Elderberry syrup is a common immune-boosting home remedy for colds and flus.  It can be expensive to purchase, but homemade elderberry syrup is easier than you think.

My parents weren’t exactly into doing things naturally when we were kids.  We didn’t shop at the farmer’s market or eat health food, and I’d honestly never even heard of granola until I got to college.  Even though my upbringing was far from “crunchy,” there was one herbal remedy we always had on hand: Elderberry Syrup.

Why?  Our pediatrician insisted on it. 

She told my mother that there’s nothing safer, or more effective, for keeping children healthy than elderberry syrup.  We’d show up at the doctor, all three of us kids, noses running and with high fevers and our doctor would immediately look to my mother and ask, “Did you forget the elderberry syrup?”

She’d give us prescriptions for antibiotics (as they were handed out a lot easier back them), along with a note reminding my mother to pick up yet another bottle of the all-important elderberry syrup at the pharmacy.

Now that I have my own kids, life is a bit different.  We grow our own organic food on our Vermont homestead, herbal remedies are our first line of defense and my kids have never yet been prescribed antibiotics.  Still, elderberry syrup is our go-to remedy that gets our family through cold and flu season.

These days though, instead of picking up sambucol at the store, we make our own homemade elderberry syrup with raw honey and other immune-boosting herbs.

Benefits of Elderberry Syrup

While elderberry has been a folk remedy for centuries, modern science is validating these age-old uses.  Studies have found that elderberry syrup can reduce the duration of flus, as well as boost the immune system in both the healthy and sick.  

Elderberry Syrup Cold & Flu Treatments

A placebo-controlled study on flu patients found that with a tablespoon (15 ml) of elderberry syrup taken 4x per day,  “Symptoms were relieved on average 4 days earlier and use of rescue medication was significantly less in those receiving elderberry extract compared with placebo. Elderberry extract seems to offer an efficient, safe and cost-effective treatment for influenza.”

Another influenza study cooked elderberry syrup into slow-release lozenges, but administered a similar dosage 4x a day.  The effects were dramatic…

“The extract-treated group showed significant improvement in most of the symptoms except 24 hours after the onset of the treatment, whereas the placebo group showed no improvement or an increase in severity of the symptoms at the same time point. By 48 hours, 9 patients (28%) in the extract-treated group were void of all symptoms, 19 patients (60%) showed relief from some symptoms… In contrast, complete recovery was not achieved by a single patient in the placebo group [during the 48 hour monitoring period].”

They concluded that “elderberry extract is safe and highly effective in treating flu‐like symptoms.”

Elderberry Syrup For the Immune System

After several studies confirmed that elderberry syrup can shorten the duration of the flu, another study tried to determine the effects of elderberry syrup on a healthy immune system.  They found that a commercially available elderberry syrup (Sambucol) substantially increased immune activity, even in healthy people. 

“We conclude from this study that, in addition to its antiviral properties, Sambucol Elderberry Extract and its formulations activate the healthy immune system by increasing inflammatory cytokine production. Sambucol might, therefore, be beneficial to the immune system activation and in the inflammatory process in healthy individuals or in patients with various diseases. Sambucol could also have an immunoprotective or immunostimulatory effect when administered to cancer or AIDS patients, in conjunction with chemotherapeutic or other treatments.”

Side Effects of Elderberry Syrup

In general, elderberry syrup is considered a safe natural remedy.  That said, there’s always the potential for an allergic reaction.

Other parts of elderberry plants, such as the leaves and stems contain a toxic compound called glycoside, and should not be consumed.  There’s also some evidence that raw elderberries contain toxins, and all elderberries should be cooked prior to use.  Elderberry syrup is a cooked preparation, which is another reason why it’s so common as a home remedy.

(Others suggest that fermentation also destroys this toxin, so homemade elderberry oxymel, wine and vinegar are generally considered safe.  We’re fond of making elderberry mead, which is honey wine.)

Elderberries are mildly diuretic and can interact with prescription “water pills” designed to make you pee more.  Additionally, since they’re an immune stimulant, they can potentially cause problems in people with auto-immune disorders.

As with any herbal remedy, it’s best to check with your doctor before starting any new remedy.  

Disclaimer: I am not a doctor, nor do I play one on the internet.  I love doing research and sharing my findings with others, but I strongly suggest you verify this information with other sources and talk to your doctor.

How to Make Elderberry Syrup

Homemade elderberry syrup can be made from either fresh or dried elderberries.  Generally, dried elderberries are used simply because they’re more easily available. 

I buy dried elderberries in bulk online, and we probably go through 3-4 pounds a year making various elderberry remedies.

Making elderberry syrup starts with elderberries and water.  The amounts are up to you, but I start with 1 cup dried elderberries, add 4 cups water.  Keep that ratio the same, using 1 part dried elderberries to 4 parts water, by volume.  

Bring the elderberries and water to a boil, and simmer on very low about 30 minutes.  Most of the water is going to either evaporate or absorb into the dried berries, but be very careful not to let the pot boil dry. 

After simmering, it’s time to strain the mixture.   With the pot on very low heat for 30 minutes, I usually get right around 1 cup of very strong elderberry extract after straining.  (Save the strained berries, they can still be used a few more times for making cups of elderberry tea.)

The total yield may vary depending on your stove, so measure the strained liquid.

