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Elderberry Syrup - Immune Booster Recipe

By Michelle Luttrell

As a nurse of 20 years, I have been caring for others in various ways. I have been exposed to eastern and western medicine practices, both of which have a place in healthcare. God has provided humanity with treatment and cures through the plants, fungi, and animals he made during the 6 days of Creation. Many pharmaceuticals originated from these sources.

Our family has been taking elderberry syrup during the high viral season since 2018. We have seen a drastic reduction in colds and sickness in our home. Having young children, this has been such a blessing not to have the kids as sick as often. Note that we still get a typical cold on occasion, they have not been as significant nor have lasted near as long once we added this to our daily regimen. I began making elderberry syrup at home to cut down on the cost. Elderberry syrup, bought over the counter, is quite pricey and I personally don't think it tastes as good. An organic elderberry syrup runs around $13.45 for 30 ml. We each take about 30 ml daily, so the cost adds up rather quickly. Another non-organic brand of elderberry syrup is around $21 for 8 oz. This is still too much for us to spend, especially when it is so easy and cheaper to make it ourselves and I know what has been put into it. I have experimented with various recipes to find the one that works best for our family and would like to share it with you.


Elderberries have been well known for having a tremendous impact to improve our bodies immune response. There are many compounds beneficial to the human body. The composition of the elderberry depends on a variety of factors. As with all foods the more natural and organic the better. The effects of elderberry are beneficial for the following:

  • antioxidant activity

  • cardiovascular benefits

  • balance of glycemic index to assist in obesity and diabetes

  • antiviral, antibacterial, and anti fungal activity

  • antitumor activity

  • protection against UV radiation

  • laxative and diuretic activity

If you would like to dive deeper into the benefits and studies on elderberries you can go to this link for further study. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1756464614002400?via%3Dihub


RECIPE

  • 3/4 cup dried elderberries

  • 3 cups of filtered water

  • 1 tsp dried cinnamon or 1 cinnamon stick

  • 1 tsp dried cloves or 4 whole cloves or 1 drop of clove essential oil

  • 1/2-1 inch peeled fresh ginger or 1 tsp dried ginger or 1 drop of ginger essential oil

  • 1 cup of raw honey (I use raw unfiltered local)


INSTRUCTIONS

  • In a medium to large pot, bring elderberries, water, cinnamon, cloves, and ginger to a boil.

  • Reduce heat, cover, and let simmer for about 30-40 minutes.

  • Allow the liquid to cool, then drain the liquid using a mesh strainer or cheese cloth.

  • Squeeze or press all of the liquid out of the berries.

  • Add honey and mix well.

  • Store in an airtight glass container in the refrigerator. Best if used within 30 days to get the most benefits out of your syrup.

If you have made this recipe, we would love to hear from you. Let us know what you think. I am also interested in different spices that others add to enhance the flavor and benefits of this syrup.