This recipe has been adapted from my personal exploration of all things herbal, my Aromatherapy Certification training at Stillpoint Aromatics, and Mountain Rose Herbs.
Elderberry Syrup can be used as an immune booster as well when cold and flu symptoms arise. This recipe is super simple to make and tastes great.
How to Use
As an immune booster:
1/2 to 1 tsp for kids once a day
1/2 to 1 Tbsp for adults once a day
When cold/flu symptoms first begin:
1/2 to 1 tsp for kids every 3 hrs until symptoms are gone
1/2 to 1 Tbsp for adults every 3 hrs until symptoms are gone
Wild Harvesting
I prefer wild-harvested elderberries. There is something magical about making medicine from the forest. Harvest season is generally mid-August to mid-September, but ranges depending on where you live. Do not eat raw elderberries, as they can be mildly toxic if they are not perfectly ripe. if you’re using raw elderberries, double the amount in the recipe (1 and 1/3 cups). If you decide to wild harvest your berries, plan for enough time to harvest, clean, AND make the elderberry syrup. Elderberries do not last long once picked.
Ethical Harvesting
Elderberry bushes are home to the Valley Longhorn Elderberry Beetle, a Federally threatened species. This species lives in the California Central Valley from Redding to Bakersfield. The species has declined in numbers due to loss of habitat. Valley Longhorn Elderberry Beetles require elderberry bushes with trunks at the ground level of at least a 1-inch in diameter. These beetles use the elderberry bush for reproduction. Always be mindful when wild harvesting any plant that it may be another species’ home. As a general rule, take no more than 10% of any one plant. Harvest in an area of abundance, and never pick from the first plant you find (this ensures there is more than one plant to harvest).
