Written by Krista Poulton, RHT – Medical Herbalist

To view entire article with recipe, directions and photos, please visit: http://kristadawnpoulton.com/2017/01/spiced-elderberry-syrup/

This Elderberry Syrup can keep you tip top over the flu season with its Anti-viral and Immune-Boosting abilities RIGHT from your own backyard!  (or neighbours if you ask nicely!)

Now that Summer is coming to an end are YOU prepared for the upcoming flu season?

NOT only Echinacea can provide you with powerful flu and cold season fighting abilities – in fact in some studies Elderberries have been shown to be more effective than Echinacea! “The efficacy of Echinacea sp. is dubious based on the identified studies. Over 2000 persons were given the treatment, but equal amounts of studies of good quality found positive and negative results. All three clinical trials of Elderberry concluded that it is effective against influenza” (1)

Elderberries are from the Honeysuckle family and many parts of this tree can be used medicinally including the berries and the flowers – the most common – as well as the leaves and the bark in traditional uses.

The Berries are Anti-Viral and Nutritive – high in Vitamin C and Bioflavonoids making them an IDEAL medicine for Colds and Flus.  The Anti-Viral action is specific to Herbal Medicine – Pharmaceuticals can’t do this action SO if you have a flu and you go to the doctor the only suggestion they will give you is bed-rest…  and NO, antibiotics do not work on viral infections – it’s a whole different ball-game!

Spiced Elderberry Syrup Recipe:

Alright here is the magical recipe! – AND I have to admit I am notoriously bad at following recipes so I suggest that if you feel comfortable you can fiddle with the recipe with different spices, amount of water and honey!

2 cups dried elderberries (I used fresh – so I decreased the amount of water I used)
1 large piece of fresh ginger
4 whole cinnamon sticks
18 whole cloves
2-4 nutmegs
13 cups of water (I decreased by 1/3)
4 cups raw honey

*You can use powder for all the spices above*

Add all the ingredients EXCEPT the honey into a large pot – let simmer for a couple of hours and reduce down (the less water you add the thicker your syrup will be – and more potent).  Strain the elderberries & spice bits out of the juice (you can use cheese cloth to make it more clear if you wish) and add the honey when the juice is a bit cooler – to keep the honey RAW.  Put it in your jar of choice – label it – and keep it refrigerated. Enjoy!

Yields: About 12 cups of yummy Spiced Elderberry Syrup.

Elder has been shown to be effective against 10 STRAINS of the influenza virus – the virus that is the most common ‘Flu’ virus.  It also has shown to reduce the duration of flu symptoms to 3-4 days. (2), (3)

The only contraindication is taking TOO much Elderberry – exceeding the dosage that I recommend by a LOT can cause nausea & diarrhea. Also eating RAW Elderberries can cause an upset tummy.

To view entire article with recipe, directions and photos, please visit: http://kristadawnpoulton.com/2017/01/spiced-elderberry-syrup/