I hope to be writing more about our experiences with the naturopath very soon , but for now will share a few helpful and natural ways to fight the flue season:

1. Elderberry Syrup: Many of you know I give my children Elderberry Syrup as a preventative for cold and flu during the fall and winter. I usually make my own (see links below for recipe), but occasionally buy it when I run out. In most places (lower elevations), you have missed elderberry season, but they can still be found is some of the higher elevations. If you are going to purchase it, I recommend Nature’s Way Sambucus Syrup. It tastes the best.
2. Boiron – Oscillococcinum: The naturopath we see recommends taking oscillococcinum preventatively as well as when you have the flu. I only do this preventatively when you know something is going around because it it expensive. She recommends giving the kids a half of a serving (vial) at night to help them fight any viruses.
3. Buffered Vitamin C: Vitamin C is an amazing antioxidant. Vitamin C can help your body fight whatever ails it, but is also great in fighting inflammation due to allergies, asthma, or virus. Our naturopath recommends buffered vitamin C, which is easier on the stomach and gives us 2000-4000 mg a day when fighting something. Now this is a very high dose, and I would not recommend taking over 2000mg/day without first consulting your child’s doctor. But Vitamin C does help get the virus flushed out of the system sooner!
4. Peppermint Essential Oil: peppermint oil helps to open the vascular system, which in English means it helps to keep all the fluids flowing (blood and mucus) as to help prevent infection. We use it on our foreheads and the base of the neck for headaches. For congestion we place it around the ears (outside front and back) and down to the lymph glands in the neck. You do not need a lot of oil for this. Be careful, if you get too much it will burn. If the oil alone is too strong, Badger Organic Headache Soother  is great with peppermint and lavender and easy on skin. We also use peppermint oil as aromatherapy for nausea. I usually place it on a Kleenex or on their PJs. Note: Essential Oils should NOT be used on infants without a consulting a doctor.
5. Lemon Foot Wrap: I have written about this fever reducer before and it is the best I have found. I don’t usually treat a fever until it’s over 102 F, so I haven’t used it often, but it always works when I do. Here are the directions

• Warm 4 tbsp lemon juice with 1/2 cup water.
• Soak a pair of cotton socks in the warm lemon water thoroughly.
• When they are cool enough but still warm,put them on.
• Place a pair of wool socks over them and leave on for 20 minutes.
• It is recommended NOT to use a lemon wrap more than 3 times in a 24 hour period.

We did run into a little poison oak, but that was easily avoided. I think Bill and I were the only ones close enough to maybe get some on our clothes, and we didn’t have any problems. But it was a good lesson in identifying it, especially since it was still all nice and green with no tell tale reddish leaves. Poison Oak spreads it’s toxin through an oil it excretes. These oils spread easier when in heat, sweat, hot water or steam. But because it is an oil, it does not easily come of with soap and water. For those of you who are not used to dealing with poison oak here are a few basic tips:

1. Take off all your clothes and bath in cold water immediately after exposure. (never warm or hot)
2. While bathing rinse any areas you think might be exposed in rubbing alcohol. Then rinse again with soap and water.
3. Keep all these clothes separate from others and prewash usng rubbing alcohol. (You may want to make sure it will not bleach your clothes, but I haven’t had any problems.) Then follow with a regular wash.

Following these basic steps we have never had an out break in our family. But enough about poison oak, we saw so many other beautiful things. Like the Sacramento River in the morning, red tail hawks soaring, great egrets, wild roses, jack rabbits, not to mention the elderberries! It was a beautiful and productive morning! I am very greatfull to Bill and Wildlands for all their help with this field trip.

I always freeze the berries immediately when get home, they are so much easier to get off the stems when frozen. This time I laid them on cookie sheets and before placing them in the freezer. This made it easier because the did not get tangled in one another.

Then I took them out one cookie sheet at a time and shook the berries off. It worked very well. I rinsed them a few times in a bowl of ice water to clean them. I like to try to keep the berries cold, so they are less likely to pop and let some of the juice leak out. I think next year, I might try washing them while on the stems and before freezing them. I am still experimenting with the best way to wash them with out loosing the juice. Even so, I still had plenty of juicy berries left.

Next I place them all in a large pot with just enough water to cover them all. Bring to a boil and simmer for 20 minutes.

