Homemade Elderberry Syrup Recipe

Back by popular demand and just in time for flu season: Mother Earth Mama’s Homemade Elderberry Syrup 🫐

Why use elderberry syrup for colds and flu?

Elderberry supplementation reduces the duration and severity of upper respiratory symptoms, according to a meta-analysis published in the peer-reviewed medical journal Complementary Therapies in Medicine.

The authors conducted a literature search for randomized controlled trials where the supplement was used as a primary intervention.

Results showed that treatment with elderberry at the onset of upper respiratory symptoms resulted in substantial reductions in overall symptoms and symptom duration - regardless of pathology (influenza vs common cold).

The supplement was found to produce a medium to large reduction in symptoms, however, a larger effect was noted among patients with influenza.

With regard to safety, no adverse effects were reported in the studies.

My homemade elderberry syrup recipe

A single batch is enough to take your family through an entire cold and flu season.

Ingredients

• 2/3 cup dried elderberries or 1 1/3 cup frozen elderberries

• 3 cups water

• 1 cinnamon stick or 1 tsp dried cinnamon powder

• 1/2 teaspoon dried cloves or clove powder or 4 whole cloves or 1 drop clove essential oil

• 2 tablespoons fresh ginger or 1 teaspoon dried ginger or 1 drop ginger essential oil

• 1 cup raw honey (or date syrup* if making for children under the age of 1)

Instructions

1. Place dried elderberries (or fresh, ripe elderberries if you have them locally) and filtered water in a medium sauce pan.

2. Add ginger, cinnamon, and cloves.

3. Bring to a boil, reduce heat, and simmer on medium-low for 30-45 minuntes or until the liquid is reduced by almost half.

4. Remove pan fromheat and mash the elderberries to release any remaining juice.

5. Strain the mixture into a glass bowl using a strainer or cheesecloth and let cool.

6. Store in a cool, dark place or refrigerator. This mixture will take you all the way through flu season!

Notes

This simple elderberry syrup recipe below contains honey. Please substitute date syrup* for raw honey if making this syrup for children under the age of 1 year.

Any type of raw honey is fine for this recipe, but manuka honey that is UMF certified 10+ is the most potent type. And please - buy local!

Date Syrup Recipe*

For children of all ages!

Ingredients

• 1 cup medjool dates

• 1 1/2 cups water

• 1 tsp lemon juice (optional)

Instructions

1. Blend all the ingredients in a blender until smooth.