The elderberry plant is packed with nutrients that can help boost your immune system along with a plethora of other health benefits. It is a fantastic source of many necessary vitamins and minerals, including vitamin A, vitamin B6, vitamin C, folate, zinc, iron, potassium and more. They’re also a good source of dietary fiber. Because of their high source of antioxidants, they help fight free radicals in the body.
Health benefits of elderberries:
- Increase immunity
- Diabetes prevention
- Control blood pressure
- Avoid anemia
- Support seasonal allergies
- Bone health
- Reduce inflammation
- Improve heart health
- Digestive support
- Eye health
- Ease joint and muscle pain
- Balance excess oil on skin
A great natural solution
While there is certainly a place for conventional medicine, taking a natural approach first, when possible, is my preferred approach. It’s safer and easier on the body. Even with all the advances of modern medicine, there often aren’t a lot of options when it comes to viruses like the common cold or flu. However, nature has provided us with many powerful tools to support immune health and many of those tools are helpful when it comes to viruses.
Elderberries are a great example. They can help us avoid getting sick and also speed up recovery for those who are sick. By simply incorporating elderberries into your daily routine, you can support your health and wellness. Two of my favorite ways to do this are through elderberry syrup and elderberry tea. You can certainly purchase these products ready to go, but making your own allows you to ensure quality ingredients and is considerably more affordable.
Elderberry Syrup
Ingredients:
3 1/2 cups water
2/3 cup dried elderberries
2 Tbsp ginger (grated)
1 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp ground cloves
1 cup raw, unfiltered honey
Instructions:
Add water, elderberries, ginger, cinnamon, and cloves to a medium saucepan. Bring to a boil and then uncover, reduce heat, and simmer for about 30-45 minutes (until liquid has reduced by half).
Remove from heat and cool until lukewarm.
Mash the berries carefully using a spoon or other flat utensil. Pour through a strainer or cheesecloth into a glass container. Discard the berries.
When the liquid is no longer hot, add the honey and stir well. Store in fridge. See note below on honey.
Standard kid dose is ½ – 1 teaspoon
Standard adult dose is ½ – 1 Tablespoon
Honey: choosing raw, unfiltered, unheated honey is best to ensure it still contains all the nutrients (naturally-occurring enzymes, vitamins, and minerals). I love this one.
Cinnamon: you could also choose to place 1-2 cinnamon sticks in the liquid instead of 1 teaspoon of cinnamon. Additionally, you could opt for 1-2 drops of doTERRA Cinnamon Bark essential oil. If you choose to use the essential oil, add the oil to the honey and stir in at the end.
Elderberry Tea
Ingredients:
Instructions:
Put water and elderberries into a small saucepan.
Bring to a boil; reduce heat and simmer for 15-20 minutes.
Remove from heat and cool for 5 minutes.
Strain through a fine-mesh strainer into a glass or mug.
Stir in raw honey to taste. Choosing raw, unfiltered, unheated honey is best to ensure it still contains all the nutrients (naturally-occurring enzymes, vitamins, and minerals). I love this one.
Double or triple the recipe and store leftovers in the refrigerator.
