Homemade Elderberry Cough Syrup
Homemade elderberry cough syrup is the easiest way to keep colds and flu at bay. It's simple to make, delicious, and a wonderful tool to have in your home apothecary this time of year. You can make so many homeopathic recipes from this syrup so make a batch and enjoy!
Does elderberry syrup help if I have a cold?
Elderberry syrup recipe with honey is helpful in reducing coughing and cold symptoms. It can reduce inflammation and it may reduce the duration of common colds. Check out my post on elderberry gummy bears for extra support that will convince your kids to take it for maintenance. And you may also love these diy elderberry lollipops.
"Elder is referred to time and again as “the medicine chest for the country people,” alluding to its wide-ranging medicinal actions and ready availability. Elderflower and elderberry are both exceptional allies during colds, flu, and respiratory infections due to their diaphoretic and antiviral actions. Taken at onset, elderberry can reduce the duration of cold/flu because it interferes with virus replication, and strengthens cell walls to inhibit viral penetration (Hoffmann, 2003). Elderberry has been the subject of numerous research studies. In one placebo-controlled, double-blind study using Sambucol (a syrup containing elderberry juice), significant improvements in flu symptoms were seen in 93.3% of the elderberry treated group within 2 days."
– Elder Monograph from The Herbarium
Can You Take Elderberry Daily?
It's recommended that you take one teaspoon daily for maintenance. You can take one teaspoon up to four times a day if you're under the weather. Try some spiced elderberry tea for extra support that will convince your kids to take it for maintenance.
How Long Is Elderberry Syrup Good For?
This elderberry syrup recipe with honey will last up to three months in the fridge. You can also freeze it to make it last longer. I like to freeze some elderberry syrup cubes for easy thawing and use.
Do I need fresh elderberries?
No! I would actually recommend not foraging your own elderberries, unless you can ensure you have corrected identified the plants as American or European, as other elderberries may be toxic. Seeing as we are in Tunisia, I was not confident enough to harvest them myself for consumption and used this brand. We have some in our yard, and still, I used dried organic berries. Elderberries have some promising benefits, there are also some dangers associated with its consumption. unripe berries and seeds contain small amounts of lectins, which can cause tummy trouble if too many are eaten uncooked. So, we resort to making syrup to be safe!
Ingredients:
2 cups of dried elderberries
4 cups of water
optional:
2 tablespoons of fresh grated ginger
2 cinnamon sticks
How to make it:
Place your elderberries and water in a small saucepan. Add your optional ingredients if desired. Cover, and bring to a boil, and then reduce to a simmer for twenty minutes. Take off the heat, and strain berries out, reserving the liquid for your syrup. Once the liquid is cooled, add 1 to 1 ½ cup of honey. Store in an airtight container.
You can take one teaspoon up to four times a day for immunity support or use it in any number of recipes. Elderberry gummy bears, popsicles, smoothies, the possibilities are endless!
elderberry syrup
Ingredients
- 2 cups of dried elderberries
- 4 cups of water
- optional:
- 2 tablespoons of fresh grated ginger
- 2 cinnamon sticks
Instructions
- Place your elderberries and water in a small saucepan. Add your optional ingredients if desired. Cover, and bring to a boil, and then reduce to a simmer for twenty minutes. Take off the heat, and strain berries out, reserving the liquid for your syrup. Once the liquid is cooled, add 1 to 1 ½ cup of honey. Store in an airtight container.
