Wellness Monday: Elderberry Syrup

Today's tip is about Elderberry syrup.
Elderberries are amazing little super fruits just take a look:

*if you happen to get the flu elderberries are more effective than tamiflu and kills 10 strains of the flu
* It fights viral and bacterial infections
* contains high levels of vitamins A,B and C
* stimulates the immune system
* a tablespoon a day (kids can take a tsp a day) keeps your immune system strong and works as a preventative for cold and flu (it's what we took when Rascal got the flu and none of the rest of us got the flu)
*can help treat allergies and asthma

Here are a few other sites with information on elderberries:
a blossoming life
examiner.com

When Rascal got the flu I knew we needed elderberry syrup. However the only place close was an hour away (one way). I made the trek anyways and bought 3 ounces (yes only THREE ounces) for $15.00! OUCH!! However it helped the rest of us not get the flu so it was worth every single penny.

Then I read that it could help with seasonal allergies and boy do we have our share of suffering with allergies in this house. I would be stupid not to at least try this stuff to see if it helps us with allergies too. So I ordered a pound of organic dried elderberries off amazon and prepared to make my own syrup. It's MUCH MUCH cheaper to make your own. I am guessing making my own cost me less than $8 and I got 2 pint size mason jars with this recipe. It's a no brainer to me.

This looks like a small bag but I had already opened it and used some for my recipe. This recipe barely made a dent in all those elderberries. One pound will last us several months I am guessing. 

  I used this recipe from Wellness Mama.

2/3 cup of dried elderberries 

3 1/2 cups of water

2 Tablespoons of fresh or dried ginger (I used fresh and if you peel it like a carrot, and then freeze it in an air tight bag, it will last longer and you can easily grate it with a fine grater to get your 2 tablespoons) 

1 tsp cinnamon powder

1/2 cloves or clove powder (I used whole cloves) 

1 cup of RAW honey (I use local RAW honey) 

(here is what the dried elderberries look like) 

Place all ingredients EXCEPT THE HONEY in a saucepan and bring to a boil. Then cover and reduce to a simmer for about 45 minutes to an hour or until the liquid has reduced by half (I simmered mine for a little over 45 minutes). After that removed from heat and allow to cool a little. 

Pour through a strainer into a glass bowl or jar and discard the berries. 

Let the liquid cool to lukewarm and add 1 cup of honey and stir well. 

Pour the syrup into a glass jar and store in the fridge and take daily. 

Kids can take 1/2 to 1 tsp a day and adults can take 1/2 to a 1 TABLESPOON a day for preventative. If struck with the flu, cold or any illness take the normal dose every 2-3 hours instead of once a day until symptoms disappear. 

This much syrup only lasts us a few weeks with all 5 of us taking it. However if you make it for less people this recipe KEEPS for several months or more in the fridge. Put all unused dried berries in the freezer to help them keep for a good long time. 

As always I am not a doctor and do not claim to know it all. However this is an all natural God made product and I feel it is safe for all over 1 year old (take out the honey and use real maple syrup instead and kids under 1 can have it). PLEASE check with your doctor about taking it. I talked with our childrens' doctor and he said it was completely safe for us to take.