Elderberry syrup has held a place in my refrigerator for close to 10 years now. It’s so easy to make, and it’s something great to have on hand should you (or one of your family members) start coming down with cold symptoms. For the first couple years, I gave a spoonful to my kids daily and took one myself too as a preventative, but then I learned that it’s not necessarily meant for daily use. So now I reserve it for only when that first tickle in the throat or bit of congestion or cough starts.
There is a lot of flexibility with this recipe too. I’m sharing mine below as my kids approve of the flavor (and that’s the most important part, right?). It’s not helpful for their health if you can’t even get them to take it! Some people add cloves, echinacea, anise, or other herbs. I like mine nice and simple, so here you go!
Just one additional note I’d like to make is that while you might be tempted to reduce the honey in order to cut back on sugar, don’t do it! Reducing the honey in this recipe can make it mold faster, and nobody wants a spoiled batch of elderberry syrup right when you need it most!
Denise Brusveen is a Certified Women's Herbal Educator and Hair Tissue Mineral Analysis Practitioner and holds a Master of Science degree with a research emphasis in reproductive physiology. She is passionate about helping girls and women to become informed about holistic options to overcome health challenges related to their hormones.
How to Kick Constipation to the Curb and Get Things Moving
If you're struggling with constipation, it's important to make sure that you've got the basics covered first: Are you drinking enough fluids throughout the day? Are you getting enough fiber through your diet via fresh fruits, vegetables, and/or whole grains? Are you...
Why I’m Not a Fan of Colloidal Silver
Whether it’s for preventing or treating colds or influenza, used on cuts, scrapes, burns, dropped in eyes for pinkeye and ears for ear infections, colloidal silver is praised as a cure-it-all by many. But not me. I’m a bit of an oddball when it comes to this one. ...
Stop Calling Wild Yam Cream a Natural Source of Progesterone!
I see it over and over again in holistic health groups…women stating that they use wild yam cream as a natural source of progesterone. They usually recommend it when a woman is asking about progesterone support for pregnancy, a short luteal phase, or if they’ve had...
How to Get Useful Labwork Without a Doctor
If you’re like many women who are frustrated that your doctor won’t order the blood tests you want, you’re in luck. Did you know that in most states (with a few exceptions listed below), you can order your own lab work directly? And in many cases, this is cheaper than...
7 Herbs to Eliminate Period Pain
I talk to women nearly weekly who struggle with painful periods, some of them for decades. They may or may not be getting some relief from things like birth control, ibuprofen, or other painkillers, but they don’t want to be on these things anymore. If that’s you...
My Favorite Herbal Books
My Favorite Herbal Books By: Denise Brusveen, MS I get asked often for herbal advice, and sometimes people ask me about my favorite books too. You just can’t beat having the information in your own hands for when you need it! So let me share my favorite books...
Copper IUDs – More Than Meets The Eye
I recently took a dive into the research on copper IUDs after seeing so many midwives recommend these as a great alternative to hormonal birth control options, and even women are recommending them to other women “because they don’t contain hormones.” Yes, it’s true...
Potassium – Why You Need It, How to Get It
I’ve been asked before what my favorite mineral is. While it’s hard to choose just one, if I HAD to pick, I’d say potassium. I know, I know, you’re probably thinking that’s a weird choice, especially when things like magnesium are all the rage these days. The reason I...
Delicious (Healthy) Pumpkin Seed Chocolate
Zinc is getting a lot of attention right now for improving immune function, but I was interested in this important mineral long before that and discovered that pumpkin seeds are an excellent source. But I wasn’t impressed with their flavor plain, so I started...
Adaptogens – A Woman’s Best Friend
You might be asking, “Adapt-a-what?” Adaptogens are a category of herbs that help you to balance your body’s stress response. In a good year, many women could use help with that. But in 2020? Sign practically everyone up! One of the most important benefits of...
Recent Comments