Elderberry is one of my favorite immune system boosters. This herb is safe and effective for the whole family and tastes delicious. The health benefits have been well documented for centuries and are utilized by cultures all over the world.
What is Elderberry?
Sambucas Nigra is the botanical name of the plant we commonly refer to as elderberry. The berries and flowers are the components we use for medicinal purposes. They are rich in nutrients and antioxidants and act as an excellent immune booster. You can ingest elderberry as a tea, syrup, jam, wine, lozenge, powder, or capsules, among various other methods. Syrup is one of my favorite forms of ingesting elderberry because it’s convenient and appealing to littles ones as well.
What are the Benefits of Elderberry Syrup?
- Antiviral: high concentration of bioflavonoids which help to prevent viruses from attacking your healthy cells.
- Immune boosting: contain flavonoids which are antioxidants that help keep the immune system in excellent shape so that it can fight off viruses when exposed.
- Nutritive: rich in Vitamins A, C, B6, and Potassium
This study has shown that travelers that began taking elderberry before their trip and continued to ingest it throughout their trip had a significant reduction of cold duration and symptom severity than travelers that did not supplement with elderberry.
Elderberry Syrup Recipe
Elderberry Syrup
This nutrient rich berry makes a delicious immune boosting syrup that the whole family can enjoy.
Ingredients
- 1 C dried black elderberries
- 3 C water
- 1 T freshly grated ginger root
- 1 T cinnamon powder
- 1/2 tsp clove powder
- 1 C locally grown honey
Instructions
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Combine elderberries, ginger, cinnamon, clove and water in a saucepan and bring to a boil.
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Cover and reduce to a simmer, allowing the mixture to simmer for 45-60 minutes.
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Remove from the heat and allow to cool for 15 minutes, or longer if needed.
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Pour the mixture into a fine mesh strainer over a bowl, and mash the berries to remove all of the juice.
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Discard the remaining berries and add the liquid back into the saucepan.
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Add honey to the saucepan and bring to a light boil, stirring often. Reduce to a simmer for 5-10 minutes allowing it to thicken up to your preference, keeping an eye on the mixture so that it doesn't thicken up too much.
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Remove from heat and allow the mixture to cool before pouring into a jar.
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Store in the fridge for up to two weeks.
Recipe Notes
Take 1 tablespoon daily for adults, and 1/2-1 tsp daily for children over the age of one.
If you are symptomatic with the cold or the flu increase your dosage to 3 times daily until symptoms are no longer present.
*If you are pregnant or lactating ask your doctor if elderberry syrup is a safe treatment for you. This recipe should not be given to infants or children under the age of 1, as honey has been shown to have a risk of causing botulism.*
