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Boost Your Immune System with This Simple, Homemade Elderberry Syrup
I’ve tried many home remedies to treat illnesses over the years. However, elderberry syrup has been the most effective natural treatment for colds and flu that I’ve found.
(Jump to the recipe for elderberry syrup.)Our Experience With Elderberry Syrup
I used to get sinus infections annually that would require a trip to the doctor and a round of antibiotics. That is, until I started making elderberry syrup.
Amazingly, I haven’t visited my doctor for an upper respiratory infection since we started taking this immune-boosting syrup 8 years ago.
This syrup drastically reduces the severity and duration of colds and flu. This is not a medical claim, instead, I’m speaking only from my family’s personal experience using it. We notice a marked difference in how well we fight off sicknesses when we are out of elderberries. It takes longer and we get sicker without it.
Clinical Studies on Elderberry Syrup
Elderberries have been used therapeutically for hundreds of years as a treatment for colds and flu. While there hasn’t been extensive scientific research, there are some clinical studies that support the claims that elderberries boost the immune system and contain antiviral properties.
According to one study, 60 patients with symptoms of the flu received 15 ml of either elderberry syrup or a placebo syrup 4 times a day for 5 days. The flu symptoms were gone an average of 4 days earlier in the group that took the elderberry syrup.
Another study, done in 2019 by researchers at the University of Sydney, determined that elderberries block viruses from attaching to and entering human cells. In addition, the study showed that elderberry also boosts the immune system by releasing cytokines, which are compounds that stimulate communication between immune cells.
Only Consume Elderberries Cooked
It’s important to know that the uncooked berries are poisonous. The leaves, branches, berries, and flowers contain toxic compounds, which may cause illness including nausea and vomiting if ingested.
Uncooked berries may cause unwanted symptoms, but ripe, cooked berries are edible. The berries are the part of the plant used to make elderberry syrup.
Simple Elderberry Syrup
Ingredients
- 3/4 cup whole dried elderberries
- 3 1/2 cups water
- honey to taste
Instructions
- Bring water and berries to a boil in a saucepan.
- Reduce heat to low and cover with a tight-fitting lid. Simmer for 45 minutes.
- Let it cool. Then, strain out the berries using a wire mesh strainer.
- Add honey to desired sweetness.
- Transfer to a glass container and store in the refrigerator for up to two weeks.
Notes
Where Do You Buy Elderberries?
We used a store-bought syrup when we first started taking elderberry syrup, but it’s less expensive if you make it yourself. I purchase the 1-pound bag of Frontier brand whole dried elderberries from Amazon. This will last me several months during cold and flu season.
A side note on brands: I have tried many different brands of dried whole elderberries, and I have found that Frontier brand has had the most consistent quality. Some brands have a powder in the bag that makes the syrup texture gritty. Other brands have an extremely bitter taste that even lots of honey doesn’t mask.
If you have a source for local, raw or manuka honey, you’ll get additional health benefits, but clover honey from the grocery store is fine. Unsweetened, the elderberry liquid is quite bitter and the honey makes it more palatable for children.
Elderberry Syrup Dosage
Here’s the dosage I personally give at the first sign of sickness:
- under 6 years old – 1 tsp.
- 6 – 12 years old – 1/2 Tbsp.
- teens and adults – 1 Tbsp.
We take this amount 3 – 4 times a day until symptoms subside. If we’ve been exposed to someone sick, I give my children this dose once a day for a day or two. In the peak of cold and flu season, I give a dose 4 – 5 days a week as a preventative measure.
I hope I’ve convinced you to give elderberry syrup a try. It’s the best natural home remedy I’ve found to fight colds and flu.
Have you ever used elderberry syrup? I’d love to hear your personal experience in the comments below!
If I had a bush still I would definitely be making/taking some!!!
I’d love to find a bush! Hmmm… I may look into getting one.
I love elderberry for my family. I always buy it in the stores but I think I will use your recipe and make a batch of my own! Thank you for sharing this!
Sandra, I used to buy it too, but I found that it’s WAY cheaper to make it.
This is an amazing recipe to kick cold and flu season to the curb! Thank you!
Super interesting read! We just wrote about this same topic at Literally Simple and because of it I take elderberry from my naturopath. I didn’t know how to make my own syrup. Thanks!
I’ll check out the article on Literally Simple. Making it is super easy, especially if you have an Instant Pot.
I’ve always heard this was effective but never tried it. I pinned the recipe for future use! Thanks for sharing!
Thanks for pinning it, Beth!
I cannot believe your kids are that old and have never been sick! That’s incredible. I have never heard of an elderberries before. Can you only get online or do stores carry them? And they’re toxic if not cooked? How do you know if you cook them enough? I’m so intrigued by this!
Adriane, my kids do get sick, but I just don’t need to take them to the doctor for medicine. They recover on their own with the help of elderberry syrup. You can buy a pre-made syrup from stores, but I’ve never seen the berries in stores. I have to order them from amazon. The pre-made syrup is much more expensive and we take a lot of elderberry syrup, so I just make it to save money. Just cook them according to my recipe and they won’t be toxic. It’s like how potatoes have toxic compounds when eaten raw, but when cooked they’re totally edible.
We use the same recipe! It’s great and so much cheaper! Our kids love it!
This is so encouraging to read! Thank you for taking the time and writing these things. It’s so valuable!
That’s awesome, Maisi! It is so much cheaper. My kids like it, too.