Spoonful of Elderberries

Castor oil is a centuries-old household remedy with demonstrated immune stimulating and antiviral properties. Once upon a time, a misbehaving child was punished with a spoonful of castor oil.  It’s foul tasting!  Thank goodness there’s an equally powerful and substantially tastier substitute: elderberry syrup. Elderberries are in the honeysuckle family and are very high in vitamin A, plus they contain more vitamin C than oranges! In fact, they have a much higher antioxidant potential than even the über-popular blueberry, power-packed with antiviral properties shown to treat colds and the flu. Whip up a batch this summer because it keeps in the fridge for up to 3 months.

Elderberry Syrup

1 cup fresh elderberries or 1/2 cup dried elderberries

3 cups water

1 cinnamon stick (optional)

3 whole cloves (optional)

1/2 – 3/4 cup honey to taste

Place elderberries, water, cinnamon stick and cloves in a saucepan over medium heat. Bring to a boil, reduce heat to low, and simmer for 30 minutes. Remove from heat and strain the mixture through a fine sieve, pressing juice from berries with potato masher or wood spoon. Discard the remaining pulp. Let the juice cool. Stir in honey to taste until thoroughly combined. Transfer to lidded jars. Take daily spoonfuls for health or pour liberally over pancakes and waffles after thickening syrup by simmering on stove for 15-20 minutes with added sugar. I like to add cherries because elderberries are as sweet. Keeps in refrigerator for 3 months.

For health remedy dosages, check out the blog of this Registered Nurse here.  To read more about the health benefits, read here.

• Standard dose is 1/2 tsp to 1 tsp for kids and 1/2 Tbsp to 1 Tbsp for adults
• If the flu does strike, take the normal dose every 2-3 hours instead of once a day until symptoms disappear

CAUTION:  Never eat raw elderberries or their stems. Use only the cooked blue elderberries of Sambucus nigra. Always avoid red elderberries found at higher elevations, Sambucus racemosa, whether cooked or raw.

Pancakes go from blahhhh to ahhhhhh . . .