I then juice the berries in batches. I place a layer of cheesecloth in a strainer and them mash the berries in the strainer and collect the juice in a bowl below. I them place the remaining pulp in a bag before throwing away. (It doesn’t have the most pleasant smell).

This time I then poured the juice into ice cube trays to freeze it. After they are all frozen, I transfered them to a freezer bag. That way, I can take out what I need through out the year to make the syrup.

Recipes on the next page…

Elderberry Syrup

1. Boil 3 cups of elderberry juice with 15 whole cloves for 10 minutes. Optional: I also add 1 cup raspberry or dark cherry juice (unsweetened).
2. After the 10 minutes, you can choose to remove the cloves, or leave them in the syrup.
3. Take off the heat and add 1 cup honey and 1 cup sugar. Many recipes call for twice the amount of sugar, so you can add sugar until desired taste, but remember it will taste sweeter as it cools. I like using half local honey because consuming local honey can help build the immune system.
4. I place the syrup in jars (makes 6-7 cups) and can using a water bath method (bath 10 minutes).
5. Let cool completely before storing the well sealed jars in a cool dark place until opened. Once opened store in the fridge.

Since I already had enough syrup right now, I set aside 1.5 cups of elderberry juice to experiment with elderberry jelly. I liked it, so here is the recipe…

Spiced Elderberry-Cherry Jelly

1. Boil 1.5 cups of elderberry juice, 1/2 cup unsweetened, dark cherry juice, and the juice of 1/2 a lemon with 3 whole cloves, 2 whole all spice, and 1 cinnamon stick for 10 minutes.
2. While the juice is boiling, mix in a separate bowl 1/2 cup honey with 2 t pectin powder (use the amount as specified on your pectin package).
3. At this point, remove the spices and add 2 t calcium water (use the amount as specified on your pectin package).
4. Take off the heat and add the honey/pectin mixture and 1/2 cup sugar. Return to a boil.
5. I place the jelly in 1 cup (2-3) jars and can using a water bath method (bath 10 minutes).
6. Let cool completely before storing in well sealed jars in a cool dark place until opened. Once opened store in the fridge.

Let me know what you think and if you have a few recipes of your own!

Here is the basic information for or field trip:

• We will meet at their elderberry mitigation site Tuesday, July 27 in the morning at 10:00 AM. For those of you who sign up, I will email you the directions this weekend. I would allow yourself 45 minutes from downtown Sacramento to get there.
• We will first be given a guided tour of the elderberry mitigation site as one large group.
• Then we will proceed to a riparian area adjacent to a levee where we will harvest the elderberries.
• The children and I will stay at the riparian area at base of the levee and explore while the adults harvest.
• Then we will all leave together.

What to bring:

• Water, Water, and Water.
• Sunscreen and Hats
• Snacks
• Thick plastic bags or a few plastic shopping bags (the stems can poke holes in the thinner bags)
• Shears or scissors

I would recommend everything you bring fit into a backpack or something you can wear and keep your hands free. Also the same for infants. There will not be a good place for them to be on the ground, so I would recommend packing them too!

I am very excited about this opportunity and grateful to Wildlands for their generosity. For more information about elderberries, please see my previous post: Come with Me to the Harvest.

I am so excited! Thanks to the wonderful people at Wildlands Inc. I have arranged for 10 lucky people to attend an elderberry harvesting field trip on one of their mitigation sites. “

What is an Elderberry?

Elderberry shrubs can get quite big and are often confused with trees. They have large clusters of white flowers in the spring that ripen into dark berries in the summer (when I say elderberry, I am referring to the Sambucus nigra elderberries, not the red). They are considered riparian and often associated with rivers, streams, and creeks and in grasslands adjacent to water. Here in the Central Valley, they are home to the Valley Elderberry Longhorn Beetle (it is currently listed as a threatened species). The beetle spends most of it’s life as a larva in the stems of the shrub, so we need to be careful when harvesting. Normally the elderberries are usually best to harvest in August, but it varies every year.

Why Elderberries?

If you read my blog regularly, you will know that I am a huge fan of elderberries. If you are sick, have a sore throat, sniffles, a cough… my first question will be have you been taking your elderberry syrup? Elderberry is an anti-inflammatory, anti-viral, and antioxidant. It helps build the immune system and is especially helpful for respiratory illness such as asthma or bronchitis.  We all take elderberry syrup twice a day at the first sign of a cold or virus and we usually recover quicker, coughs don’t linger, and rarely does anyone get a secondary infection. It can be taken regularly during an allergy season. I also give it to my children for a few days to a week before and after getting immunizations, traveling, or the first days of school or if a virus is going around. Here are a few links to some other sites with interesting information on elderberries:

• Medicine Hunter
• Herb Wisdom
• Wikipedia
• USDA

What do you do with elderberries?

