A recipe with immune-boosting Elderberries

The hands-on harvesting and remedy-making aspects of herbal medicine come with their own health benefits. Foraging asks that we slow down and become fully present with the natural world around us, and crafting remedies activates the intuitive and creative part of our brains. 

With the delightful tiny black berries of the Elder tree approaching ripeness in August, I had to share one of my favourite remedies for supporting the immune-system over the winter months — Elderberry Elixir. 

Known as Nature’s medicine chest, Elder – Sambucus nigra — is a deciduous plant, native to Northern Europe and North America, and can be seen happily growing on most soil types. It can sometimes grow as a shrub in hedgerows, or as a tree on a single trunk. 

In terms of medicinal actions, Elderberries are diaphoretic, febrifuge (help to break a fever), anti-catarrhal, antiviral and immuno-supportive. They are rich in antioxidants, folic acid, and vitamins A and C. Elderberry extract has been shown to inhibit various strains of flu, especially if taken early enough. 

This Elderberry Elixir recipe combines delicious warming spices that are medicinal in their own right. If made in August, it will be ready to strain in six to eight weeks, just in time for the changing seasons when cold and flu are more rife. 

Elderberry Elixir recipe

• Half-fill a 1 litre jar with Elderberries (Tip: using a fork makes removing the berries from the stems much quicker and easier)

• Add 4-6 inches of fresh, chopped ginger, 10 crushed Cardamom pods, a stick of Cinnamon, one red Chilli chopped, 10 Cloves, 20 Black peppercorns (or whatever spices you like and have available) 

• Add 50:50 honey and vodka to your jar of Elderberries and spices, and stir thoroughly

• Leave in a dark place for 6 to 8 weeks, agitating every few days, then strain.

Take one tablespoon daily to support your immune-system, and increase dosage if you’re experiencing symptoms of cold or flu.