Make your own Elderberry Syrup!

So you want to make your own elderberry syrup? Follow our recipe with your own ingredients or purchase our Elderberry Syrup Kit in the apothecary and get started!

What is Elderberry Syrup?

Elderberry syrup is a remedy you can take that’s packed with powerful plant extracts to support your body’s natural immunity. It taste is unique, but when combined with honey and spices, sweet and christmasy!

Why use Elderberry Syrup?

Elderberries come from the Elder tree. These delicious dark berries are packed with Vitamins, important flavonoids, and trace elements of minerals, which is why I use this plant in my traditional cold and flu remedy, elderberry syrup. The active ingredients extracted in the syrup stop the spread of the virus by disarming infected enzymes (influenza spike penetrations in healthy cells) within 24-48 hours, regardless of influenza mutation, unlike influenza vaccinations which are strain specific.

Elderberry syrup supports the body’s natural immune system by reducing inflammation in the body as well as limiting the spread sooner, preventing spread to other organs in the body because of it’s ability to isolate. Every spoonful gives the body another boost of cellular warriors to go in and defend our healthy cells.

In (a) study conducted in early 2019, the total effect size for flu symptoms was 2.074. This means that roughly 98% of people who take elderberry for the flu will improve faster than the average person with the flu who does not take elderberry. Similarly, 41% of people who take elderberry for the common cold will improve faster than the average person who does not take elderberry.
— Franklin Health Research Foundation

So, as soon as you feel that tickle in your throat or any other tell tale signs of viral activity, take a spoonful of Elderberry Syrup. Some even take it preventatively every morning! You can get creative by adding it to your pancakes or cocktails for added immunity.

If you’re not interested in making your own but would love to try some, check out our homemade Elderberry Syrup in 8 oz and 16 oz sizes.


DIY ELDERBERRY SYRUP

Makes approximately 8 oz.

DIRECTIONS:

In a large pot combine 1 cup elderberries with 2 cups of water. Add spices of ginger, clove, cardamom, star anise, cinnamon, and black pepper from your kit. Simmer low and slow so you can extract all of that yummy plant goodness. I like to squish the berries with the back a spoon as they rehydrate. Reduce volume to 1/2 and turn off heat. Once the berries are cool enough, strain them into a cheesecloth or something similar. Squeeze as much as you can out of the berries and spices with your hands or a press. Careful! The stunning colour of the elderberries can stain your hands. Add the strained spiced liquid into a clean pot. Note the volume. Add equal amounts of honey or to taste and consistency. Once you’ve reached your desired thickness you can add some optional and generous glugs of brandy. Bottle and refrigerate.

INGREDIENTS: Elderberries, Ginger, Clove, Cardamom, Star Anise, Cinnamon, Black Pepper, Honey, optional Brandy.

References

Bergner, Paul. “Sambucus: Elderberry,” Medical Herbalism: Materia Medica and Pharmacy, 2001.

Remington, Joseph, and Horatio Wood. The US Dispensatory, 20th ed. 1918.

Grieve, Maud. A Modern Herbal. Mrs. M Grieve, 1931.

Hoffman, David. Medical Herbalism: The Science and Practice of Herbal Medicine. Inner Traditions/ Bear & Co, 2003.

Skenderi, Gazmend. Herbal Vade Mecum. Herbacy Press, 2003.

Balch, Phyllis A. Prescription for Nutritional Healing, 5th ed. Avery, 2010.

Hoffman, David. The Herbal Handbook: A User’s Guide to Medical Herbalism. Healing Arts Press, 1998.

“Minor Fruits: Elderberries” (2015) in Cornell Fruit Resources, Department of Horticulture, Cornell University.

Amidon, Caroline. “History and Lore of Sambucus,” The Herb Society of America’s Essential Guide to Elderberry, 2013.

Kavasch, E. Barrie. “Ethnobotany of Elderberry,” The Herb Society of America’s Essential Guide to Elderberry, 2013.

Zakay-Rones, Z., Varsano, N., Zlotnik, M., Manor, O., Regev, L., Schlesinger, M., & Mumcuoglu, M. (1995). Inhibition of several strains of influenza virus in vitro and reduction of symptoms by an elderberry extract (Sambucus nigra L.) during an outbreak of influenza B Panama. The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, 1(4), 361-369. doi: 10.1089/acm.1995.1.361

Zakay-Rones, Z., Thom, E., Wollan, T., & Wadstein, J. (2004). Randomized study of the efficacy and safety of oral elderberry extract in the treatment of influenza A and B virus infections. Journal of International Medical Research, 32(2), 132-140.

Tiralongo, E., Wee, S. S., & Lea, R. A. (2016). Elderberry supplementation reduces cold duration and symptoms in air-travellers: A randomized, double-blind placebo-controlled clinical trial. Nutrients, 8(4), 182. doi: doi.org/10.3390/nu8040182

Kong, F. K. (2009). Pilot clinical study on a proprietary elderberry extract: efficacy in addressing influenza symptoms. Online Journal of Pharmacology and Pharmacokinetics, 5, 32-43.

Hawkins, J., Baker, C., Cherry, L., & Dunne, E. (2019). Black elderberry (Sambucus nigra) supplementation effectively treats upper respiratory symptoms: A meta-analysis of randomized, controlled clinical trials. Complementary therapies in medicine, 42, 361-365.

Vlachojannis, J. E., Cameron, M., & Chrubasik, S. (2010). A systematic review on the sambuci fructus effect and efficacy profiles. Phytotherapy Research: An International Journal Devoted to Pharmacological and Toxicological Evaluation of Natural Product Derivatives, 24(1), 1-8. doi: 10.1002/ptr.2729

Senica, M., Stampar, F., Veberic, R., & Mikulic‐Petkovsek, M. (2017). The higher the better? Differences in phenolics and cyanogenic glycosides in Sambucus nigra leaves, flowers and berries from different altitudes. Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture, 97(8), 2623-2632. doi: 10.1002/jsfa.8085

Centers for Disease Control (CDC. (1984). Poisoning from elderberry juice--California. MMWR. Morbidity and mortality weekly report, 33(13), 173.

Knudsen, B. F., & Kaack, K. V. (2013, June). A review of human health and disease claims for elderberry (sambucus nigra) fruit. In I International Symposium on Elderberry 1061 (pp. 121-131). doi: 10.17660/ActaHortic.2015.1061.12

Pogorzelski, E. (1982). Formation of cyanide as a product of decomposition of cyanogenic glucosides in the treatment of elderberry fruit (Sambucus nigra). Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture, 33(5), 496-498.

Previous
Previous

Herbal Benefits of Masala Chai

Next
Next

Can you advocate TOO much?