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Do you want to keep you family healthy year round? Is it a battle to get your kids to take medicine? Well, I have the stuff for you! My discovery of elderberry syrup has been one of the best things I have come across for the wellness of my family. This is one medicine I don’t have to fight with my kids to take and my son always asks for more. Making homemade elderberry syrup is easy and one of the best things you can do for your family.
When my daughter, Emily, started preschool I didn’t think about all the germs that she would be exposed to and it seemed like she was getting sick all the time, ugh. Later in the school year I discovered elderberry syrup. All I can say is this stuff is AMAAAAZING!!!! She got over her cold super fast. I was so excited about it that I told anyone who would listen. Since using it on a regular basis, when my family gets a cold, it goes away within a few days and I would like to mention we have never had the flu. Yes you read that right, NEVER had the flu. This stuff has worked great for my family but please do not take this as a cure all and see a doctor if you feel it is necessary.
The one problem with buying elderberry syrup in the store is it is super expensive. I paid $17 for a 4oz bottle so I decided to make my own at a fraction of the cost. I buy my elderberries here.
Why Elderberries are so GREAT
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- Elderberries boost the immune system, they contain vitamin A, B, and a large amount of C along with tannin, carotenoids, flavonoids and are rich in antioxidants.
- helps with coughs, colds, flu, bacteria and viral infections.
- Bioflavonoids and other proteins in the juice destroy the ability of cold and flu viruses to infect a cell
- Sambucol, elderberry extract, is shown to shorten flu systems by 3 days. Yes please!
- Throughout North America, Europe, Western Asia and North Africa, elderberries have been used for their medicinal properties for thousands of years
Benefits of Raw Honey
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- Good source of antioxidants
- Antibacterial and Antifungal
- Contains phytonutrients that have anti-inflammatory and antioxidant benefits
- Soothes a sore throat and helps with a cough
How I use Elderberry Syrup
I give one teaspoon to my children and my husband and I take one tablespoon. If one of us gets sick we take the syrup 3-4 times a day.
Keep the syrup stored in the refrigerator for up to 6 months. If you have extra that you won’t be using you can freeze it.
This recipe can easily be doubled.
*If you don’t want to use honey you can use another source of sweetener such as agave nectar or maple syrup.
**As a reminder, if your child is under 1 DO NOT give them honey.
These statements are my own and a testimony as to how Elderberry Syrup has helped my family. Please do your own research to ensure the safety of yourself and your family.
Elderberry Syrup
Ingredients
- 1/3 C dried elderberries
- 1 3/4 C water
- 1/2 tsp cinnamon
- 1/2 C raw honey
Instructions
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Place water into medium saucepan, add elderberries and cinnamon.
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Bring to a boil then reduce to a simmer for about 20 minutes or until the liquid has reduced by almost half. Remove from heat and pour through a strainer into a glass jar or bowl. Mash berries with the back of a spoon to get all the juice out. Discard the elderberries.
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Let the liquid cool and add the honey, stir well.
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Pour the elderberry syrup into a glass jar of some kind. Store in the refrigerator for up to 6 months.
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You can take daily to boost your immunity. Standard dose is ½ tsp to 1 tsp for kids and ½ Tbsp to 1 Tbsp for adults. If you get a cold or flu take the normal dose every 2-3 hours instead of once a day until you are better.
Resources:
http://foodfacts.mercola.com/elderberries.html
http://umm.edu/health/medical/altmed/herb/elderberry
http://www.naturalnews.com/043430_elderberry_natural_antivirals_health_benefits.html
Stay Well!
6 Comments
I made this with dried elderberries I’m not sure if I boiled it too long or what.. I barely had any syrup out of it, like maybe a teaspoon 🙁
It sounds like you did boil it too long. You should end up with a cup of liquid.
At what age can toddlers take this? 10 months??
Hi Rita! Great question and I’m so glad you asked it. You don’t want to give honey to a child under 1 years old so you can make this with coconut sugar, maple syrup, or omit the sweetener all together. At 10 months though I’m sure a little sweetness will help it go down. 🙂
I made some today and everyone liked it! It is pretty watery still, though; it isn’t thick like cough syrups, for instance.
Hi Amy,
I’m glad to hear you liked it! This elderberry syrup recipe does not get thick, it stays a little watery but with the honey in it it does a good job of coating the throat. My kids have a hard time getting down the thick stuff so this is good for them. I hope you continue to make it and your family stays well.