Cold and flu season is already upon us, and the one thing I hate to see as a mom is my child in discomfort and pain from illness. That is why the one thing I make sure to have on hand at all times is homemade elderberry syrup. This natural herbal remedy is our first line of defense to prevent and fight colds and the flu. No more feeling helpless as a mom. Now you can have a great weapon against flu season in your home medicine cabinet.

You might also want to read What Every Mom Should Have in Her Natural Medicine Cabinet.

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What is elderberry syrup?

Elderberry syrup is an herbal remedy used to boost the immune system. It is made primarily from the elderberry (Sambucus nigra) by boiling the berry and straining and using the resulting liquid.

Elderberry syrup made a big show in the media right after H1N1 flu outbreak in 2009 when a study came out showing that the herbal remedy was indeed effective at inhibiting the spread of the virus. The study went on to say that the active anti-viral compounds in elderberry syrup "compare favorably" with Tamiflu. Wowza.

Health benefits of elderberry syrup

The anti-viral compounds in elderberries are effective at inhibiting viral replication. What this means is that the best way to take elderberry syrup for maximum health benefits is as a preventative or by dosing up at the first signs of illness.

Store-bought vs Homemade

The cost to buy a common elderberry syrup remedy in a health store is typically around $10-15 for 4-8oz, sometimes even more!

The cost to make a 16oz batch of homemade elderberry syrup is about $5-7 depending on whether I can find the ingredients on sale or not. I buy the Frontier elderberries in a 1-pound bag online, as well as the raw honey, cinnamon, and cloves. Most of the time, I can find a coupon to save even more than the already lower than retail prices.

Considering how easy this recipe is to make at home, I feel like it's a no-brainer...DIY!

However, If you run out of elderberries or simply don't have the time for whatever reason and need something in a pinch you can buy this remedy in most health food stores.

You can adjust the taste

One of the comments I hear most about this recipe is that kids find it to be a little "spicy". What they are referring to is the ginger. If your child isn't accustomed to eating foods that are flavored with similar spices, like ginger, then simply omit the ginger! You can also leave out the clove if you desire. Although ginger and clove do offer additional health benefits, the main star of the show is the elderberry and if the kids won't take the syrup because it's "spicy" then it's better to omit the ginger and clove so they will drink it up!

You can also increase the amount of honey if your child is accustomed to having much sweeter "medicines". My family finds the recipe as-is to be sweet enough, but we don't eat many sweet things, so our taste buds might be more sensitive to the sugar. You can always start with 1 cup of honey and slowly reduce to 1/2 cup as you and your family begin to reduce the amount of sugar you consume overall. It's amazing how your taste buds "wake-up" when we eat less sugar!

The super-duper easy anyone-can-make-this (even kids) recipe

Homemade Elderberry Syrup Recipe

Why buy the expensive store-bought elderberry remedies when you can easily make your own homemade elderberry syrup and save a ton of money? Use this natural remedy to prevent or fight off illness this cold and flu season. Kid-approved!

• 1 cup dried elderberries

• 1/2 tsp cloves or clove powder

• 1 tsp cinnamon or 1 cinnamon stick

• 2 Tbsp ginger (fresh or dried)

• 4 cups water

• 1/2 cup raw honey

1. Add elderberries, clove, cinnamon, ginger, and water to a pot.

   

2. Bring to a boil then reduce to a simmer for 45-60 minutes, stirring occasionally. The liquid should reduce by about half. 

3. Remove from the heat and let cool for about 10 minutes. 

4. Pour the liquid through a strainer into a large glass bowl or container. Press the cooked berries against the strainer with a broad flat spoon to squeeze out all the remaining liquid. You can discard the berries when done. 

   

5. Add the honey to the liquid, stirring until it is completely dissolved. Note: if the liquid is still very hot let it sit another 10 minutes. You don't want to add raw honey to very hot liquids as it will destroy some of the health benefits. 

6. After the honey is completely mixed into the elderberry liquid, pour into a glass jar with a good seal. A funnel helps. The recipe yields about 2 cups so make sure to use a jar that holds at least 16oz. 

   

7. Store in fridge for up to 3 weeks. You can also freeze some syrup if you made a large batch. 

8. Give yourself a pat on the back! You just made elderberry syrup and saved a buttload of money! 

If you have fresh or frozen elderberries just double the amount of dried elderberries written in the recipe!

You can also use ground elderberries (although not as common to find), simply use half the amount of dried elderberries written in the recipe.

Dosage

The general recommendation from most herbalists and alternative health care practitioners for preventative or daily use is:

Children 1/2 - 1 tsp

Adults 1/2 - 1 Tbsp

If the cold or flu does hit your household then instead of once a day, take the recommended dosage every 2-3 hours or until symptoms disappear.

Is elderberry syrup safe for babies?

First of all, honey should not be given to babies 1-year-old or younger. You could use an alternative sweetener such as pure maple syrup or organic blackstrap molasses.

Second, I am not a doctor, and after searching the internet for studies or recommendations from pediatricians I came up short. I did find one pediatrician recommending an elderberry glycerate for babies 6 months and older (I'm assuming this is due to the honey in most recipes). I'm sure there are many more pediatricians recommending elderberry syrup for babies but they aren't saying it on the internet in the first few pages of a Google search!

Like always, I recommend you ask your own pediatrician and do your own research before making an educated decision for your children.

Are there other ways to consume elderberry syrup?

Sure! why not drizzle some on waffles or pancakes or use to flavor some plain yogurt?

What to do now

Step 1 - Go buy your elderberries / buy on Amazon (and other ingredients if necessary). You might also want some of these glass jars for storage.

Step 2 - Make the elderberry syrup by following this recipe.

Step 3 - Take the elderberry syrup as a preventative so you don't get sick! Or take extra doses if you are already sick.

Step 4 - High five someone who knows how hard it is to be a mom during cold and flu season. (Then give them this recipe!) You got this cold and flu season covered now.

I hope you and your family find this DIY homemade elderberry recipe as helpful as ours. It truly is something that I think every parent should have on hand. Since incorporating homemade elderberry syrup into our family's daily routine, we have definitely stayed healthier through cold and flu season.

Health & Happiness,

Leah

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