My teacher Robin likes to say, “If you make people’s medicine taste good, they are more likely to take it.” Well, if you ask me, there is no tastier medicine than an herbal elixir. My father actually makes this old school remedy when he has a cold; but until we made it in our herbal circle, I always thought it was just an excuse for him to drink some hard liquor.
Good medicine:
- Brandy (Yes, brandy. Herbalists are not as boring as some of you thought, huh?)
- Honey (The old school recipe calls for sugar, my father uses rock candy but I prefer honey for its antibacterial goodness)
- Fruit (concord grapes, blueberries, blackberries, strawberries, raspberries or elderberries which are specific for combating colds and flu)
Rinse whatever fruit you are using, squish it a bit and put it in a glass jar. Cover the fruit with brandy and add a fair amount of honey. Let this mixture sit for six weeks (if you can stand it) but check it daily in the beginning stages to make sure that the fruit remains covered by alcohol. If the fruit is sticking out of the liquor, add more brandy.
When the mixture is ready, take one teaspoon at night. You might think I am encouraging you to be a lush. I’m not. Really. This stuff can keep colds at bay. My friend, L, took a teaspoon of one of my elixirs and swears it stopped a cold she felt from coming on.
elderberry photo from http://www.thenorthwestgardener.com
I’ve got three elixirs brewing right now: concord grape, rose petals, and elderberry. My husband already snuck into the concord grape one. “I couldn’t resist,” he confessed. That’s one medicine he won’t have to be convinced to take.
The Sage Honey 
Hi, Ekere. I connected with you via Ladies Who Launch a couple months ago. I’ve just been reminded about your blog, and I’m so glad. Your writing is beautiful, and I love your posts!
I have a question about the elixirs. During the cold and flu season, I prefer to rely on herbals as a first line of defense for my whole family. Is it safe to give kids the alcohol-based elixirs? Or, is there an alternate way of making them for children? Thank you for your words and wisdom!
Greetings! Great question. I gave my four year old a teaspoon of an elderberry elixir recently but that was one time and it is not a practice of mine.I tend to depend on food and herbal infusions to keep my girls in good health. I use tinctures (funny enough, alcohol based mostly) and syrups for them if they fall ill.
I just made an elderberry syrup that my 2 and half year old actually asks to be given.
Elderberry syrup
Make an infusion from dried elderberries (Place dried elderberries in a mason jar and fill the jar entirely to the top with just boiled water. The ratio would be 1 cup berries to a quart of water) Let the infusion sit overnight.
Make a decoction of the infusion (place your infusion in a pot on the stove and turn the heat on so that the liquid is evaporating without simmering or boiling) When you have half of the liquid you started with left in the pot, you have a decoction.
Add honey to taste and a teaspoon of brandy to preserve. Put this in the fridge.
Voila! Elderberry syrup. A teaspoon at night is good medicine.
You can do this with rose hips too since it is cold season.
Enjoy!
Hi Ekere,
I am very much a beginner into herbs and have tried rosehips, oatstraw, nettles, red clover, red raspberry leaves, ginger etc and a few East Indian herbs as well and am enamored by their healing powers. My fascination started with using the herbs and eos in beauty potions and vinegars and then now I use them for their health benefits.
I’d love to follow your blog and learn more on herbs. You write beautifully.
Welcome, Kay! Just reading the herbs you listed here made me want to run to the kitchen and make tea. Please feel free to share your experiences with the herbs. I checked out out your blog and it is amazing. What mouth watering recipes. I really look forward to hearing your voice here.
Hi Ekere,
That reminds me of what we use to do to take care of a cold. Home remedies, herbs and various elixirs are a sure way to handle your business. I remember having a little Southern Comfort in my tea to cure my monthly cramps. Nice information.
Is there any specific remedy you remember for colds? Please do share.
[…] While non elderberry syrup taking folk in our house got sick, she stayed healthy and energetic. Infusion of elderberry is heavenly. Take a teaspoon nightly–ok, try to just take one teaspoon nightly–this is […]