Elderberry Syrup Recipe (Cold And Flu Remedy) (2024)

FAQs

How much homemade elderberry syrup per day? ›

You can buy dried berries online and boil them down with water into a syrup (add cinnamon sticks for added flavor), says Foroutan. Or, boil elderberries in a pot of water, strain, and drink as a tea. If you make syrup at home, cook it thoroughly and take a tablespoon daily.

Elderberry is commonly used for the common cold, flu, high cholesterol, and many other conditions, but there is no good scientific evidence to support most of these uses, with the possible exception of the flu. There is also no good evidence to support using elderberry for COVID-19.

How much elderberry should you take? There is no standard dose of elderberry. For flu, some studies have used 1 tablespoon of an elderberry syrup extract four times a day. Another common form of elderberry is a lozenge, often with zinc, that is taken numerous times daily after a cold begins.

Are There Elderberry Side Effects? There is a downside to consuming too much elderberry, and that is an upset stomach. Just like with any high fiber fruit, eating too much can cause stomach pain, upset stomach, and diarrhea.

Some of our customers take it year-round, others take it only when they are seeking to support their immune system. An adult serving is approximately one tablespoon and a child serving is approximately one teaspoon. You can take elderberry once a day or up to three times daily if needed.

May improve cold and flu symptoms

Furthermore, a study of 312 air travelers taking capsules containing 300 mg of elderberry extract three times per day found that those who got sick experienced a shorter duration of illness and less severe symptoms ( 11 ).

A pilot trial with elderberry extract (175 mg) lozenges taken by patients with flu like symptoms four times for two days also confirmed a beneficial effect on severity and duration of cold and flu like symptoms [17]. Similarly, other complementary or nutritional medicines have shown to decrease cold duration.

Although there is no specific time of day to take elderberry, you'll maximize its benefits by using it consistently on a regular basis. You can choose whether to use it morning, afternoon or evening. It may be best to use elderberry for short periods of time to support healthy immune function, and then take a break.

What actually shortens a cold? ›

Rest, drinking fluids, and medicines can help you recover from a cold. Other remedies, such as vitamin C, zinc, and probiotic drinks, may also help relieve symptoms earlier.

The immune boosting and anti-inflammatory properties of this superfood make it a great natural remedy for allergy symptoms. The herbs known to remove excess mucus from the body called anti-catarrhals make this potent berry an effective medicine in clearing up runny noses, congestion, sneezing and itchy watery eyes.

We get asked all the time, “Do I need to refrigerate my syrup?” And the answer is YES! Most of the store-bought elderberry syrups out there are packed with preservatives, which is why they can last in the medicine cabinet for so long. Most preservatives are sugar laden and unhealthy for our bodies.

When it comes to maintaining a strong immune system, black elderberries (Sambucus nigra) are the preferred choice.

Cardiovascular disease risk biomarkers and liver and kidney function are not altered in postmenopausal women after ingesting an elderberry extract rich in anthocyanins for 12 weeks. J Nutr. 2009 Dec;139(12):2266-71. doi: 10.3945/jn.

Elderberries offer excellent nutrition that contains antioxidants and vitamin C, which can boost the immune system among other benefits. Yes, you can take elderberry supplements daily, even three to four times a day. However, you should not take more than the recommended daily dose.

Some people take 1 tablespoon (15 ml) of Elderberry Syrup during the cold and flu season daily, and then increase this dosage to once every 2-3 waking hours at the very first sign of illness or known exposure to the cold or flu, for 2-4 days.

For example, a recommended serving size of elderberry syrup is 2 teaspoons (10 milliliters) per day containing 3.8 grams of elderberry. For lozenges, one manufacturer recommends taking 1 lozenge (4 grams) containing 12 milligrams as needed up to four times per day.

Elderberry is naturally high in vitamin C, the body's most abundant antioxidant, which not only helps reduce the risk of chronic disease, but may also be good for those with high blood pressure, and prevent iron deficiency anaemia.