The winter to spring transition always hits my immunity hard. Which is why I’m thankful for elderberry syrup. Elderberry syrup does great to support the immune system to help prevent or overcome common sicknesses faster, which is especially helpful this time of year!
Elderberry syrup is a great go-to for the cold and flu season because its main ingredient, elderberries, are chock full of vitamins like A, B, and C, which do an amazing job at supporting the immune system. The remaining ingredients are also beneficial for boosting immunity, making a small amount serve a powerful punch.
My recipe for elderberry syrup is a little different than the typical. I’ve added orange peel powder (an ingredient commonly used in Chinese medicine) and cayenne pepper, both of which further boost the syrup’s effectiveness and enhance its overall flavor.
A Note About Cinnamon
Most people default to using cassia (Cinnamomum sp.) cinnamon, which is the common, swirly-looking cinnamon sticks. However, these are not the correct kind of cinnamon to use for this syrup. Cassia cinnamon contains higher levels of coumarin, which, when consumed regularly (such as daily), can cause damage to the liver.
The correct cinammon to use is Ceylon or sweet (Cinnamomum verum) cinnamon, which looks kinda papery and similar to bark (cause it kinda is bark). This type of cinnamon contains coumarin as well, but in a much, much smaller amount, meaning it won’t likely cause damage to the liver.
Serving Sizes
This syrup can be taken internally to boost your immunity before the ickies hit and after you start getting sick to help ward it off faster. Here are the servings:
- For Adults Ages 12 and Up. Take 1 tablespoon daily. When symptoms arise, take 1 tablespoon 3 or 4 times a day (about every 4 hours).
- For Children Ages 5 to 12. Take 1 teaspoon daily. When symptoms arise, take 1 teaspoon 3 or 4 times a day (about every 4 hours).
- For Children Ages 1 to 5. Take 1/2 teaspoon daily. When symptoms arise, take 1/2 teaspoon 3 or 4 times a day (about every 4 hours).
- For Children Under Age 1. Do NOT give this syrup to a baby under the age of 1 since it has honey. The best way to get the immune boosting benefits of this syrup to your baby is for the mother to take the adult serving of the syrup then nurse the baby as usual.
Wow, your profile sounds so much like my life,,although I write of other things as well, but not really put both feet in yet!
I have come across looking up of plants and herbs to going natural to a lot of what I have available. But, I have a questions regarding what I am seeing many times now of “honey to babies”.
What on earth did the native Indians use then, if not allowed to give it to their babies. I have a book on natural living uses of plants and herbs they used which has the properties broken down to what the processing of all things they would use a specific plant or herb for, even cattails for the flour at the root, etc. But as this just came up again in one of your recipes, which I enjoy by the way, very nice site; I thought I would ask you.
What does honey do to babies,,I for one could not have any children but even though from a large family, I don’t recall this being the case. As long ago, without spilling out my age…I seem to remember mothers filling up bottles with water and honey back then.
I will await a reply in my gmail mailbox if you can. Thanks so much for your wonderful inspiring site, it purks me up to see it. I am an artist as well, and like how you portrayed yourself because that is what I find awkward to doing is talking of myself and what I can do.
Mind you, my skills seem so varied and all over the map! Must narrow that down soon!
Mayda McFadden – Thanks for Pinning me too, as I am the one catching up on life’s past due interests, while I suffer my aches and pains that became a deterrent, so I believe in go natural and start fresh too!
Hi, Mayda! Thanks for the question! The idea behind not giving a baby honey is that their underdeveloped digestive system might not be able to take the possible presence of botulism in the honey, whereas, adults are “strong” enough to handle the teeny tiny bit of botulism in it. I am required legally to put that in my post and also to cover my rear. 🙂 It is very debatable whether this is reality or not. I’ve known many moms who give their babies honey with no problem, but each mom must only do so at their and their child’s own risk. I personally think a big chunk of it is just doctors have been saying this to prevent themselves from getting into legal trouble–just like they say pregnant women shouldn’t eat hot dogs due to a very tiny risk of listeria.