Amarillo, An Easy Way to Keep From Getting Sick This Cold Season

We are definitely in cold and flu season. You try to do anything you can to avoid getting sick. I mean it's never fun and if you can help avoid it why not?

My daughter has been giving my grandbaby elderberry syrup this season. When she asked her doctor if she is doing the right thing she was assured it was a good move.

What Does Elderberry Syrup Do For You?

According to WebMD:

Elderberry is much touted in traditional medicine as an effective cold remedy. Various studies have been done on this and have corroborated many of these claims. For example, in a major study of air travelers who experienced cold symptoms during or after their trips, people who used elderberry had marked reductions in both the length and severity of their illnesses.

The problem is a small 3 oz bottle is about $12 and lasts about a month. With the cost of everything else I was hoping there was a better solution. Oh and there was.

I could make the syrup myself. Win. You can do it either with an Instant Pot or just on the regular stovetop. One batch is actually twenty-four ounces. So you can take it daily and have enough for several months.

The most expensive ingredient you need to buy is the dried elderberry. I bought mine off Amazon. I didn't have time to check around locally for them. I am sure there is somewhere to buy them. I bought two pounds for twenty-four dollars. That will last me over a year of making the syrup.

The rest is cheap and it just depends on what you want to throw in your batch. I added echinacea because that is another herb that helps your immune system. According to WebMD:

Echinacea may strengthen your body’s immune system, helping you fight colds and flus caused by viruses or bacteria.

I bought some echinacea loose leaf off Amazon for twelve dollars. The four ounces I got will last about a year as well.

I tend to also use lemon, ginger, cloves, and cinnamon sticks. All of those ingredients are known to help with sickness. The only other thing I add in is maple syrup or honey to sweeten it up some. Since I am making this for my granddaughter mainly I added maple syrup to mine batches.

Ingredients

• 1 cup elderberries
• 1/2 cup of loose-leaf echinacea
• 4 slices of fresh ginger root
• 6 cloves
• 2 cinnamon sticks
• 1/2 lemon squeezed and then thrown in pot
• 4 cups of filtered water
• 1/2 cup of honey or maple syrup

Throw everything but the syrup or honey in the Instant Pot or Stove Top. If using the Instant Pot set it on manual with the valve closed for 10 minutes. If using the stovetop bring to a boil and let cook for thirty minutes.

Then if using the Instant Pot set it on saute and let it cook down for ten minutes. This will help thicken the syrup up a bit.

Once done pour the pot into a fine strainer. Use the back of a spoon to squeeze all of the juice out of the berries. Toss the strained berries in the trash. You only want the juice.

Once the liquid cools down to at least 115 degrees you can add the honey or maple syrup to it.

I then stored my Elderberry syrup in mason jars. The syrup will keep for six months in the refrigerator. If you want you can freeze the syrup as well.

All that is left now is to start taking it and helping yourself to not get sick. Adults can take a tablespoon a day. Kids and infants just one teaspoon a day. Oh, and it tastes much better than the stuff you order. It is way cheaper. It makes plenty and all the main ingredients, the elderberry, and echinacea will last me over a year of making elderberry syrup for my home.

I am excited to be saving this money and helping my family to avoid getting sick.