experience has shown it to work pretty good.  A few years ago, 2 days before Christmas, we were down at Daddy's.  That night Tanner came down with a fever and I knew it didn't look good.  I was worried about him being sick during Christmas.  I ran to CVS and got some vitamin C and Tylenol.  The next morning he was right as rain with no ill effects.  Meanwhile, by the time we got home, I had full blown flu and was in the bed for 3 days.  It was a miserable Christmas for me.  I took what little Sambucol I had on hand and did the best I could.  So I know it protected Tanner, even though he hadn't had a dose in a few days.


This summer, I took a medicinal herbalism class as part of my master's program in Nutrition.  I study online through New York Chiropractic College.  I learned to make all sorts of yummy and some not so yummy concoctions like syrups, tinctures, and salves.  I have this year made our own elderberry syrup out of dried elderberries and other ingredients.  I must say it tastes much better than the store bought kind and I can customize it if I need to.  I buy my herbs at Mountain Rose Herbs.  They have a good selection and the prices are reasonable.  They have yummy spice and tea blends as well. Click the links to see the products at Mountain Rose Herbs.


Elderberry Syrup
2 cups of water
1/2 cup of dried Elderberries
1 tsp of Cinnamon
1/2 tsp of Cloves
1 TB of fresh grated Ginger
1-2 pods of Star Anise (optional)
1 cup of raw local Honey


Combine water, elderberries, cinnamon, cloves, ginger, and star anise pods (if using) in a small saucepan.  Bring to a boil and simmer gently until the syrup is reduced.  Cool until just slightly warm and then strain through cheesecloth or a fine mesh strainer.  Carefully press all the goodness out of the berries.  Pour into a pint jar and add the honey, stirring to combine.  It makes about a pint of syrup.  Store in the refrigerator.  Take a spoonful a day for immune support.  At the onset of a cold or the flu, take a spoonful 3 times a day for immune support.


This is not a cure for the flu and should not replace seeing a doctor.  I do not intend to diagnose or treat any disease.  I hope this is enough legal nonsense to cover myself. :)


To see another post on Elderberry syrup, check out Wellness Mama: http://wellnessmama.com/1888/elderberry-syrup/.  She has lots of other articles about natural living.