Feeling a little under the weather? Down with a cold and cough? Then this recipe is for you.
Elderberries are bluish-black fruits that have been used for ages to combat colds and flu. An elderberry tincture is great plant-based medicine and a fantastic way to quickly fight seasonal bugs and colds or flu. Many people use elderberry tincture or syrup as a preventive remedy as well.
What is a tincture?
A tincture is a concentrated herbal extract simply made using two to three ingredients. Most tinctures are made from alcohol which is one of the best ways to extract the right benefits from any medicinal plant. Non-alcoholic tinctures are made with vinegar and are not as concentrated.
The benefits of Elderberries
Is it just me or does the name Elderberry sound super magical and quirky? I can't begin to tell you how much I love these little guys.
Studies and trials have confirmed time and again that using elderberries works against influenza and the common cold. It also boosts the immune system, helps get rid of constipation, eases muscle pain and takes care of headaches.
Both the flowers and berries are packed with antioxidants and vitamins that potentially reduce inflammation in the body. The tincture is known to have various therapeutic properties too.
Where can I buy elderberries?
Elderberry is native to the United States and tolerates a large soil range, including poor soil, but they don’t like drought conditions.
There are some options when it comes to foraging fresh berries or buying dried elderberries, but it’s important you know which type of elderberry you’re picking. Check with your local extension office to be absolutely sure.
You can also purchase elderberries from Amazon. Your local health food store may have some too!
Amyra's Tip: Elderberries tend to sell out by the time the cold and flu season arrives. Buy them well beforehand.
Equipment Required To Make Homemade Elderberry Tincture
The equipment required to make herbal tinctures is very minimal.
Mason Jars: Regular mason jars work, but amber jars prevent light damage. Make sure the lid is tight-fitting.
*The elderberry tincture must be stored in a dark place while you're waiting for extraction.
Funnel: A medium-sized funnel with a couple of layers of cheesecloth works best when decanting the finished elderberry tincture.
The tincture must be stored in a dark amber glass bottle with a dropper to protect its medicinal compounds
Lastly, label your tinctures with blank adhesive labels or tags.
Disclaimer: You must always consult your doctor or clinical herbalist before you try any new herbal remedy. There is a possibility of an unintended reaction/consequence/side effect. I am not a practising clinical herbalist and the following is based on my research and experience. If you are foraging in the wild, please be 100% sure of the identification of the plant.
Let’s Make Homemade Elderberry Tincture
While there is a decent amount of waiting time involved in making an elderberry tincture at home, once you realize how simple it is, you'll be making this bottle of cold-combating elixir for everyone.
I generally use dried organic elderberries but you can use fresh ones too. I like to stash my fresh elderberries away for making elderberry pie and elderberry jelly.
You could make a fairly successful tincture with intact berries but you will reap the best benefits only by roughly chopping them up. Fresh berries release antioxidant-rich juices at this stage, and whether dry or fresh, chopped berries get a lot more surface area which in turn allows better extraction.
Take a clean jar and fill 1/3 to 1/2 with dried or fresh elderberries. DO NOT pack them to the brim. Next, pour alcohol until the berries are completely covered. I use Smirnoff Vodka because it's inexpensive and tasty, I mean you will be dropping the tincture into your mouth eventually. You can use any other ethyl alcohol you like as long as it is 80-proof (or 40%) alcohol. Anything below will ruin your tincture.
Never use rubbing alcohol (isopropyl alcohol) as it is poisonous and can make you extremely ill. You may use rubbing alcohol in herbal liniments as it's for external use but be sure to label them carefully.
Alright, on to the next step. Give the jar a gentle shake and then store it in a cool, dry place which is void of any direct light, like a kitchen cabinet.
Repeat gently shaking the jar for a few days and monitor the alcohol levels. Dried matter invariably absorbs more alcohol. In such cases, simply open the jar and top the berries off with more alcohol.
After 6 to 8 weeks, your tincture is ready for decantation. Place a folded cheesecloth over a medium-sized funnel. Make sure the tip of the funnel is placed into the neck of a dark amber glass bottle. Slowly pour the tincture into the bottle through the funnel, while making sure you squeeze the elderberries in the cheesecloth to the last drop.
Label the bottle with its contents, the date it was bottled, the dosage and what it can be used for. A good elderberry tincture can be used for up to 5 years after the first extraction.
Elderberry Tincture Dosage
As I mentioned earlier, I am not a clinical herbalist or doctor and you should always check with your practitioner for specific dosages. However, these are some suggested dosages I found online.
While the following dosages vary by age, the method to take the extract is the same, i.e. releasing the dropper under the tongue.
Sick adults (ages 12+) should take 2 dropperfuls, 3 times a day.
Adults (ages 12+) who are not sick but may feel a cold or flu coming in should take 2 dropperfuls, once a day.
Sick children (ages 5-12) should take 1 dropperful, 3 times a day.
Sick children (ages 5-12) who are not sick but may feel a cold or flu coming in should take 1 dropperful, once a day.
Sick young children (ages 4 and below) should take 1/4 to 1/2 dropperful, 3 times per day.
However, I would not recommend giving this tincture to a year-old child.
*Especially for infants and children, please consult their doctor before trying any new herbal treatment and consider making a glycerite tincture instead.
ELDERBERRY TINCTURE RECIPE
Brimming with immune-boosting benefits, elderberry tincture is a powerful and magical medicine to keep handy during cold & flu season. Make your tincture at home using dried or fresh elderberries now!
Prep Time: 10 mins
Active Time: 10 mins
Additional Time: 2 months
Total Time: 2 months 20 mins
Difficulty: Easy
Materials
- Dried or fresh elderberries, roughly chopped (preferred)
- Vodka or any other high-proof alcohol (or vegetable glycerin if making an alcohol-free tincture- see notes)
Tools
- Mason Jar (pint) with a tight lid
- Funnel
- Cheesecloth
- Dark amber dropper bottles
- Labels or Tags
Instructions
1. Fill a dry and clean mason jar 1/3 to 1/2 with dried or fresh elderberries.
2. Pour alcohol over the elderberries, completely covering them.
3. Screw the lid tightly and gently shake the jar, allowing it to settle naturally.
4. Store in a cool dry place, away from direct light, like a kitchen cabinet, for the next 6-8 weeks.
5. Shake alcohol-based tinctures every few days and glycerite every day. If alcohol levels decrease, top it off.
6. Once ready, decant it using a funnel with cheesecloth lined in it. Place the tip of the funnel in the neck of the dark amber bottle.
7. Pour the tincture and squeeze the cheesecloth for all the extract.
8. Label with its contents, the date it was bottled, the dosage and what it can be used for. A good elderberry tincture can be used for up to 5 years after the first extraction.
Notes
If you're making the tincture using glycerin, cover the berries with 3 parts glycerin to 1 part distilled water.
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