Add 1 part honey for every 2 parts juice.  With my elderberry syrup recipe, I have 1 cup juice, so I add 1/2 cup raw local honey.

I generally let the hot elderberry extract cool to room temperature before adding the honey, simply because I want to keep the honey raw and unheated.  That’s optional, and you can just dissolve the honey in the hot elderberry extract.   

At this point, you have a finished elderberry syrup that can be stored in the refrigerator for 2-3 weeks.  Without any preservatives, the syrup must be used relatively quickly.

Making Shelf-Stable Elderberry Syrup

My simple homemade elderberry syrup recipe isn’t shelf-stable, but since it’s quick to make, I don’t really mind.  Just keep dried elderberries on hand and I’ve got a fresh batch ready to go in under an hour.

Still, it’s sometimes handy to have fresh elderberry syrup in the medicine cabinet, like when my husband comes home feeling under the weather and wants something to take now before heading off to bed.

Adding alcohol preserves elderberry syrup, but you have to add quite a bit for it to be effective.  The mixture needs to be at least 20% alcohol, and some sources say 30%.

To achieve this, you’d have to add an 80 proof liquor (40% alcohol) like vodka at a 1:1 ratio.

What do I do?  

I mix homemade elderberry syrup with an equal amount of homemade echinacea tincture.  That achieves the 20% alcohol while adding even more immune-boosting herbs.

Elderberry Syrup Dosage

The commonly recognized dosage for elderberry syrup is one tablespoon (15ml) taken 3-4 times per day for 3-5 days for adults.  Elderberry syrup dosage for children is one tablespoon (15ml) twice daily.

Keep in mind that honey cannot be fed to children under 2 years of age.  Their stomach acid is not as strong as adults, and there’s a small chance they could have an adverse reaction to the naturally occurring bacteria in honey.  Elderberry syrups made with sugar are more appropriate in younger children.

That said, always check with your doctor for more specific dosages appropriate to your situation. 

(And always check with a doctor before giving any medication, herbal or otherwise, to a young child.)

Ways to Use Elderberry Syrup

While you can just take elderberry syrup by the spoonful, it’s a really versatile ingredient that you can incorporate into your diet in other ways. 

I like to add 2-3 tablespoons to a glass of seltzer for a refreshing elderberry soda, or using elderberry syrup to sweeten herbal teas. 

While I’m fond of our homemade maple syrup, I sometimes pour elderberry syrup over pancakes for an immune-boosting berry-flavored breakfast.  It’s also spectacular drizzled over plain yogurt.

A friend of mine uses it to make homemade elderberry lollipops, which are an extra special treat.  They’re a bit sweet for my taste, but a good substitution for storebought candy.

My kids are particularly fond of homemade elderberry gummy bears.  I think of them as our own tiny, flu-fighting army…

Yield: About 12 Ounces (1 1/2 cups)

Homemade Elderberry Syrup

Prep Time: 5 minutes

Cook Time: 30 minutes

Additional Time: 15 minutes

Total Time: 50 minutes

Homemade elderberry syrup is easy to make at home with just a few simple ingredients. Using fresh or dried elderberries, this elderberry syrup recipe is ready in less than an hour.

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Ingredients

• 1 cup dried elderberries
• 4 cups water
• 1/2 cup honey (see note)

Instructions

1. Add elderberries and water to a saucepan and bring to a low simmer. Heat on low for about 30 minutes, and then remove from heat. (Most of the water is going to either evaporate or absorb into the dried berries. Keep the heat low and be careful not to let the pot boil dry.)
2. Strain the elderberry extract through cheesecloth or a fine-mesh strainer.  (Save the strained berries, they can still be used a few more times for making cups of elderberry tea.)
3. Optional ~ Allow the elderberry extract to cool to room temperature if using raw honey.
4. Measure the strained liquid, you should have about 1 cup of elderberry extract.
5. Add 1 part honey for every 2 parts juice.  With my elderberry syrup recipe, I have 1 cup juice, so I add 1/2 cup raw local honey.
6. Stir until the honey is completely dissolved, about 1-2 minutes.
7. Store homemade elderberry syrup in the refrigerator and use within 2-3 weeks. (See note to extend shelf life)

Notes

Double or triple this recipe, but Keep that ratio the same, using 1 part dried elderberries to 4 parts water, by volume. Then measure the strained liquid and add 2 parts elderberry extract to 1 part honey.

To make shelf-stable elderberry syrup, add an equal amount of 80 proof liquor (40% alcohol), such as vodka. I add echinacea tincture, which complements the immune-boosting properties of elderberry.

Dosage is usually 1 tablespoon (15ml) taken 3-4 times a day for adults.

Please consult your doctor before starting any new remedy, herbal or otherwise. Never feed honey to children under 2 years of age, and consult a doctor before using elderberry syrup for children.

Recommended Products

As an Amazon Associate and member of other affiliate programs, I earn from qualifying purchases.

• 
  Honest Raw Honey, Pure Natural American Honey, 22 Ounce
• 
  Starwest Botanicals Organic Elder Berries, 1 Pound Bulk

More Elderberry Recipes

Looking for more ways to use elderberries?  Try any of these tasty elderberry recipes:

• Elderberry Pie
• Fermented Elderberry Honey
• Elderberry Jelly
• Elderberry Ice Cream