We have been taking elderberry syrup for years, but buying it can be very expensive. So last year I started making my own. After harvesting the berries, I immediately juice them and then freeze the juice in 3 cup portions. Then I can make and can the syrup as I need it. This way it does not go bad before we can use it. I use local honey to make the syrup and by making it seasonally, I can use seasonal honey (this helps in fighting local  and seasonal allergens). CLICK HERE for my previous post on Making Elderberry Syrup and CLICK HERE for the Cough Syrup recipe. I am just on my last batch now from last year, just in time! As this syrup does contain honey, I do not recommend it for children under 2. You can make it totally with sugar or purchase Herbs for Kids Elderberry Syrup. There are many things you can make with elderberries. They are good as a jam, a compliment in a pie or other baked good, tea, wine, etc.  Many people also use the flowers for teas, liquors, jellies, etc. I still have a lot more experimenting to do.

But ONLY use the flowers or RIPE BERRIES and make sure you cook them! Elderberries should not be eaten raw. All parts of the plant contain the toxin hydrocyanic acid which is destroyed by cooking. Red elderberry (S. pubens) is considered poisonous and should not be used at all since cooking does not destroy enough of the toxin. Most of the berries in the Sacramento area are S.nigra elderberry. The stems and leaves have the highest concentration of hydrocyanic acid that is why I recommend removing them. I have seen some recipes that say not to worry about the smaller stems, especially if you are boiling it. I have also seen some recipes that do not boil the juice, I would strongly advise against eating the berries or drinking the juice raw. I have also seen people suggest using the leaves. I would NOT advise using the leaves as they have higher concentration of hydrocyanic acid.

So how can You come harvesting?

The field trip is set for July 27, 2010 (subject to change if berries aren’t ripe enough), some time in the AM to avoid the heat. As I said there are only 10 spots available, so I have decided to have it on a first come first serve basis. If you would like to attend the field trip, please leave a comment on this post, not on Facebook. The first 10 received will reserve their spot. I will also have two back up spots, in case some one can not attend. If there are too many people responding at the same time, I will draw names. I hope this sounds fair. I would love to take everyone, but C’est la vie.

Allergy Triggers

1. Pollen and Mold – This time of year the pollen is coming down like rain. We have a HEPA air filter in the kids room with a UV light to kill the mold spores. I find it helps a lot. Also we change the main filter for the AC every few months. I am very allergic to molds, so I am careful to eliminate all moisture in and around the house. I like to use vinegar and tea tree oil to kill molds in the house and hydrogen peroxide (with water) can help to get the stains out.
2. Milk – Casein is the protein in milk that can trigger the release of histamine. Histamine triggers an inflammatory response, such an in allergies and asthma. It is often a good idea to reduce or eliminate milk products during allergy season, especially the hard cheeses. The harder the cheese the the more casein (and less lactose).
3. Cleaning Products - many cleaning products can be hard on the respiratory system. Besides fragrance there are many toxic chemicals in most cleaners. Here is a link to the EWG guide to detoxifying your home.  The American Lung Association has a guide to non-toxic cleaning. I also will post my favorite recipes for my Natural Spring Cleaning Workshop later in the month, but here are some of my older cleaning recipes.
4. Antibiotics and Steroids – Antibiotics and steroids can start a cyclical dependence that lowers the bodies ability to fight allergies, asthma, virus, and infections on it’s own. I have already written on this subject in Allergy and Asthma: What Every Mother Should Know. But to summarize, antibiotics kill all bacterial (flora) in the body including the good bacterias that help us digest our food properly and fight off invaders (colds/virus/allergies). These bacterias in your gut make up more than 70% of our immune system. Antibiotics kill that immune system. Given enough time most of us can recover without outside help, but repeated doses of antibiotics and/or already sensitive stomachs may never recover. I truly believe most children (and adults) are functioning with suppressed immune systems due to bacterial imbalance. That is why I am a huge proponent of probiotics (see below for more). The problem with steroids is a little different. Our bodies naturally produce steroids in order to fight inflammation, but when we take synthetic steroids regularly, our body stops producing it’s own. Then more steroids are required to fight inflammation (ie. asthma attacks), and the cycle continues. Please read my previous post to learn more. I would never recommend immediately taking a child (or adult) off steroids, but I do recommend trying to build your child’s immune system and own anti-inflammatory response. Then when you and your doctor feel ready, trying to wean your child off the steroids.

