Elderberry Syrup

Recipe from herbalist, Danette Steele

Elderberry is a fantastic and tasty anti-viral tonic.

It is a non-specific antiviral used to prevent and treat viral infections such as colds and flu. Try taking elderberry daily as a preventative measure or, if sick with the flu or cold take every hr to reduce the symptoms and speed your recovery. You can drink the juice, enjoy the wine, eat the jam - just take it in some form every day as long as the berries have been cooked. Elderberry is a also an anti-oxidant.

Recipe:

100gms of dried whole Elderberries (about 1 cup)

1 litre of boiled water

300gms (or so) of raw unpasteurized local honey

Place the Elderberries in a 1 litre size glass canning jar. Add the just boiled water (let some of the steam die off), fill to the top of the jar and cover with a lid. Let the mixture steep on the counter for 8 hrs,. or overnight. After 8 hrs., place contents in a saucepan (stainless steel), on the stove and bring to a boil. As soon as it boils, lower the heat to simmer with the lid on for about 30 minutes. Then take off the heat and strain. When straining the mixture, press out as much juice as possible. Keep the juice and discard/compost the used Elderberries. Measure the trained liquid in a glass measuring cup. This is when you will add the honey. Honey preserves the syrup - less honey means a shorter fridge shelf life. If the juice is still quite warm add the honey and stir until the honey is fully melted. You do not want to over heat the honey so allow the juice to become warm, not steaming. Cool the juice and pour into clean/dry sterilized bottles or jars. Label the containers and store in the fridge. Will keep in the fridge for 3 months. Shake well before taking.

ADULT DOSE: Take 15-30 ml (1-2 tbsp) per day as prevention

CHILD DOSE: (Over 1 year old) take 2.5-5ml (1/2 - 1tsp) per day as prevention

NOTE: When sick, dose every hour or two up to 8 times per day

Elderberry Syrup can be taken as is, in hot water with lemon, in juice or with herbal tea.

Elderberries (Sambucus Nigra or Sambucus Canadensis)

The plant has a long history of use in the treatment of colds and flu. The elderberry has been rigorously tested and found to be consistently effective at destroying the flu virus as elderberries have proven capable of counteracting a wide variety of viral strains. The flu virus uses tiny spikes to puncture human cells where it dwells and replicates. The elderberry contains compounds that bind to these spikes rendering them ineffective.

NOTE: If you have the space, grow the Elder (Sambucus Nigra or Sambucus Canadensis) tree in your garden! it is called Black Elderberry and is indigenous to most of Canada, so it will thrive. In addition to providing tasty drinks and medicine for people - it's an awesome pollinator plant!

Aim xo