Supercharge Your Homemade Elderberry Syrup

You know I’m a big fan of elderberries. We’ve talked about elderberries in the past. And they grow wild here in NEPA, so that’s a huge plus. But, even if they don’t grow in your area, you can purchase them dried pretty reasonably right here.

Elderberry Syrup is well known for its ability to boost the immune system and to fight coughs, colds, and flu. I make it regularly and Mike and I take a tablespoon (or so) of it most every day, especially during the winter.

Many recipes simmer the berries with cinnamon sticks, cloves, and ginger to add additional cold-fighting properties and make it taste even more yummy. These are fantastic and I always add them as well.

Supercharge Your Elderberry Syrup

I love to forage and I’ve begun to wonder what other wild-foraged treasures could be added to my elderberry syrup to make it even more powerful – to supercharge it so to speak! While most of my additions may be foraged, they can also be purchased dried if they are not available in your area.

Rose hips – high in both vitamins C and A, rose hips are an immune booster and can help to prevent infections from both bacteria and viruses. If you can’t forage rose hips, purchase them here.

And here’s a great recipe, if you want to make just rose hip syrup.

Juniper berries – have antiviral properties and have been used to treat bronchitis. If you can’t forage juniper berries, purchase them here.

Elderflower – like the elderberry, elderflower has antiviral and antibacterial properties and has commonly been used for colds and flu, sinus infections, and other respiratory issues. If you can’t forage elderflower, purchase it here.

Barberry – Berberine, the active ingredient in barberries has been shown to inhibit the growth of bacteria and may improve the function of the immune system. It has traditionally been used to treat sore throat, nasal congestion, sinusitis, and bronchitis. The root is effective as well. If you can’t forage barberries, purchase them here, or the root here.

Be sure to also visit my post Natural Home Remedies for Your Medicine Cabinet

and Elderberry and Calendula Fire Cider.

More Than Weeds

 A Foraging eCourse for Beginners

Are you interested in foraging, but a bit hesitant because you don’t trust your own abilities? I created a mini eCourse just for you. In More Than Weeds: 5 Common Plants to Forage for Food and Medicine you’ll learn that identifying plants is all in the details.

Using common plants with which may be someone familiar you’ll learn beginner botany skills that you will be able to use as you move forward. You’ll gain confidence to use these plants for your family in food and safe, home remedies. Get started now!

Supercharged Homemade Elderberry Syrup

Add other wild-foraged or purchased herbs to your homemade elderberry syrup to make it even more effective.

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Cook Time: 1 hour hour

Ingredients

• 2 cups fresh or frozen elderberries or 1 cup dried
• 2 cups water
• 1 inch piece of fresh ginger chopped
• 1 – 2 cinnamon sticks
• 5 – 6 whole cloves
• 1 teaspoon rose hips, barberries, juniper berries, dried elderflower any or all of these, optional
• 1 cup raw honey

Instructions

• Combine all but the raw honey in a pot and bring to a boil.
• Simmer for about an hour. Remove from heat and mash the berries.
• Remove the berries and other ingredients by straining. Cool to room temperature.
• Add the raw honey and stir until dissolved. Be sure to not add the honey while the decoction is still hot so as not to destroy the enzymes present in the raw honey.
• Refrigerate. Take 1 tablespoon per day to support your immune system.

elderberry Source, rose hips Source, juniper berries Source, elderflower Source, barberry Source