Natural Alternatives for Treating Allergy and Asthma

1. Multi-Vitamin: Many studies suggest that the B vitamins, magnesium, and selenium all can help to reduce the symptoms of allergy and asthma, including inflammation. In addition, Vitamins C and E help to build the immune system. My children take Perfect Kids by Super Nutrition. It is the only whole food vitamin I have found that has high concentrations of the B vitamins. For more information on how to choose a multivitamin CLICK HERE.
2. Probiotics: OK, I’m a huge fan. My kids take them daily, but I don’t recommend that for everyone. I do recommend taking them when traveling, during and after a virus or antibiotics, and for irregular bowls. CLICK HERE to learn more on how to choose a probiotic.
3. Natural Anti Inflammatory: I view Elderberry as a “super food.” I believe that our families respiratory health is great because of the elderberry syrup we take regularly. Elderberries are anti-inflammatory, anti-viral, full of antioxidants, and immune boosting. In our home we use elderberry syrup or tea at the first sign of cold, virus, cough, or runny nose. Here are a few of my previous posts on elderberries: Elderberry Syrup Recipe, Natural Remedies for Cold and Flu Season, Chocolate Elderberry Cough Syrup Recipe, and Alternatives for Persistent Cough. Turmeric is another good anti-inflammatory. I try to include turmeric in any recipe that I think it will go well with. But for those who take it for it’s anti-inflammatory properties usually take it in capsule form. Curcumin is the the active ingredient in turmeric. It works a lot like ibuprofen, but may not be quite as effective pain relief. And like ibuprofen, it can cause stomach irritation or other bowl problems if taken at high dosages for prolonged time. I would not use high dosages regularly, but seasonally. It maybe hard to find dosages for children. I have not yet found a resource or any information for children under 6 or 60 lbs, but it is common in medicines and supplements for children over 60 lbs. to be prescribed half the adult dosage. (Please note this is my own estimate and not an exact nor very scientific dosage.) This can still be vague because adult dosages are often something like 2-6 capsules a day. In this case I would start with 1 and use no more than 3 per day.
4. Natural Antihistamine: Quercetin, Butterbur, and Stinging Nettle are all natural antihistamines. “[Quercetin] helps block the release of histamine that causes inflammation.”  For my own allergies, I take Quercetin capsules as directed on the bottle. I do not give it to my children because I am not sure of dosage because they are so light (about 30 lbs).  But for children over 60 lbs, I would give half an adult dosage. “[Stinging Nettle] this botanical contains carotene, vitamin K, and quercetin.” I have a stinging nettle tea that I sometimes take for milder reactions. It doesn’t taste that great alone, but I add local honey. My kids do not like tea, but sometimes I give them some of this when I suspect allergies as an underlying problem for their symptoms. It is also common for Stinging Nettle to be combines with Quercetin in capsules. “[Butterbur] appears to work as a leukotriene inhibitor, which blocks some chemicals that trigger swelling in the nasal passages.” Butterbur is probably the most extensively used herb for allergies, but you have to be careful in choosing which supplement to use. “Some butterbur preparations contain chemicals called pyrrolizidine alkaloids (PAs), which can damage the liver and cause other serious harm. Only butterbur products that are certified and labeled “PA-free” [or UPA-free] should be used.) And never eat unprocessed Butterbur. I would use as directed.  (All Quotes from WebMD).
5. Natural Antibiotic: The most powerful natural antibiotic that I know of is oregano oil. That being said it is still an antibiotic and should be treated as one. It will not be as helpful with a virus. And you should always take probiotics while taking oregano oil. I don’t have much experience with oregano oil myself, although I have friends who swear by it. I found this link on the properties and uses for Oregano Oil. Also, I would always buy from a reputable source and use as directed. Garlic is another great antibacterial that I use often to treat or prevent  ear infection, as you may have read in my previous post Naturally Fighting Ear Infection.
6. Natural Decongestants: The most effective natural decongestants I have found to be essential oils, eucalyptus and camphor. I use them both with a little peppermint oil in a vapor plug or humidifier while the children sleep.  I also have a recipe for a vapor rub using these oils. Mustard is another great decongestant and detoxifier. For my recipe for a mustard bath CLICK HERE.

