Elderberry Echinacea Syrup

It's cold & flu season.  Are you prepared?

In getting prepared for winter, one of my projects was to make Elderberry & Echinacea syrup.  Here's how:

1/2 cup dried Elderberries
3 Tbsp Echinacea
5 cups distilled water
2 1/2 cups local honey

Bring elderberries & water to a boil.  Cover & simmer for 1 hour.  Add Echinacea.  Steep for another 30 minutes.  Strain through cheesecloth & SQUEEZE to get all the goodness out.

Add honey.

Allow to cool & bottle.

Could anything be easier???

I added a 1/4 cup of brandy to the brew as a preservative.  It will keep for a few months in the refrigerator, and longer in the freezer.  This recipe made 3 bottles, so 2 now live in the freezer. 

The very moment my instincts tell me that I have a risk of catching a cold or the flu, I take 2-3 tsp syrup at least 3 times a day.  If the cold actually catches me, I increase the dose to every 2-3 hours for a couple of days.  In addition to this lovely syrup, I drink garlic, ginger & cayenne tea when at risk of a cold.  

~*Rhi*~

    )O( 

Remember my witchy friends:   *****YOU are responsible for your own health!  If you're taking prescription medications or have chronic illnesses, you MUST consult your doctor, pharmacist or trained herbalist before using herbal remedies!  The herbal info in this blog is about how I & my family use these health-promoting plant allies & is not a substitute for medical care.*****

A Remedy for the Sniffles

So, today my wonderful man has the sniffles...

Of course, his witchy wife has the remedy!

Sniffle Be-Gone Tisane (tea)

1 inch of fresh Ginger Root
4 Garlic cloves (equal amounts of ginger & garlic)
2 Tbsp dried Passion Flower leaves
1 tsp Crushed Red Chilies
2 quarts Water
Agave or Honey to taste

Bring water to a small boil & remove from heat.  Add everything except sweetener.  Cover & let steep for 20 minutes.  Sweeten to taste.  Drink by the cupful every 2 hours.  For extra punch, add 1ml of Echinacea Tincture to each cup (not during the steeping process, just before serving).

Everything in the tisane is to boost the body's ability to fight infection & to clear the nose.  I could have added onion too, but didn't want to push it (the drink is already pretty strong tasting & needs a sweetener!).

Of course, you will stir this mixture in a deosil fashion, while performing a healing spell of your own design.

Clear-My-Nose Simmer

Water
Eucalyptus Essential Oil
Lavender Essential Oil
Fresh Camphor Leaves (or EO if you don't have 20 camphor trees like I do)
Crockpot or stove-top pot on a very low simmer 

*******Not for internal use!!!********
Add 5-10 drops of each EO & the camphor leaves into about 4 quarts of water.  Simmer, uncovered, near the poor dear with the sniffles.

REST! 


There are many more remedies, but this was what I could create from my cupboard today.  So far, so good!  He just asked me to make some more tea for tonight & tomorrow.

Wild & Bright Blessings,

~*Rhi*~

(disclaimer: these remedies are based on my own studies & experience with herbs & not a substitute for medical care. If you need a doctor, go see a doctor!  Home remedies are time-tested, wise-woman ways of improving health & well being.)