elderberry syrup
Well, it’s that time of year again…cold & flu season!
We do many things in our family to strengthen our immune systems to help fight viruses that we come in contact with. One of the many things we do is take elderberry syrup. We include it in our diets during this season to help with prevention but it also works wonders to help once symptoms have set in.
It really is nature’s Tamiflu but so much safer and more effective than Tamiflu.
There is a lot of research out there that supports the health benefits and effectiveness of elderberries. Cinnamon, ginger and raw honey also have amazing health benefits to help fight colds & flu and strengthen immune systems. Be sure to take the time to research on your own. I make my own elderberry syrup but you can buy it already made. It is so quick and easy to make and tastes delicious. This also makes a great gift! The small amount of alcohol in the recipe acts like a preservative and helps it stay fresh for several months.
recipe
Ingredients
- 3 cups of filtered water
- ½ cup dried elderberries
- 1 cinnamon stick
- ½ inch piece of fresh ginger (diced)
- ½ cup raw local honey
- 1 tablespoon vodka
Instructions
- Take the first 4 ingredients and add to a saucepan.
- Bring to a boil, turn down to low, cover and let simmer for 20 minutes.
- Remove from heat and let it come to room temperature.
- Pour through a mesh strainer into a glass bowl.
- Use a potato masher to press down on the berry mixture while it is in the strainer, to extract the extra juices.
- Stir in the honey and vodka until all is dissolved.
- Place in a glass bottle and keep in the refrigerator.
Notes
- We take a tablespoon per day during cold & flu season as a preventative. We will take several tablespoons per day if we have a cold or feel like we are coming down with one. Shake before each use. It also tastes great as syrup for pancakes or drizzled in a bowl of oatmeal. Always use organic ingredients.
- You can buy some directly from Amazon. Here is the brand we use HERE
- If you want to make your own you can purchase dried elderberries HERE