If you want more information, here are a few of my previous posts on allergy and asthma:

• Asthma and Children: What Every Mother Should Know
• Asthma and Allergy Triggers
• Herbal Remedies for Allergy and Asthma
• Virus or Allergy

I hope you can find some relief and enjoy this wonderful Spring!

I did the usual: keeping them hydrated, plenty of vitamin C (OJ and their multivitamin), and keeping them warm and their clothes on (this can be quite a challenge). My children are always on probiotics, but I doubled their dosage the first day they were sick and a few times after. I kind of use my gut on when to double them up. As many of you know I am a big fan of probiotics, CLICK HERE to read more. I also gave them Children’s Alpha CF by Boerick & Tafel (homeopathic) which I always give them for a mild cold. It helped some, but was not enough this time. Here are a few additional natural home remedies I used to help alleviate their symptoms:

Elderberry Syrup

Earlier in the week there was a confirmed case of H1N1 at Claire’s school (not in her class), so I stopped giving them elderberry syrup when they got sick. I watched them for a few days and when their symptoms did not progress to those of H1N1 (high fever, sever respiratory problems, vomiting, etc.), I started elderberry syrup again. If you have read previous blogs, you know I make my own elderberry syrup. If you have not read this blog, please CLICK HERE and read it before using elderberry syrup.) But if you want to buy it I recommend Sambucus Original Black Elderberry Syrup by Nature’s Way for adults and children over 3 years of age. For infants and children under 3, I recommend Herbs for Kids Elderberry Syrup because it is made without honey. Elderberry is anti-inflammatory, has anti-viral properties, and helps build the immune system. We all take it twice a day at the first sign of a cold or virus and we usually recover quicker, coughs don’t linger, and no one has had a secondary infection in years.

Breath Right Strips

They only make these for children over 5 and I have not used them very often, but they are a nice drug free alternative for a good nights sleep. The strips go on like a band aid on the nose and help to open up the air way and reduce snoring. Claire feels special when she gets to wear one.

Lemon Foot Wraps

I did not need to use this since the kids did not really have fevers, but I thought I would include it anyway. I previously posted about this amazing and simple remedy for reducing fevers. To ready the full story, please CLICK HERE. Here is he short version:

• Warm 4 tbsp lemon juice with 1/2 cup water.
• Soak a pair of cotton socks in the warm lemon water thoroughly.
• When they are cool enough but still warm, put them on.
• Place a pair of wool socks over them and leave on for 20 minutes.
• It is recommended NOT to use a lemon wrap more than 3 times in a 24 hour period.

This worked better than any drug I have ever used to reduce fever. I only had to do it once and Ross’ fever came down almost 2 degrees instantly and dropped steadily all night.

Words of Warning: All the following remedies contain essential oils that should NOT be used with infants!

Mustard Bath

I must admit that this idea came from watching Anne of Green Gables too many times. When Diana’s little sister gets the croup, they apply a mustard paste to help. So I began reading up on mustard paste, but it seems it is not good for young children especially those as sensitive as Claire. You have to be very carefull not to get it on their skin and they have to lay still while it is on. In my searching I read that mustard baths are good for easing congestion as well as drawing out toxins, improving circulation, and relaxing muscles. I found several different recipes on different websites and they were all basically the same:

• 1 cup baking soda
• 1/2 cup dry mustard powder
• 4 drops eucalyptus oil
• 4 drops peppermint oil
• 4 drops rosemary oil

Use about 1/2 cup per bath. I got my dry mustard in bulk at the Co-op. It’s about $9/lb. I am still looking for something cheaper. One of the blogs I read said you can get non-food grade mustard powder cheaper, but I have not found it. Also, I think the rosemary oil can be optional if you do not have it. I actually just ground up some rosemary from the garden and threw it in the bath, but to get the proper ratio you would need to add 1/4 cup of crushed rosemary to this recipe. Some people may not appreciate bathing in all those leaves. This bath helped with the kids congestion immediately and actually gave Claire a burst of energy (Ross already had plenty of energy). Claire has asked if she can take “green baths” for 3 months, but I told her she can take them only as long as she is sick. They have been taking one in the morning and one in the evening before bed. It is very important to rinse off with clean water after the bath otherwise it can leave a mustard film on the skin. This can cause skin sever irritation.

