All-natural Immune Booster

Nobody likes getting sick. Especially me. And I especially don’t like my baby being sick. Or my husband because he whines. With as much time as I spend in the classroom I have become pretty good at catching a bug here and there. When you’re around this many kids and there’s one virus or another going around it’s almost inevitable. or is it? Over the past week I’ve had an average of 5 children out of the classroom because of viruses and I haven’t got it (knock on wood), which means I haven’t brought it home either. YAY! What gives? I’ve been taking elderberry syrup.

It all started with Annabelle. She was catching yet another bug at daycare, it was just at the beginning, a little cough, runny nose, not sleeping good, a little fever (it could have been teething, or allergies, or who knows what). I had been hearing a lot about elderberry syrup for flu season and I filed it away in my head for next flu season. This winter/spring has been so crazy weather wise with all this up and down temperatures that it was time to give elderberry syrup another look.

What is elderberry syrup? It’s a syrup. Made of elderberries.

Elderberries have been shown to prevent the flu and speed recovery in those who have it. They are high in vitamins A, B and C and help strengthen the immune system. A daily dose of elderberry syrup can help prevent you from getting sick. It can reduce the swelling in respiratory passages and clear up mucos. Elderberries have been used for over 2,500 years by people with flus, coughs and colds. So my question is, why don’t doctors prescribe it instead of prescription medcine full of nasty, dangerous side effects? oh. never mind. silly question.

You can buy elderberry syrup at your local health food store. I’ve been taking Natures Way organic elderberry syrup and Annabelle has the kids version. You can also make your own. I haven’t yet because when I wanted it I didn’t have and couldn’t find elderberries. I’ve since discovered where to get them and my next batch will be home made if all goes as planned.

 Home made Elderberry Syrup (for munckins 1 year old and up becasue of the honey)

• 2/3 cup black elderberries
• 3.5 cups of water
• 2 T fresh or dried ginger root
• 1 tsp cinnamon powder
• 1/2 tsp cloves or clove powder
• 1 cup raw honey

Directions:

• Pour water into a saucepan with elderberries, giner, cinnamon and cloves
• Bring to a boil
• Cover and reduce heat to a simmer for about an hour (until liquid has reduced by almost half)
• Remove from heat and let cool completley
• Pour through a strainer into a glass jar (16 ounce bottle)
• Add the raw honey (when cool)

Grown ups take 1 tbsp daily for immune support. Take 1 tbsp 4 times a day when you feel something coming on.

Kids take 1/2 – 1tsp daily for immune support and 4 times a day when you sense something lurking.

Store in the fridge and take daily, or if you’re like me, as often as you remember.