DIY Elderberry Spice Syrup
This immune-recharging elixir is easier to make than you might think, and it’s the perfect antidote to cold and flu viruses.
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Excerpted with permission from The Simple Guide to Natural Health by herbalist Melanie St. Ours (learn more at psycheandsoma.com).
This simple syrup can help you stay healthy during cold and flu season. If you have an autoimmune condition, have had an organ transplant, or if you’re taking blood thinners, ask your doctor before using.
For more about this recipe: 11 Immune Boosting Products for Winter
Ingredients
1 organic lemon
1 cup dried elderberries
5 cups water
¼ cup peeled & sliced fresh ginger root
½ Tbs. whole cloves
1 cinnamon stick
2 cups raw honey
Preparation
- Peel lemon, and cut peel into strips. Juice lemon into small bowl, and set aside.
- Add lemon peel, elderberries, water, ginger, cloves, and cinnamon stick to medium heavy-bottomed pot. Bring to a boil, reduce heat, and simmer gently, 25 minutes or until liquid is dark and reduced by about 1/3. Turn off heat, and allow to cool slightly.
- Strain liquid through fine-mesh sieve and some cheesecloth, squeezing berries to extract as much liquid as possible. Discard spent berries, and add fresh lemon juice and honey to elderberry liquid.
- To use, take ½ Tbs. three times per day at the first signs of a viral infection. Store finished syrup in refrigerator up to 3 months.