Elderberry is used for its antioxidant activity, to lower cholesterol, to improve vision, to boost the immune system, to improve heart health and for coughs, colds, flu, bacterial and viral infections and tonsilitis. I make sure to always have this handy. My children take it regularly as a vitamin C supplement. Then, at the first signs of a cold or flu, I add Echinacea for an extra strength immune booster. Echinacea stimulates the overall activity of the cells responsible for fighting all kinds of infection. Unlike antibiotics, which directly attack bacteria, echinacea makes our own immune cells more efficient at attacking bacteria, viruses and abnormal cells, including cancer cells. It increases the number and activity of immune system cells including anty-tumor cells, promotes T-cell activation, stimulates new tissue growth for wound healing and reduces inflammation in arthritis and inflammatory skin conditions, among other things. I thank God for giving us these powerful herbs! If flu persists and develops into cough, I may add some golden seal. Golden seal has a strong bitter taste and quite pricy, so I will only use it if I have to.
To make the tincture, you will need:
2 cups dried elderberries
1 cup echinacea dried herb
3/4 cup vegetable glycerine
1 1/2 cup hot water
16 oz glass jars with lids
crock pot with a dish towel
fine strainer
coffee filters
glass bowl
warm water
A dropper tincture bottle
Instructions:
Combine 1 cup of herbs, 1/4 cup glycerine, 1/2 cup hot water in each glass jar. Shake and cover with lid. Place them in a crock pot that has been lined with a dish towel (this is so the jars and pot won't crack). Fill pot with warm water all the up to just about under the lids of the jars. Set the crock pot to it's lowest setting like "Warm" and leave it for three days.
After three days, take jars out to let them cool. To strain the tincture for the herbs, set glass bowl, strainer and coffee filter on a table and pour about 2-3 tablespoons on the coffee filter at a time. Then squeeze very slowly with your hands to make sure the coffee filter doesn't come apart. You may use two filters at a time too. Pour the tincture into glass jars separating the elderberry from the echinacea.
I use am empty dropper bottle for the elderberry that I give my kids everyday. On a separate dropper I have mixed about equal parts of elderberry and echinacea for sick days.
This recipe can be modified to different herbs. Also you don't want to take echinacea everyday. It is a very powerful herb.
Herbs can be ordered through Mountain Rose for freshly harvested organic herbs.
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