DIY Elderberry Syrup

It's time for colds and all the other nasty viruses that are spread around during this time of year. I have to admit, being in New Jersey and having 70 degree weather in the middle of October is beautiful, BUT in the back of my mind all I think about it tomorrow we are going to wake up and it is going to be cold again. As much as I love this time of year, I dislike it because everyone is getting sick.

So, what is a good way to prevent your body from catching all of these little bugs, OR if you have already caught a bug, how can you help your body recover quickly? Elderberry syrup is my go to!

What are Elderberries?

Elderberries are small, dark berries (they resemble blueberries) that grow on trees throughout Europe and North America. They have been used for hundreds of years as a treatment for the flu, alleviating allergies, chronic fatigue, and boosting respiratory and immune system.

The berry is often consumed as a syrup or lozenge, tea, capsules, and oral drops. Scientists have isolated the active compound in the elderberry, which is called Antivirin. Antivirin is found in proteins of the black elderberry. This compound prevents the virus from invading membranes of the healthy cells. 

The main flavonoids present in elderberries are the anthocyanins cyanidin 3-glucoside and cyanidin 3-sambubioside,  and are detectable in plasma after oral intake of elderberry extract. A possible mechanism of action of elderberry extract in the treatment of influenza is that the flavonoids stimulate the immune system by enhancing production of cytokines by monocytes.
In addition, elderberry has been shown to inhibit the  haemagglutination of the influenza virus and thus prevent the adhesion of the virus to the cell receptors.  Anthocyanins also have an antiinflammatory effect comparable to that of acetylsalicylic acid;  this could explain the pronounced effect on aches, pain and fever seen in the group treated with elderberry syrup. 

"With a cold, flu, or any other virus, drugs only have the ability to mask or treat symptoms, but they cannot eliminate the virus itself. Only the immune system can do that. Viruses, which are very small infectious agents that replicate inside the body, only cause illness in the first place if the immune system fails to do it's job.

The immune system is constantly keeping threats at bay. Most people don't realize that their body is very frequently hosting viruses, which don't result in illnesses. This is because the immune system is able to neutralize these viruses before they can replicate to the point where they start causing symptoms. Thus, the most effective way to avoid illnesses caused by viruses, or any other infectious agent for that matter, is to maintain a strong immune system." from Natural News.

Where can you purchase Elderberries?

Make sure that when purchasing your Elderberries, they are cooked before you eat them. Uncooked elderberries can be poisonous. Elderberries can be purchased online through many different companies. The company that I use to purchase my Elderberries is called Mountain Rose Herbs. Mountain Rose Herbs has many different herbs and powders for a good price. I like their products because they use the least amount of pesticides and chemicals on all of their products. 

How to make Elderberry Syrup

Ingredients

2/3 cup of Dried Elderberry

1 Cinnamon Stick

1 Star Anise

1/2 tsp Cloves

2 tbsp fresh Ginger

1 cup honey

3 1/2 cups of Water

Instructions

1. Cut up fresh ginger into small pieces.
2. Combine all ingredients in large pot (except the honey)
3. Simmer for about 40-50 minutes
4. Strain mixture through a cheesecloth or other strainer.
5. After the mixture cools, add the honey
6. Voila! Enjoy.

Label your container with the date that you made your Elderberry Syrup. This could stay stored in the refrigerator for 2 months. Whenever feeling sick take a tbsp daily, for children I would give them a tsp. If feeling very sick, take one in the morning and one at night.

Health Benefits of other Ingredients

Cinnamon: Cinnamon as a superpower used to treat things such as colds, indigestion and cramps and also believed to improve energy, vitality and circulation, can lower cholesterol and blood sugar, has antifungal properties, kills candida, anti clotting effects on blood, relieves arthritis pain, and many other benefits here.

Ginger: helps with inflammation, muscle pain, asthma symptoms, high blood pressure, migranes, other benefits here

Honey: aids with weight loss, cough suppressant, energy source, antifungal, antioxidants, other benefits here 

Cloves: benefits found here

Star Anise: antifungal, other benefits found here

Other tips to help your immune system stay strong:

1. Drink plenty of water. A majority of people today are dehydrated. Our bodies are made mostly of water, keep it nourished so it can perform properly.
2. Avoid processed foods. Processed foods have a bunch of chemicals and other toxins added in so they can taste and look good. These are unnatural and very harmful to our bodies. Avoid processed foods as much as you can.
3. Eat fruits and vegetables. Fruits and vegetables are living things that our bodies can process naturally. Not only that, but they are filled with vitamins and minerals that our bodies need to strive and survive.
4. Probiotics. Probiotics are "good" bacteria. Most of our immune system is located in our digestive track. We have alot of "bad" bacteria deposited throughout the years from eating processed foods, antibiotics, and there are other sources. Probiotics provide our bodies and most importantly, our immune system with the bacteria that is necessary for our bodies to function properly and fight off diseases and illness. 
5. Rest! If you are feeling down, the best thing to do is rest. We live in a high stress environment where we are always worried about something. Work, kids, homework, dinner time, bills, extracurricular activities, maintaing our own health, and you name it - the list goes on. It's good to hit the reset button sometimes and take some time to rest. This could mean something different for everyone (yoga, laying on the couch in your PJs watching re-runs, or actually sleeping). Whatever you consider rest to be, make sure you make that as important as any other of your errands that you invest so much time into.

Legal Disclaimer

I am not a doctor, nurse, or licensed health care practitioner. This post is for educational purposes only, and is based upon my personal experience. Your experience may be different. I encourage everyone to do their own research and make the best decision based upon your intuition and research. This post is not meant to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Always consult your doctor before beginning any new kind of vitamin, diet, herbal, or exercise regime.

Peace and Love!
Coach Natalia <3