Wednesday, February 25, 2009

Homemade Elderberry Syrup (Simple Version)

Ok! I'm going to make this quick. Making simple, no-nonsense Elderberry Syrup, that can be used as much as you want, for yourself, or child, even a one year old (use no honey for under a year old) for coughing, and daily immune system support.

Take a couple handfulls of dried Elderberries and put them into a saucepan with around two cups of water. Put on simmer, on lowest heat. If using a gas stove, you may want to use the lowest setting in your oven instead.
Simmer for around an hour and a half.


Strain the "juice" into a bowl.



I try to push through any extra juice I can. I'm frugal!

Here is the Elderberry "juice", or extract, and the berries. You can use the used up berries in your houseplants, compost, or tea!




Pour the extract back into your saucepan, on lowest setting....


Pour your RAW honey into saucepan, about a 1/4 cup. Raw honey is suggested for it's healing qualities, but if you only have pasturized, well, ANY honey is better than none I suppose!
You can also add a few garlic cloves to your first steps in simmering the berries, for antibacterial effects. I have done this with great success for a cough, and definately for good daily immune support! This syrup taken in a couple dropperfulls a few or more times daily, can help sickness leave faster, and help the body heal better. Of course, the faster results are found along with taking a couple thousand mgs of vitamin c every couple to few hours for more than 24 hours, or until better. Children, around 300 mgs taken every few hours for more than 24 hours, or until better. My boy's LOVE drinking their Elderberry extract!



This is the kind of dropper I use for the extract....

You can keep your syrup in a jar, in the fridge for more than a month





5 comments:

Garden State Kate said...

I always learn so much from you!!
Thanks!!

Unknown said...

Your welcome, Kate! I learn from you, too! I just love that making your own "medicine" can be so simple, but some don't know it! We have to share the simple recipes!

Anonymous said...

Cass,
We have elderberries growing like weeds out here, several on our property. I'd be happy to dry some for you and send them to you if you'd like. They just end up dying on the bushes unless the birds get them cause people just don't know what they've got!!

We also have oodles of nettle I can dry and send you, or I can just put em in a paper bag and send them to you semi-fresh for juicing. Last year I kicked myself for not harvesting more!

Thanks for the process of elderberry syrup in pictures, it makes it easier to follow!

Unknown said...

Jennifer, that is SO SWEET of you! Don't go through too much trouble, but I wouldn't say no! I've been getting in to doing short "tutorials" lately! I have a healing herbal bath one on this blog, and a few others now. More on the way! Spreading bit's of do-it-yourself!
Do you have a blog here? I'd love to see it!

Anonymous said...

I used to have a couple blogs, but then it was taking up too much time. I'm thinking of starting another one with Wordpress...only about the development of this land into a biodynamic mini-farm and the changes we make to our house.

It won't be any trouble at all (elderberries) and when they start fruiting I'll let you know so I can get your address at your new place! I'll look into how to dry the berries so they retain their properties.

It's so great that you're doing all this!! Too bad we didn't stay in touch through the years, but glad we're back in touch!