Elderberry plant medicine

Always avoid red elderberries. These are toxic, cooked or not.Wash the berries and remove from the umbels. Ripe berries should come off witha gentle pull, or you can use a fork. Don’t worry about removing all thesmall stems.

Use kilner jars with a rubber seal where possible.

Elderberry Tincture

1. Always avoid red elderberries. These are toxic, cooked or not.Wash the berries and remove from the umbels. Ripe berries should come off witha gentle pull.

2. Fill a jar half full with fresh or dried berries. you’ll get the bestresults if the berries have been roughly chopped. I bash then in the jar withthe handle of a knife. If the berries are fresh their antioxidant-rich juiceswill be released during this step and, whether fresh or dried, chopping up theelderberries exposes more surface area

3. Next fill thejar with vodka (at least 80 proof), leaving 1 inch of headspace.

4. Place atight-fitting lid onto the jar and give it a few good shakes. (If your lidisn’t leak-proof, you’ll likely have a mess on your hands! Best to use .)

5. Place it in a cool dark place for 4 to 6 weeks. Shake every otherday. If solvent levels appear low at any point, add more to cover theelderberries.

6. Strain yourtincture through a fine-mesh strainer. Alternatively, you can use a tea towelor an old clean t-shirt (though they will stain!).

7. Once yourelderberry tincture is complete, you can store it in an air-tight jar or bottlein a cool, dark place. preferably a dark amber glass bottle, for easy dosing.

ElderberrySyrup

2 cups elderberries, removed from umbels

2 cups water (double for dried)

6 tbs of organic honey - see note on honey below

2 inch piece finger width fresh ginger, sliced or grated

A Stick ofcinnamon or 3 tsp powder

4 or 5 clovesor 1 tsp powder

1 star anise

Optional halfcup brandy or vodka – this improves shelf life

Combineelderberries, spices and water in a pot and bring to a boil. Reduce heat andsimmer for 30 minutes until liquid has reduced by about half. Remove from heat.This recipe uses less water than most and reduces the boiling time as theprolonged heat can reduce the medicinal qualities

Mash berrieswith a potato masher or the back of a fork. Strain berries and spices with afine mesh strainer or cheesecloth, pressing or squeezing to extract all thejuice. Compost the leftover pulp.

Let thestrained juice cool to slightly warmer than room temperature, then whisk in thehoney and transfer to a glass jar with a lid. If using alcohol add here. Labeland store in the fridge for up to 2 weeks or store in the freezer for up to 6months. I pour it into ice cube trays for easy use.

DOSAGE: Foradults, take 1 to 2 teaspoons of Elderberry Syrup every 4 hours when treatingan illness. Children can take ½ to 1 teaspoon every 4 hours when ill. Childrenunder 1 year of age should not take it.

Honey

Raw honey — comes straight from the hive and is available in filtered or unfiltered forms. Regular honey — pasteurized and may contain added sugars. Pure honey — pasteurized but contains no added ingredients.