Last updated on . Originally posted on By Maryea / 494 Comments
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Use this homemade Elderberry Syrup recipe to keep your family healthy all year round!
I started using elderberry syrup when my daughter Meghan was a toddler. Elderberries are rich with health benefits, including:
Boost the immune system
Fight and protect against bacterial infections
Fight and protect against viral infections
Reduce the symptoms and duration of a cold or the flu
helps clear sinus infections
hasnatural diuretic effects and promotes bowel movements
anti-inflammatory properties
anti-carcinogenic properties
eases symptoms of allergies
high in antioxidants
high in vitamin A, which makes it great for healthy skin
Clearly elderberry is a powerful plant! Through the years I’ve tried to be consistent in having our whole family take elderberry syrup, especially during the cold and flu season. The problem? Elderberry syrup is expensive!
I would much rather buy a product than have to make it. I’m a busy mama and adding one more thing to my plate can cause me to drop and break the whole plate. Nobody wants to see that.
However. When I discover I can make something for significantly cheaper at home and it’s really not that difficult, I make room on my plate. I might have to take something else off the plate, but I make room.
This homemade elderberry syrup recipe is really easy and worth the effort for the money saved. One of my lovely readers actually first shared the recipe she uses for homemade elderberry syrup with me last year when I was lamenting about the cost of buying the syrup.
Can I take a minute to tell you how much I love this community of readers? You guys are awesome and I love that we can help each other!
I use the basics of that recipe, but changed it slightly. I use dried cinnamon rather than a cinnamon stick and instead of using dried ginger and whole cloves, I use ginger and clove essential oils. I note in the recipe below that you can use either.
The whole process is easy and can be done while doing other household chores. You start by simmering some dried elderberries with water and spices for about 45 minutes. That’s when you can be doing other things. No need to hover over the pot here.
Make sure you squeeze all the liquid out of the berries so you aren’t wasting any. The back of a wooden spoon should do the trick.
Make sure the liquid is cooled, and then you can add your raw honey. Raw honey sweetens the syrup so kids will take it easily, but also has its own medicinal benefits. Win-win!
Then you store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator and it will last for about two months. For adults, take 1 tablespoon daily and for children, 1 teaspoon daily. If you or your children are experiencing sickness or feel something coming on, that dose should be repeated four times daily.
Here’s a video to show you how easy it is to make homemade elderberry syrup at home!
This homemade elderberry syrup can be made in less than an hour and will keep your family healthy all year long. It’s the best natural immune booster you can use.
Homemade elderberry syrup stored in a glass jar generally lasts 2-3 weeks if the pH is not below 4.2. However, its shelf life can be extended anywhere from 3 to 6 months if you've added an acidifier like lemon juice, citric acid, malic acid, or the liken and keep it in the “way back” of the refrigerator.
By comparison, my homemade syrup is about a quarter of the price of over-the-counter options. The other draw back of over-the-counter versions is the sweetener, usually it's glucose. My recipe uses raw honey as a sweetener, which has so many healing properties.
Sambucol Elderberry Syrup and Black Elderberry Gummies are an easy way to support your immune system* year-round. The recommended doses for daily immune support* is: Adults and kids age 4 and up: 2 tsp (10 ml) per day.
Although there is no specific time of day to take elderberry, you'll maximize its benefits by using it consistently on a regular basis. You can choose whether to use it morning, afternoon or evening. It may be best to use elderberry for short periods of time to support healthy immune function, and then take a break.
It's a good idea to always have a bottle on hand throughout the year to help with immunity, allergies, colds, and flu. Like any other fruit juice it will start to ferment if left out for too long. Elderberry syrup, when stored in a glass jar in the fridge, will stay good for 3 months.
When does it expire? We date our syrup 4 months from our kitchen make date, although it typically lasts a few months longer, especially if unopened. Our elderberry syrup is stamped with a best by date sticker on the bottom of the jar.
The most popular variety used for syrups is Sambucus nigra, which is native to Europe. The berries on these trees are typically dark purple and tart in taste.
Commercial elderberry syrups are pricey because of pasteurization. Although it is a standard practice in many manufacturing processes, it kills the healthy properties of honey (if the honey was even added), large amounts of low-quality sweeteners, Low amounts of actual elderberries, and often cheap additives.
The most potent form of elderberry is raw elderberry syrup (Dr. Mobley suggests syrup made with organic, fresh-pressed elderberries). The syrup is absorbed most quickly by the body—whereas if you take elderberry gummies, capsules, lozenges, or teas, they're less potent and/or take longer for the body to digest.
To neutralize toxins, specifically cyanide-inducing glycosides, heat treatment is a must. Boiling elderberries for at least 30 minutes is the go-to method. This ensures the destruction of harmful compounds. Steaming or baking can also do the trick, as long as the berries reach a high enough temperature.
Cardiovascular disease risk biomarkers and liver and kidney function are not altered in postmenopausal women after ingesting an elderberry extract rich in anthocyanins for 12 weeks.
Elderberry is possibly unsafe when uncooked leaves, stems, or fruit are consumed. The elderberry plant contains a chemical that produces cyanide in the leaves or other plant parts and in the unripe green fruit. This can cause nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea, or more serious side effects if consumed in large quantities.
Elderberries offer excellent nutrition that contains antioxidants and vitamin C, which can boost the immune system among other benefits. Yes, you can take elderberry supplements daily, even three to four times a day. However, you should not take more than the recommended daily dose.
Elderberry supplements seem to have few risks when used daily for up to five days. The safety of its long-term use is unknown. Risks. Never eat or drink any product made from raw elderberry fruit, flowers, or leaves.
Elderberry syrup is known as a powerful cold preventative and remedy. Just one cup of berries contains about 58% of the recommended daily value of vitamin C. It's also a great source of antioxidants — which may protect your cells from damage and help prevent heart disease and cancer.
Elderberry can generally be consumed at any time of day—in the morning, at night, or in between. Since it's a food itself, you could take Elderberry on an empty stomach if it seems to work for you. It can also be taken with food.
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