ELDERBERRY TINCTURE
Use: For the common cold and flu
WARNING: Elderberry is a wonderful plant and one that deserves our respect. The ripe berries and flowers are edible but leaves, twigs, unripe berries and bark are all poisonous. They contain cyanide and can do harm to humans.
CAUTION: Make sure you use Sambucas nigra or Sambucas mexicana. All parts of Sambucas racemosa (Red Elderberry) are poisonous.
Elderberry has a very high Vitamin C content and is a great immune booster, especially during the winter months of cold and flu season. This tincture can be used before you feel any symptoms, as a preventative when you start to feel the symptoms or as a way to boost your immune system when you are in the thick of a cold/flu.
INGREDIENTS:
Quart jar with lid
3-4 cups fresh or dried Elderberries
80 proof vodka
DIRECTIONS:
Clean your jar with hot water
Put the Elderberries in jar
Pour the vodka in so the berries are just covered
Lid the jar and shake, shake, shake
Label and date your jar
Try to shake it once a day.
Let it sit for at least 30 days before you strain it. You can let it soak for longer, up to a year.
To take as a preventative use 1 teaspoon 3 times a day. If you have symptoms of a cold or flu take 2 teaspoons 3-4 times a day for 2 weeks. For kids, cut the dose in half.
You can harvest Elderberry and use the fresh berries. Make sure you are harvesting in an ethical way and somewhere safe (i.e no pesticides, heavy exhaust, etc).
You can also order Elderberry extract or powder from Mountain Rose Herbs. It is a great way to support Wilderness Youth Project programs because Mountain Rose Herb gives a portion of its proceeds to WYP with every purchase made from our website. Simply click here or on banner below.
