Flu season is coming at us and I am not going down this year or hiding like a hermit like I did last year. In my defense I was pregnant and maxed out between or household being 2 full-time parents, homeschooling boys ages 3-8 and like I said, pregnant also. NO WAY was I going to add the flu - and even without all that - no one wants the flu! We did end up with a fair share of plagues tho. Finally, my mother in law dropped off some elderberries she ordered from Amazon, and raw honey as a push to say “get on board with this and heal my son and grand kids!”. I had the rest of the ingredients and decided to hop on the elderberry syrup making train with my sister in laws *choo choo*.
Now if you’re not familiar with Elderberry syrup, then let's acquaint you with this magical liquid.
The dried berries of the Sambucus Nigra plant are native to Europe and have historically been known to be naturally high in immune-boosting compounds that are specifically shown to help beat the cold and flu more quickly. MUSIC to a mommas ears. I HATE helplessly standing by while my little nugget coughs their head off all night in the next room, but taking a dose of elderberry syrup as a preventative daily has shown to avoid illness altogether and when increasing the dosage at the onset of illness, will significantly reduce the recovery period in most cases!
If you feel you have been struck with the flu please use your judgment to seek treatment.
According to Healthy Living Magazine, “Dr. Madeleine Mumcuoglu, of Hadassah-Hebrew University in Israel found that elderberry disarms the enzyme viruses use to penetrate healthy cells in the lining of the nose and throat. Taken before infection, it prevents infection. Taken after infection, it prevents spread of the virus through the respiratory tract. In a clinical trial, 20% of study subjects reported significant improvement within 24 hours, 70% by 48 hours, and 90% claimed complete cure in three days. In contrast, subjects receiving the placebo required 6 days to recover.” Furthermore, on the sign me up also train :
In a study in the Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, scientists treated both children and adults who developed type B influenza while living on a kibbutz in Israel.
Of 27 patients in this double-blind study— children were given two tablespoons daily and adults four of Sambucol, a commercial elderberry extract—others placebo. (Much of the clinical trial research has used the Sambucol preparation.) It took the control group six days to recover but those given the elderberry overcame their symptoms in only 48 hours.
You can certainly purchase the syrup in the store if you prefer, but be prepared to spend a lot more than the cost to make it. Here is a good option should you choose to go that route.
This is syrup which has been adapted from Wellness Mama is made using the following FIVE ingredients.
Dried elderberries for the reasons listed above.
Raw unfiltered (hopefully local) honey (honey is not recommended for babies under 1-2 years old) for its richness in antioxidants and proof that it is a cough suppressant and antimicrobial properties according to this site. However, if you wish or need to substitute for honey, coconut sugar or maple syrup can be used as an alternative sweetener. If you choose to omit the sweetener, you’ll create elderberry juice, which will spoil much more quickly in the fridge so it may be best to freeze in an ice cube tray and defrost as needed.
Ginger which is an anti-inflammatory and will help to relieve a sore throat quickly, and can also kill rhinoviruses, which cause colds in the first place
Cinnamon which after chemical profiling of cinnamon's components, their biological activities including antimicrobial, antiviral, antioxidant, antitumor, antihypertension, antilipemic, antidiabetes, gastroprotective and immunomodulatory were reported by many investigators according to this analysis of cinnamon that was published in Journal of Traditional and Complementary Medicine.
Cloves which are known to be antifungal, antibacterial, antiseptic and analgesic as well as with antioxidants.
Elderberry Syrup for Immune Support
Prep Time: 1 hour 5 minutes; inactive 1 hour
Yield: 4 cups
Ingredients
2/3 cup dried black elderberries
3½ cups water
1½ TBSP ginger root, either dried or fresh
1 tsp cinnamon
½ tsp cloves, either dried or fresh
1 cup raw, unfiltered honey
Directions
Combine water elderberries, ginger, cinnamon, and cloves in a medium saucepan.
Bring to a boil and reduce the liquid to half by covering and simmering for about an hour
Remove from heat and let cool until it is cool enough to be handled.
Using a muddler or spoon, mash the berries.
Pour the liquid through a strainer into a bowl.
Discard the elderberries and let the liquid cool to lukewarm.
When it is no longer hot, add the honey and stir well.
When the honey and elderberry juice is well combined, pour the syrup into a glass bottle with a stopper lid OR a quarts sized Mason jar.
Store in the fridge for about 2-3 weeks, or for a few months if “canned” when hot and creating a seal.
Standard preventative, immune boosting dose is taken on Weekdays and skipping weekends. Recommended dose is ½ - 1 tsp for children and ½ - 1 tablespoon for adults.
If the flu or an ailment does strike many recommend increasing the dosage to taking 2-3 times in a day until recovered.
Let me know in the comments below how yours made out!
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