I choose to use elderberry syrup to support our immune systems throughout fall and winter, and if needed for allergies, fevers and head cold in the spring and summertime and during times of injury.
My daughter Addi and I found a brand new giant growth of wild Montana Elderberry this year and were thrilled to spend the afternoon hiking and filling a 5 gallon bucket of the tiny, purple wellness treasure.
If elderberry does not grow wild in your area you can buy dehydrated elderberry at health food stores, from Etsy or from online apothecary shops. Be sure to check the source and buy berries that are not treated with or dehydrated with any chemicals.
Elderberry Syrup Recipe for Canning or Refrigerator
4 Cups filtered water
2 Cups fresh or frozen elderberries, or 1 cup dried berries
2 Cups Honey, local honey is the best option, raw is not necessary since it will be heated
1/4 Cup fresh lemon juice
Optional 2 cinnamon sticks
This recipe will make 4 half pints (8 oz) - the jam sized jars. After boiling and mashing the berries you will end up with about 4 cups of juice. This recipe is easily doubled or tripled depending on the amount of berries you have. I prefer to can into the smaller jars to be sure the syrup doesn't spoil before we use it up. We each take about a tablespoon a day + essential oils when exposed to illness, when we feel "off", tired or ill, before and after traveling and anytime we need an immune boost. Keep reading to learn why I DO NOT add essential oils to my elderberry syrup. You can take it daily as a immune supplement if you prefer. I like to "save" it and use it when I need a powerful boost to our immune system. - and powerful it is.
Add the berries, optional cinnamon sticks and water to a pot and bring to a boil. Simmer for 15 minutes. Gently mash the berries with a potato masher. In small batches strain the berries through a fine mesh strainer or sieve, gently mashing the berries with a maul or potato masher to release their liquid. Discard the cinnamon sticks and the seeds. Add the juice back to the pot and simmer on medium heat until the liquid starts to thicken. Remove from the heat and allow to cool to room temperature. Add your honey and lemon juice, stir until the honey is dissolved.
Ladle into your jars. At this point you can store in the refrigerator for up to two months or water bath can for long term storage.
I take out a jar and keep it in the fridge. You can drink it cold, room temperature or warm. Warm it up, add lemon or Thieves essential oil and honey for a soothing throat tea.
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So what is the deal with Elderberry? Black Elderberry (Sambucus species) grows abuduntnaly throughout North America, Europe and Asia and is easily identifiable by the large clumps of dark purple (bright green before they are ripe), small, round berries. The bark is woody. The leaves are serrated. Elderberry trees form a thick over canopy and can grow quite tall, up to 12 feet, often making the berries available to the birds only. Elderberry has been used medicinally for centuries. Ancient Egyptians used elderberry to treat skin conditions, to heal burns and scars. Indigenous Native Americans used elderberry as a natural remedy for fever and ate them regularly. (Source)
Elderberry flowers can be used for skin support, to maintain clear complexion and can be used to make skin loving serums, toner sprays and hydrosols. ( Source: Mountain States Medicinal Plants, Brianna Wiles.
I typically use my elderberries to make syrup, however a very simple tincture is another great, simple option to have available. Tincture
So many natural remedies have been suppressed, forgotten and replaced by lab-made pills. This was no accident. If we can heal ourselves by using botanicals, herbs and medicinal plants the big pharmaceutical companies make no money off of keeping us ill. Lies have been spread and rumors have been created about botanicals, calling them dangerous and unproven. I am of the mentality that if it is in a pure form, without all the added crap and it makes me and my family feel better, why would I need anything else? I mean how dare we challenge the multi-trillion dollar industry that only profits off us being sick and use what nature creates to make us feel better, instead of artificial, toxin-laden "medicine" that makes sure we are life-long customers!! How dare we!! whoops, I did it again, that darn soap box.
Elderberries are full of key immune boosting vitamins and minerals:
Vitamin C
Zinc
Iron
Beta Carotene
Folic acid
And Vitamin B12.
The Elderberry has been clinically shown to:
reduce cold severity and duration
severely reduces upper respiratory illness symptoms, thus boosting the immune system
has powerful antiviral properties especially against the flu virus
tames inflammation by modulating the macrophages activity in body - reducing inflammation in the body
protects the body from free radicals because elderberry is high in antioxidants. Free radicals are known to contribute to a variety of disease and health concerns. Consuming high amounts of antioxidants can slow down the aging process and promote overall health.
has antibacterial properties and is used as an antiseptic
shown to reduce cancer risk
(Source)
Visit this link for more information and links to studies on what elderberry can do for you!
Can you eat them raw?
I choose to heat my elderberry before consumption. Of course there is conflicting information on everything. Some say they are safe to eat raw. I've always wanted them in a syrup, fresh elderberries are available for only a short amount of time, so preserverying them only makes sense for me. In their raw form elderberries can be toxic to humans. The tiny seeds contain a cyanide inducing glycoside which can cause a buildup of cyanide in our bodies and cause nausea and diarrhea. Heating the berries releasing the toxins and the juice and syrup is therefore safe to consume.
Essentail oils and Elderberry syrup.
Of course the two go hand in hand, however I do not add essential oils to my elderberry syrup and here's why. When we heat up the essential oils either in the syrup or during water bath canning we destroy the properties in the essential oils that we benefit from. They will still smell good, but the healing properties are lost. Therefore, I choose to either add essential oils into the freshly opened (and cooled) syrup jars that will be stored in the fridge or add a drop to the syrup I take. The second option is nice because it allows you to tailor your dose depending on what is going on in your body. For example, having upset tummy issues: add Digize to a tablespoon of elderberry syrup.
Essential Oils that pair well with Elderberry and support the immune system even further:
Thieves
Lemon
Clove
Black Pepper
Nutmeg
Orange
DiGize
Peppermint
Please visit here for more oily info!
Here's to happy, healthy and naturally supported immune systems. Stay well my friends!
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