Elderberry Syrup

I never heard of Elderberry Syrup until this past winter. And apparently it’s a must-have preventative to keep on hand during the winter season, especially for littles.
Since I’m working my way to “Crunchy” status, I decided I didn’t want to buy Elderberry Syrup from the store. After some research, I found a recipe that used Young Living essential oils. SCORE! This powerful concoction can help boost the immune system.

Elderberries are rich in vitamins A, B, C and are a traditional remedy used for hundreds of years. They are known to have high antioxidant activity and the bioflavonoids and other proteins in the juice of the berry destroy the ability of something bad to infect a cell. Combined with the benefits of essential oils and you have one powerful syrup. You can read more about elderberries and their benefits on Wellness Mama.

Benefits of the oils in this Elderberry recipe:
Thieves - Inspired by the legend of four 15th century thieves in France who formulated this blend to use while robbing victims who died from the plague. This YL favorite helps support the immune system in a BIG way. (Contains: Clove, Lemon, Cinnamon Bark, Eucalyptus Radiata and Rosemary Cineol).

Nutmeg - Has a sweet, warm, spicy scent. Helps support the immune system, healthy joint and cartilage function, and healthy digestive system.

Clove - An important ingredient in the Thieves blend due to its wonderful immune-enhancing properties, its principal constituent is eugenol, which is used in the dental industry to numb the gums. Clove is the highest-scoring single ingredient ever tested for its antioxidant capacity on the ORAC scale. *I didn't use Clove because I didn't have it

Ginger - Supportive of the digestive system, Ginger is commonly used to soothe, comfort, and balance digestive discomfort. The digestive system is important in keeping the immune system healthy. Over 90% of the immune system resides in the gut.

Cinnamon Bark - The warm, spicy aroma of cinnamon has been sought throughout the ages both as a valuable commodity and for its ability to improve wellness. Cinnamon is thought to promote healthy cardiovascular and immune function.

Frankincense - The Wise Men knew what they were doing when they gave this oil to Mary. Frankincense (Boswellia carteri) has a sweet, warm, balsamic aroma that is stimulating and elevating to the mind. It is very versatile oil and can help boost the immune system. *I substituted Sacred Frankincense for Frankincense

You can use different oils if you’d like. There are so many different essential oils with amazing benefits! This recipe is simply a guide. I tweaked the recipe I found by not using Clove and substituting Sacred Frankincense for Frankincense. Feel free to edit to your liking and needs.

What You Need:
- 1 cup Elderberries (I bought dried elderberries from Amazon)
- 1 1/2 cups RAW Honey (not only is raw honey naturally antimicrobial, which will keep your elderberry syrup fresh for a long time, it also contains far more nutrients as it has not been heated)
- Young Living essential oils (3 drops Thieves, 1 drop each of Nutmeg, Clove, Ginger, Cinnamon Bark and Frankincense) *Like I stated above, I didn’t use Clove and I substituted Sacred Frankincense for Frankincense
- 4 cups Purified Water

How To Make Your Essential Elderberry Syrup:
1. Add 1 cup of elderberries to 4 cups of boiling water.
2. Allow to simmer on the stove for 45 minutes or until the liquid has been reduced by about half.
3. Remove water from the stove and cool until it is just warm enough to melt the honey. The less heat the better to preserve all the properties of the honey and essential oils.
4. Strain through a fine mesh strainer.
5. Stir in the honey.
6. Add your essential oils.

Your elderberry syrup should be stored in the refrigerator to keep fresh and can last several months.

Use 1 tsp per day for adults and 1/2 tsp per day for children to keep your immune system boosted.

If you feel your immune system isn't 100%, take frequent doses throughout the day until you feel well. I haven’t tried it yet, but it might be a good sweetener to the Thieves tea I make for Kevin and I when we start getting sore throats.