From Volume iv · Natural Herbal Remedies at Home

Elderberry Immune Syrup

The £2 batch that replaces years of pharmacy spending on cough mixtures and cold remedies. One pan, twenty minutes, a whole winter's worth of immune support. The recipe most people make first when they start with home herbalism — because it actually works, the kids will take it, and elderberry has more clinical evidence behind it than most over-the-counter cold remedies.

Time
55 mins
Makes
~ 500 ml
Cost
~ £2
Keeps
3 months fridge

Method

  1. Combine and simmer. Add the elderberries, water, grated ginger, cinnamon stick and whole cloves to a small saucepan. Bring to a boil, then reduce to the lowest simmer for 30-40 minutes. The liquid will reduce by about half and turn a deep, inky purple-black.
  2. Mash and strain. Use the back of a spoon to gently press the berries against the side of the pan, releasing more juice. Pour the mixture through a fine sieve or muslin cloth into a clean bowl, pressing the berries firmly to extract everything. Compost the spent berries.
  3. Cool the liquid. Let it sit until just warm to the touch — about 40°C, or comfortable to keep your finger in for ten seconds. This step matters: adding honey to hot liquid destroys its beneficial enzymes and antibacterial properties.
  4. Stir in the honey. Add the raw honey and stir gently until fully dissolved. The syrup will thicken slightly as it cools.
  5. Bottle and label. Pour into a sterilised glass bottle. Add a label with the date you made it. Store in the fridge.
Safety Note

Not suitable for children under one year (because of the raw honey, not the elderberries). Pregnant or breastfeeding women should consult their GP before regular use. Anyone on immunosuppressant medication, autoimmune medication or diabetes medication should also check first — elderberry stimulates immune response and can interact with these.

How to use it

Keeps 3 months in the fridge in a sterilised, sealed bottle.

Buy organic dried elderberries — they're about £8-12 per 100 g and you'll get four batches from one bag.

VOLUME IV Natural Herbal Remedies at home C. MORRISON
From the same book

34 more recipes in Natural Herbal Remedies at Home

Tinctures, teas, salves, cough mixtures, sleep blends, digestive bitters, sore throat gargles. Twenty herb profiles with the clinical research behind them, full safety notes, and pregnancy and drug-interaction cautions throughout.

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