Elderberries May Help Combat the Flu
Body aches like you have been trampled by a herd of elephants? Have you tried Elderberries?
Raging fever accompanied by uncontrollable shivers and chills. Have you tried Elderberries?
A sore throat so bad you wonder if you may have tried flaming-sword-swallowing in your sleep; or was that just a fever dream? Have you tried Elderberries to fight the flu?
No appetite, just a nauseating, rolling feeling in your belly like riding a roller coaster… Have you… ? Well you get the point!
The Flu is no fun!
Unless you’re living under a rock, there is no doubt you’ve heard everyone talking about the flu this year. Maybe you’ve even been unfortunate enough to catch the flu yourself or someone close to you is sick with it and you’d like to keep from getting it. What can you do when the flu is chasing you?
Have you considered trying Elderberries?
Before you dismiss it, consider this-
Elderberries have been used for healing by humans for centuries: possibly even longer. In Switzerland and Italy anthropologists have discovered evidence that black elderberry may have been cultivated by prehistoric man! There is evidence of elderberry based recipes in Ancient Egyptian records. Although generally the history of its medicinal use is traced back to Hippocrates, the ancient Greek known as the “father of medicine,” described this plant as his “medicine chest” for the wide variety of ailments he was able to treat and heal with it. The Ancient Greek Diet was known for consuming large amounts of healthy fruit and vegetables. Another super-food they consumed regularly was the pomegranate. (http://www.blackelderberry.info).
In my home it’s a vital part of our natural medicine cabinet. I’ve used it for several years as a preventive and haven’t caught the flu since 2010. My husband is stubborn and he refuses to take it regularly and so he has caught the flu every year, but he takes elderberry syrup when symptoms begin and it always goes away quickly; and if Elderberry syrup can beat the dreaded ‘Man Flu’ it really must be powerful stuff! Almost all of my friends and family swear by it too; in fact, just last week I got a call from my grandma asking me to make her more.
But don’t just take my word for it. Modern medicine has researched the effectiveness of Elderberry in fighting the flu quite a bit, with universally positive results! Here are a couple of great studies to consider when you think about using Elderberry for the flu.
Can Elderberries fight the Cold and Flu?
1995 (Zakay-Rones)- A double blind placebo controlled study was conducted during an outbreak of influenza B in Panama. 93.3% of the cases treated with black elderberry compound saw a significant improvement of the symptoms. A complete cure was achieved within 2 to 3 days in nearly 90% of those treated with the black elderberry extract within two-three days of symptoms presenting, three days less than the placebo group.
(http://online.liebertpub.com/doi/abs/10.1089/acm.1995.1.361)
2000 “Elderberry has been used in folk medicine for centuries to treat influenza, colds and sinusitis, and has been reported to have antiviral activity against influenza and herpes simplex. We investigated the efficacy and safety of oral elderberry syrup for treating influenza A and B infections.
Sixty patients (aged 18-54 years) suffering from influenza-like symptoms for 48 hr or less were enrolled in this randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study during the influenza season of 1999-2000 in Norway. Patients received 15 ml of elderberry or placebo syrup four times a day for 5 days, and recorded their symptoms using a visual analogue scale. Symptoms were relieved on average 4 days earlier and use of rescue medication was significantly less in those receiving elderberry extract compared with placebo. Elderberry extract seems to offer an efficient, safe and cost-effective treatment for influenza.” (http://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/147323000403200205)
There are several different delicious ways to consume Elderberries and enjoy all the health benefits they have to offer. Personally my favorite way is in a yummy cup of warm herbal tea! It’s a delicious and healthy alternative to coffee and always helps me start my day off on the right note! I was gifted a bag of this loose leaf blend called “be well” made by Tea Tonix and it’s my go to ‘preventive’ tea if I feel a sniffle or if I know I was around people that were sneezing and coughing and spreading their ‘plague’.
How to Make Elderberry Syrup for Flu Prevention
Another excellent way to take Elderberry is by making a syrup from the fresh or dried berries. I met a wise older woman at our local farmers market who was kind enough to share her family recipe with me and I’m eternally grateful! If you don’t have a local source for organic Elderberry you can always use dried.
A one pound bag will be enough for you to make several batches, enough to share with all your sick family, friends and co-workers.
Ingredients:
2/3 cup dried black elderberries (about 3 ounces)
3 1/2 cups of water
2 Tablespoons fresh (or dried) ginger root
1/2 teaspoon ground cloves (clove powder would work too)
1 teaspoon cinnamon powder
1 cup raw unfiltered, local honey
Directions:
Put the water, elderberries, ginger, cloves and cinnamon in a medium saucepan over high heat
Bring to a boil and then cover and reduce to a simmer for about 45 minutes to an hour or until the liquid has reduced by about half.
Remove from heat and cool until you can handle it without burning yourself.
Mash the berries carefully using a spoon or other flat utensil
Pour liquid through a strainer into a glass jar or bowl. (The Elderberries have little to no nutritional value left so trash or compost them)
Let the liquid cool to about lukewarm, then add 1 cup of honey and stir really well.
Once the honey is totally mixed in you can pour it into a glass mason jar or any glass storage container with a secure fitting lid.
Congratulations! You just made homemade elderberry syrup! You’re one step closer to feeling better!
Give the Elderberry a Try
If you have the flu already, standard dose is ½ Tbsp to 1 Tbsp for adults or ½ tsp to 1 tsp for kids over the age of one, Every 2 – 3 hours until symptoms disappear. Please note: Honey is not recommended for children under the age of one.
If you have been lucky enough to avoid the flu so far, store it in the fridge for up to two months and take the recommended dose once daily for its immune boosting powers. Actually, it’s so yummy I even pour it on my toddler’s pancakes.
Now, if you just read that recipe and felt totally overwhelmed, don’t worry. There is another option! You can order high quality elderberry syrup pre-made and shipped directly to your door!
When my daughter was a newborn and I was overwhelmed and didn’t have the time to take a shower, let alone make a batch of Elderberry syrup, I discovered “Honey Gardens Organic Elderberry Syrup” It has a wonderful taste and it is free of artificial dyes and sugars that are in most brands on the shelves in your local superstore or at the “corner of be happy and be healthy.”
I hope you will give the amazing Elderberry a try!
Your body will thank you!
