Elderberry Syrup for Colds
It is this time of the year again!!!! Runny noses, coughs, colds, and flus are at their peak and people are looking for ways to boost their immunity and become stronger so they can fight the intruders. Well, I don’t want to say the bad news but building your immune system doesn’t happen overnight, unfortunately. Good nutrition, sleep and exercise should always be your priority, but we all know that sometimes these are not enough. The good news is, however, that there are several natural ways out there that can really help you maintain good health and aid in speedy recovery when you feel under the weather.
Over time, I love sharing with you some tips and natural remedies I use to treat my family and trust me this one is one of my favourites. A homemade Elderberry (Sambucus) syrup that can be made in just a few simple steps, does not contain any of the nasties the stored bought ones do. It is free of preservatives, colours and additives and makes a pleasant little remedy shot suitable for the whole family.
Follow my recipe below and make it fresh from scratch.
It is always handy to have some available for when you need it. It can be stored in the fridge for 3-4 weeks and it tastes delicious; even kids enjoy taking it!
Homemade Elderberry Syrup for the whole family.
Ingredients:
3 cups water
1 cup wild elderberries
1/2 cup raw cane sugar
6cm sliced ginger
3 cinnamon sticks
2 tbsp mullein
1/2 cup raw honey (pour at the end)
Method:
In a medium saucepan, mix all the above ingredients together, except the honey, and simmer for about 45’ or until thickened and the quantity is reduced by half. Remove the syrup from the stove and strain it, pressing the juice out of the berries with a wooden spoon. Pour the honey into a glass container and pour the syrup on top stirring well to combine. Put it on the side and let it cool down.
When it is completely cooled down, put the lid on and refrigerate it. It lasts for about 3-4 weeks in the fridge.
Dosage:
For its immune boosting properties, take 1 tbsp per day – use half the dose for small children
To speed up recovery from a cold/flu take 1tbsp 3 times a day – half the dose for small children.
It is important to start taking any natural medicine at the first sign of an illness to stop replication of bacteria/viruses in the body.
Not suitable for children under 12 months old.
