I love making elderberry syrup with essential oils for my family, especially during the winter months when germs seem to be on the prowl.

At the beginning of our road to better health, I found myself looking for more natural alternatives to over the counter products.  In my search, I came across an article about a powerful natural elixir that not only helped boost your immune system but just might wipe out influenza!  Sounded a little cray-cray if you would have asked me…

But, with the seasons changing and cooler weather ahead, I decided to order the ingredients and make my very own Elderberry Syrup.  For years now, I have made certain I kept the ingredients on hand!  As we learned about the benefits of cooking with essential oils, we tweaked our recipe and traded out some of the dry ingredients for what we felt were a better option.

Andy and I have learned that it is worth being proactive with our health and not exhausting our bodies by playing catch up when our immune systems are under attack.  This isn’t always possible as things just happen sometimes no matter how well you take care of yourself.  But, overall, our families wellness has drastically improved by taking this different approach and changing how we have viewed our health, our whole life.

So, during the cooler seasons, this is great to keep in your refrigerator. I like to always have a bottle of homemade Elderberry Syrup.

Purchasing the syrup can be costly and for our family of five, it is more cost effective to make our own. Of course, you get the benefit of feeling all Susie-homemaker when you whip it up yourself! So, go for it!  Impress your family and keep them well!

Also, I have found that store-bought syrup includes cane sugar.  By making your own elderberry syrup, you have the option to choose the resource of your ingredients.  We only use local raw honey which is more beneficial to your health and naturally antimicrobial. 

Having our own bees over the years has created little honey snobs of me and my family (and honey hoarders!).

Now, elderberries are these little dark-purplish berries that grow on the elderberry bush or the elder tree. Elderberries are very high in antioxidants, including Anthocyanins, which is one of the most powerful antioxidants known to man. Elderberry is also a good source of Vitamins A, B, and C as well as Potassium and other needed nutrients. The medicinal use of elderberry is nothing new and can be dated back to ancient history.

So, how do you make this awesome sauce?

Here’s what you need…

Here’s what you do…

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Directions

• Add elderberries to 4 cups of boiling water.
  Reduce to a simmer.
• Allow to simmer on the stove for 1 hour or until the liquid has been reduced by about half.
• Remove from the stove and cool until it is just warm enough to mix in honey.
• The less heat the better to preserve all the properties of honey and essential oils.
• Strain through a fine mesh strainer then stir in honey (I usually strain liquid a couple of times).
• Add your Young Living Vitality essential oils.
• Pour into glass container and enjoy!!!

• Store your elderberry syrup in the refrigerator to stay fresh.
• Use 1 tbsp per day for adults and 1/2 – 1 tsp for children.
• For more support take more often throughout the day, until feeling healthier.

Find your elderberries here!

When it comes to the raw honey…  I recommend you find nearby beekeepers and purchase locally.  Andy and I get our raw honey from our own beehives or our families.  Beekeeping can be a real adventure…  but that’s another story for another time. #savethebeees

Enjoy and be well!
xo,

First published on November 21, 2015. Updated July 6, 2020.