9:00 pm - 43 degrees - raining...
The past week and a half has
not been fun. Cold and flu season hit
our house hard this year. We have been
battling colds, flu, strep throat, ear infections, ruptured ear drums, sinus
infections...you name it, and it feels like we’ve had it!
I have been
searching for different ways to help boost our immune systems because let's
face it, it doesn't matter what we do - constantly washing hands, sanitizing
everything, quarantine - we keep getting sick. Uhg!
Do you know what elderberries
are? We have both red and blue
elderberries here on the mountain {click here}.
I knew that I could harvest the blue elderberries and use them to make
jam, jelly, pie, syrup and tea but what I didn’t realize was how good they are
for you!
You can turn these tiny little
blue berries into an amazing little liquid called Elderberry Syrup that is
delicious and boosts your immune system, making it ideal for the cold and flu
season.
Hippocrates is said to have
called it his “medicine chest”, and for thousands of years it’s been revered in
folk medicine for its healing properties.
Now studies are starting to confirm what tradition has long held:
elderberries are a delicious and effective way to support immune function
during cold and flu season.
Why elderberries? Elderberries contain a flavonoid called
anthocyanin, which has antioxidant and immune boosting properties. They are also a good source of vitamin C,
betacarotene, vitamin B6, and iron.
Elderberry syrup has also shown
to help reduce cold and flu symptoms along with nasal and sinus congestion
relief.
“Elderberry
syrup is a proven remedy for preventing and recovering from the flu, colds,
excessive mucus, sore throats, and contains large amounts of antioxidants,
potassium, beta carotene, calcium, phosphorus, and vitamin C Source”
See, good stuff!
Making your own elderberry syrup only requires
a few simple ingredients and can be made in about 45 minutes, start to
finish. The result is a syrup that’s
delicious (so kids easily take it), immune-boosting, and can last for a couple
of months when stored in the refrigerator. Here
is a recipe...
~Elderberry Syrup~
3/4 cup dried elderberries {buy here}
3 cups water
1 cup raw honey*
1-2 tablespoons freshly grated
ginger (optional)
1 cinnamon stick (optional)
1. Add water, elderberries,
ginger and cinnamon stick (if you are using them) to a pot and bring to a boil.
2. Once boiling, reduce the
berry mixture to a simmer. Allow to simmer for 30 minutes.
3. After 30 minutes, remove
from heat. Using a potato masher, mash
the berries (still in the juice mixture) to remove any extra juices.
4. Strain to remove the berries. Allow the liquid to cool to just slightly
warm (not hot) and stir in the honey.
5. Transfer the elderberry
syrup to a jar and store in the refrigerator.
{*NOTE: Because this recipe
contains honey, it should not be used by children under one.}
How much should you take? Even though elderberries are valued for
therapeutic purposes, they are a food.
They are used to make jelly, pies and wine, so there isn’t really a
specific “dosage” for them. However,
here are some guidelines that have been traditionally followed: To support immune function throughout cold
and flu season children are usually given 1 teaspoon per day, while adults
usually take 1 tablespoon. During
illness, the frequency increases to every 2-3 hours until the symptoms resolve.
Don’t want to make your own? You can find pre-made elderberry syrup online
{click here}.
