Having sick kids is nothing we look forward to come winter time. Snotty noses, unstoppable coughing, and grumpy attitudes. Not to mention the worrying a mama goes through about the illness. It’s truly a lose-lose situation. And then if mama gets sick, then the whole ship sinks.

This winter, I wanted to try to give my family the tools we needed to avoid those cold induced ear infections and the terrible flu virus that often plagues our communities. Because for me, staying quarantined the entire winter is not an option. We have to get out and moving, in public places even, where those big, bad, ugly germs are lurking.

The most potent tool in my arsenal right now is my Homemade Elderberry Syrup. I priced some already made syrups online and thought they were outrageously priced for such a small bottle. So, after reading the amazing benefits online, I knew I had to make it myself and cut back on some of the cost. Also, it makes you feel like a total mom boss when you can boil down berries and yield a substance to boosts your child’s immunity.

The first step is finding a quality, dried, organic elderberry online to use as your base of the syrup. The same rings true for honey. You will need a good local honey that contains the area’s pollen and seasonal allergens. This will also aid in cough suppression.
Organic Elderberry
Raw, Local Honey

Then you will boil a third of a cup of dried elderberries with three cups of water. Add a few shakes of cinnamon and clove and a tablespoon or so of fresh ginger and boil until the liquid decreases by half and looks more like a syrup. Wait for it to cool and then use a fine sieve to strain in a jar. Cool completely and add a cup of honey. TADA! You did it. Your very own elderberry to build that immunity in the whole family.

According to Dr. Google, the recommended dosage is a teaspoon for children and a tablespoon for adults daily during the week. Take the weekend off.
**Remember a child under 12 months of age should not consume honey.**