Vapor Rub

After about 3 days, Claire began to cough. It did not bother me at first, since it seemed like it was just flem going down the back of her throat. But it became more frequent and a little more chesty, so I wanted to try to alleviate it. I remembered that a friend told me that putting Vick’s Vapor rub on the feet and wrapping them in socks can alleviate a cough. So I looked up the ingredients of Vick’s. It’s basically caphor oil, eucalyptus oil, and methol (mint) oil in petroleum jelly. I already had most of those ingredients, but I did not know what ratios to use. I found a few different recipes on line and decided to use one with a shea butter base, but I think you could use coconut oil, un-petroleum jelly, calendula, or any other pure unscented moisturizer. If you use un-petroleum jelly or another moisturizer you don’t need to heat it and don’t need the almond oil. Here is the recipe that I used:

• 8 oz. pure shea butter
• 1 tbsp almond oil
• 1 tsp camphor oil
• 1/2 tsp peppermint oil
• 1/4 tsp eucalyptus oil

I heated the shea butter with the almond oil in the microwave until I could mix it into a smooth lotion. Then I added the essential oils one at a time and mixed thoroughly. One of the recipes I read said to mix the oils together first and them add them, but I skipped that step. I let it cool a little and then placed it back in the shea butter container. I think this will last us the rest of our lives, so if you want to make a smaller amount or share with someone I would recommend it.  You apply it the same as you would Vick’s and no more than 3 times a day. I applied it generously to Claire’s feet and rubbed it in the best I could. Then I placed cotton socks on her feet followed by wool socks. She does not cough after I apply it (unless she exerts herself), and it lasts about 3 hours. The effects probably last longer when applied at night (when she is not running all over the house).

Vapor Plug

I use the Aura Cacia Vapor Plug for many things, but when they are sick I use peppermint and eucalyptus oils on it. These help to alleviate congestion and also help you to “feel” your breath. I usually leave it plugged in all night, but if they have the vapor rub on I don’t feel it necessary.

I hope all of you are feeling well and staying healthy!

As many of you have read, I use elderberry syrup to prevent and reduce the length of illness. CLICK HERE for a list of previous post with elderberry syrup. Elderberry syrup is great for respiratory illness. It is an anti-inflammatory, has anti-viral properties, and helps build the immune system. We all take it twice a day at the first sign of a cold or virus and we usually recover quicker, coughs don’t linger, and no one has had a secondary infection in years. It can be taken regularly during an allergy season. I also give it to my children for a few days to a week before and after getting immunizations, traveling, or the first days of school. For babies I recommend Herbs-for-Kids brand or for older children and adults Natures Way’s Sambucus. But as much as we use, it becomes quite expensive, so I took a shot at making my own. I researched several different recipes online and came up with my own version:

Recipe for Elderberry Syrup

1. I  recommend thoroughly washing the berries and taking them of the stems in really cold water. The cold water will help to keep the berries from popping when cleaning them. I bough a pair of gloved just to use for using with food, since I was washing and juicing by hand. Try to get all the white film off the berries.
2. If you do not have a juicer, than place the berries in a big pot with just enough water to heat them thoroughly until they are soft (about 20 minutes). After they are soft, juice the berries by crushing them and straining them into another bowl or pot. I used a dishcloth over a colander over a bowl to place the berries in and press all the juice out. I also used my gloves as the berries were very hot. If you have a juicer, you can use it (I don’t have any advice here as I do not have one).
3. Once you have all the juice, add 15 cloves for every 3 cups of liquid, heat it on the stove until boiling, and let simmer. Since I plan on using the syrup medicinally, I simmered mine until it was reduced approximately by half. It you used a juicer and did not have to add water, you probably only need to boil it 10 minutes or so.
4. At this point, I separated 3 cups of the juice and froze the rest in three cup sections.
5. Optional: I also juiced a bag of frozen raspberries (smashed and strained them) and added that juice to the elderberry juice for flavor.
6. I recommend adding 1 cup honey and 1 cup sugar. Many recipes call for twice the amount of sugar, so you can add sugar until desired taste. I like using half local honey because consuming local honey can help build the immune system.
7. Store in well sealed bottles and place in a cool dark place until opened. Once opened store in the fridge.

