Elderberry Syrup (an all time favorite herbal remedy in our home)
2 cups dried elderberries
2 quarts water
Raw wildflower honey
Optional: Fresh ginger, cinnamon
Place elderberries in filtered water and bring to a boil. Simmer for 45 minutes to an hour or until reduced by half in volume. Mash the berries to help bring out all the goodness. Cool a little and strain elderberry infusion into clean quart jars, leaving 1/3 – 1/2 space to add the raw honey to taste. We make this syrup with local and raw honey and elderberry infusion. Mix well and keep refrigerated. Take 2-3 Tablespoons of this syrup alone or in a little hot water at the first sign of infection. Continue taking 3-4 times a day until well.
We usually make this syrup in October as we prepare for the flu season. The syrup lasts at least 3 months (I am not sure because we finish it within that time). We often make a smaller batch in late January to keep us well for another few months. You could consider adding an infused elderberry/flower brandy or vodka to this syrup to help preserve it for longer and to enjoy the added benefits.
This can be included as a flu prevention by taking 1 tablespoon daily alone or in hot water as a tea. We also drink it as a cordial by adding a dropperful of Herbal Elderflower/berry infused brandy (tincture) to the Elderberry syrup with a little hot water. This is a delicious and nurturing way to end a winter evening and I highly recommend including this ritual as a daily practice to be well during the cold winter months. Note: When making this syrup, be sure to do it when you can air out your kitchen (and not before you have guests coming to stay), as the elderberries have a distinct odor that some people do not appreciate.
All Seasons Wellness Herbal Tea Blend
We prepare a house blend of herbs for seasonal wellness. The all seasons wellness herbal blend that we drink daily includes a mixture of holy basil, milky oat tops, calendula and Elderberries. I store this wellness blend in a large glass jar, on the kitchen counter, so it is very accessible and easy to include in a daily practice of tea time.
Work with the herbs that you have and that grow around you; and experiment with combinations that you and your family enjoys. We usually start with a base blend of about three to four herbs at a time. We add or omit different herbs as needed to individual cups of tea, such as one teaspoon of sage or thyme to the seasonal blend to help with opening the nasal passages. For a sore throat we might add thyme and/or a decoction of licorice root. There are so many great herbal options to consider! (We also include slices of fresh ginger in our teas or as a lozenger when confronted with viral infections, upper respiratory discomfort and chills).
Basic Recipe for All Seasons Wellness Herbal Blend:
1 part dried Elderberries
1 part dried Holy Basil leaves
1 part dried Calendula flowers
1 part of Milky Oat Tops
Option #1 : Add or replace one part dried Thyme, Common Sage, Bee balm, or Hyssop (for sinus and throat care)
Option #2 : Add one part Echinacea root and flowers, (at onset of flu symptoms)
Option #3 : Add fresh slices of Ginger and Elderflower (especially if chilled and or feverish)
Make your herbal blend. Place 1 -2 Tablespoons of herbal blend per pint of just boiled filtered water. Cover and let herbal mixture steep for 30-45 minutes (depending on taste). Strain and drink 3-4 x /day if not feeling well or daily as a delicious seasonal tea for winter wellness at tea time.
Winter Wellness Elder Tea
1 part crushed Elderberries (dried)
1 part Elderflower
1 part Lemon balm or Peppermint
1/2 part Yarrow flowers and leaves
Fresh Ginger slices to taste
Optional: Include 1 part Echinacea flowers, stems and roots for extra support
Filtered boiling water
Raw, local honey to taste (if desired)
Mix herbs. Place one teaspoon to one tablespoon of herbal blend in a teacup. Pour boiling water over herbs. Cover and let herbal mixture steep for 30-45 minutes. Strain and drink 3-4 x /day, until fever breaks or until feeling well. I usually make a quart of this at a time and then store it in an insulated flask to drink throughout the day.
This tea can be enjoyed as a preventative. Drink once a day or as a way to help heal when a full on infection has set in. It is nice to drink hot with a spoonful of raw and local honey.
Drink this tea at the first sign of infection (when you feel that tingly, cold sensation deep in the bones or notice a scratchy throat or feel feverish). If possible, take a warm bath after drinking the tea and rest, bundled up in several blankets to promote some heat and break into a sweat. Continue to drink the tea 3-4 x /day until well. Additionally, enjoy some Elderberry syrup or Elder tincture of flowers and berries for more herbal support.
Elder and Pine Sinus Relief Tea
1/4-1/2 c Elderberries (dried) decocted in one pint of water
3-4 Tablespoons Marshmallow root (dried)
4-6 Tablespoons fresh Pine Needles (cut into small pieces)
Place Marshmallow root and Pine needles in a quart jar with cool filtered water for 6-8 hours, meanwhile decoct elderberries in boiling water and let simmer for 30-45 minutes. Strain mixtures and blend together. Warm when ready to serve.
This is a full flavored herbal tea, with the soothing/grounding qualities of the marshmallow root and the uplifting qualities of the pine. The elderberries seem to balance the other two herbs. Very nice!
Cold Care Herbal Remedy Tincture
1/2-1 part Yarrow flowers (and young aerial parts) tincture
2 parts Elder Blossom tincture
3 parts Elderberry tincture (or syrup)
2-3 parts Echinacea root (and aerial parts if possible) tincture
Optional: Substitute the fresh Ginger tea for the hot filtered water (if feverish)
Raw and local honey (for sore throat)
This is a powerful herbal remedy for sinus infections and colds and at the first sign of infection. Mix the tinctures by dropperfuls or teaspoons/Tablespoons in the proportion that is suggested to make your Cold Care Herbal Remedy Mixture. Mix 2-3 dropperfuls of Cold Care Herbal Remedy into a cup of very hot filtered water (or hot Ginger Tea). Breathe deeply, inhaling the steam. Sip and savor and invite the healing to take place. Continue to drink the tea 3-4 x /day until starting to feel better, hopefully in 24-48 hours. Discontinue with Yarrow after fever has broken. Discontinue with Echinacea after 5-6 days. The Elderberry syrup would be safe to continue taking as a preventative in 1 tablespoon a day.