Thankfully, there are some delicious ways to support your immune system and help to alleviate colds and flu. Think elderberry syrup, or herbal infused honey.
This isn’t medicine, y’all, this is real food that nourishes your body and helps it to fight colds and flu and stay healthy (and it’s yummy on ice cream, too).
And with herbal honey you’re also getting the anti-bacterial properties of the raw honey.
Herbal infused honey couldn’t be easier to make. I use elderberries we’ve foraged and dehydrated. Or you can purchase dried wildcrafted elderberries here.
The method for making elderberry infused honey, or any other herbal infused honey is exactly the same.
Herbal Infused Honey
Before we get to the simple recipe for elderberry honey, here are a few other ideas for making herbal infused honey:
If you’re having trouble sleeping, infuse your honey with hops or lavender.
For a natural antihistamine, use dried pine needles.
To help fight inflammation, use dried turmeric root.
To soothe a cough, try sage.
Using Dehydrated Elderberries in Honey

Ingredients
- 1/3 cup dried elderberries or whatever dried herbs you'd like to use
- 1 cinnamon stick optional
- 2/3 cups raw honey
Instructions
- Place the elderberries and the cinnamon stick in a 1 cup mason jar.
- Pour the raw honey over the berries and cinnamon. Stir together.
- Place the lid tightly on the jar and allow the jar to sit in a warm spot for at least a week. Turn the jar over once a day.
- Place your jar in hot water (not over 110°) to soften the honey, and then strain to remove the elderberries and cinnamon. Enjoy over ice cream, in tea, or even in salad dressing.
Since dehydrated elderberries are not cooked, some question whether it is safe to use them in this manner. There is even a bit of controversy over this question in the herbal world.
The elderberry toxins are in the stems and seeds, so it is essential to remove all stems before dehydrating your berries, and of course the berries are strained out before consuming the honey, so no seeds are consumed.
Many herbalists have used elderberries for years in this manner, but if you are concerned, then certainly only use your berries in a way that they are cooked.
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