I give my children (children over 2) 1-2 tsp. twice a day for prevention and treatment of viruses. I do not give it to them daily, but as needed. For adults take 2 tsp. 2-3 times per day. I don’t think you can overdose on it any more than any other berry, but there is a lot of sugar in the syrup. For children under two, I would recommend purchasing the Herbs for Kids Elderberry Syrup, just to be safe. So far everyone likes it just as much as the store bought syrup and some like it even better. If I give it to one child, I have to give it to them both to avoid unnecessary confrontations.

Words of Warning:

Elderberries should not be eaten raw. All parts of the plant contain the toxin hydrocyanic acid which is destroyed by cooking. Red elderberry (S. pubens) is considered poisonous and should not be used at all since cooking does not destroy enough of the toxin. Most of the berries in the Sacramento area are the blue elderberry. The stems and leaves have the highest concentration of hydrocyanic acid that is why I recommend removing them. I have seen some recipes that say not to worry about the smaller stems, especially if you are boiling it. I have also seen some recipes that do not boil the juice, I would strongly advise against eating the berries or drinking the juice raw.

In addition, my friend passed along some new information warning against using elderberry syrup for treating H1N1 virus (swine flu). A recent article published by Beeyoutiful on the prevention and treatment of swine flu notes that both elderberry and the swine flu increase production of T1 cytokines.

“Cytokines are a type of white blood cell, and a normal and essential part of a healthy immune system.  T1 cytokines are a particularly aggressive part of this segment of immune system super heros and typically are very crucial.  Some viruses, such as Swine Flu, can cause these cells to over respond and the T1 cells actually become deadly to the body…..A lot of our traditional favorite supplements and herbs can potentially cause more harm than good when dealing with the risk of a cytokine storm….Since T1 cells are more aggressive front runners than other T cells, supplements that directly support their production are among the most popular for quick recoveries.  Champion among these treasured products is elderberry syrup….Several studies show a clearly documented connection between elderberry extract  and rapid T1 cytokine production.  This part of what makes it so effective as an immune boosting preventative measure against viruses-it can stop the virus in its tracks before it takes hold.  However, because of the concern of a cytokine storm, if one becomes ill with one of these dangerous viruses I do not personally recommend treating with BerryWell (this company’s brand of elderberry syrup).  My personal guideline for usage right now is two-fold.  1.  Take BerryWell liberally as a preventative every time myself or my family members go out in public.  2.  Discontinue giving to any individual that exhibits symptoms and switch to other broader and safer immune boosting treatments.” For the full article CLICK HERE.

I agree with this advice. I still plan on using elderberry syrup as preventative medicine for my family, but if I see symptoms of swine flu (fever, cough, sore throat, runny nose, body aches, headache, chills, and fatigue) I will discontinue use and go to the doctor to get tested. Only after I have confirmation that it is NOT swine flu will I continue usage. The article goes on to recommend other immune building supplements such as Vitamin D and probiotics. If you have read my previous posts, you would know that I am a strong supporter of probiotics. My children take them daily. I give them Kirman Labs Chewable Wafers. The dosage on the container is one wafer daily and that is equivalent to 20 billion individual units. That is a highly concentrated does (probably abut 3 times the average over the counter), so I give them each 1/2 wafer daily and a whole one when they are sick, traveling, or may be exposed to lots of new people. Also, I received an email that until September 20, you can receive $15 dollars off a purchase of $60 or more. Use the key code A2522 when checking out. (I do not receive any commission or benefits from Kirkman Labs). CLICK HERE for my previous post on probiotics.

When it comes to vitamin D I am cautious in giving it to children as you may have read in my previous post, on VITAMINS AND MINERALS. But at the same time, we live in a world of sunscreen and often are Vitamin D deficient. If you feel like you need to make sure your children are getting enough Vitamin D, I would look at all the food they eat that may contain Vitamin D, such as cereals, milks, snack bars, bread. etc. and verify that they will not be getting over 100% of the recommended daily does and/or discuss with their doctor on how much more to supplement them. For adults, I would recommend normally recommend a multivitamin with vitamin D. I believe that adults are far more deficient than children and less likely to overdose.

I hope everyone has a healthy cold and flu season. Even if you missed this years harvest there is always next year! I’ll keep you posted…

Note: the images of elderberries are not my own but borrowed.