Easy Elderberry Syrup
The internet is saturated with great studies and research about the benefits of elderberries (you should do alittle digging) so I wont go into depth about EVERYTHING this amazing berry can do. Elderberries are packed full with antioxidants that can help suppress inflammation and regulate cytokines. These precious berries help your body to fight respiratory symptoms with powerful anti- viral properties. Thankfully when we are feeling down we can have something that will support our body’s capabilities to recover and shorten the length of a cold or flu. I tend to take it often thru out the winter months or while Im traveling.
My favorite brand when I'm in a pinch and can’t make my own is www.normsfarms.com
I like to purchase my dried Organic European Berries from Frontier on Amazon.
To Make Your Own
Materials:
2 cup dried Elderberries
4 cups Water (distilled)
1 cup Raw Local Honey
1 teaspoon Cinnamon or 1 drop essential oil
2 tablespoons of Fresh Grated Ginger
Step 1:
Combine dried berries, water and dried herbs in a sauce pan and bring to a boil- simmer for 45 min. Stir often to make sure berries don’t burn on the bottom of your pan.
Step 2:
Steep with heat off for 1-2 hours. Your liquid will reduce by 1/2.
Step 3:
Let cool to room temp. Strain your berries and herbs out and make sure to press the juice out with a flat wooden or metal spoon thru your strainer. I then compost the berries after I have extracted all the juice.
Step 4:
Stir in your honey and essential oils, if you chose oils vs herbs. You want to preserve the benefits of the raw honey by not heating it up. If you choose to add essential oils, add those at this time, you don’t want to loose any aromatic benefits due to heat and steam. Then pour your juice into sanitized mason jars to store.
Dose: 1/2-1 teaspoon for kids and adults per day if you start symptoms of illness increase dose to 3x a day
