Elderberry Recipe: Kid Friendly Glycerite
This Elderberry recipe is a wonderful, natural remedy for kids (and adults), as it is mild and yummy tasting. I’ve tried 4 different formulas, and this one is the simple, inexpensive recipe I use and prefer.
I usually make this and start administering it in the fall when school starts and the sick bugs are flying around. It has anti-viral properties, which makes it great for supporting the immune system.
Your local health food store should carry the 1 ounce of dried elderberries in their bulk herb section.
Ingredients
- 1/4 C or 1 oz dried elderberries
- 2 C pure water
- 1 1/2–2 C vegetable glycerin
- 2 to 3 drops wild orange essential oil (Optional)
Instructions
There will be some stems mixed in with the elderberries and that’s okay. You’ll want to crush the berries a little somehow. I used a nut chopped, which worked just enough for the job.
Combine 2 cups boiling water with the elderberries and cover tightly for 15-20 minutes. I like to put my herbs in a tea bag so I don’t have to strain, but you can add it straight to the water and strain it through some cheesecloth or coffee filter instead.
When you take out the tea bag, squeeze all the excess water out, dunk it back in and squeeze it out again to get all the concentrated liquid out.
Then add the vegetable glycerine to the elderberry tea. Start with 1 1/2 cups and taste it. If it tastes too strong, then add a little more glycerine.
Stir and put on a lid. I like to put some in a dropper bottle to keep on the counter and refill as needed. The glycerite will last several months in the cupboard and a year or more in the fridge. Make sure you label the bottle!
It’s really hard to overdose on this natural product if you use it in moderation, because it’s just like a food. I usually give a dropperful several times a day. If symptoms acute, like the bug my daughter had recently, I give it every hour until symptoms diminish.
It tastes great!
