Search Results for: elderberry

How To Make Elderberry Syrup

November 1, 2011 By Jill 27 Comments

Click here to read the reasons I don’t get a flu shot.

Elderberry syrup is what I call my homemade flu medicine. Elderberries are a great immune booster and are good for bronchitis, colds, coughing and especially the flu. They contain compounds that inhibit the flu from penetrating cell membranes and invading respiratory tract cells. You can take the elderberry syrup daily to help prevent the flu, or every hour if you have come down with the flu (or a cold, etc.) This syrup is very beneficial to your health and it tastes great too!!!

How To Make Elderberry Syrup

1/2 cup dried elderberries

3 cups water

1 cup raw honey

Bring berries and water to a boil and simmer for about 30 minutes. Mash berries and strain through a cheesecloth or a fine strainer. Stir in honey and pour into jar. Store in the refrigerator for 3 months.

Elderberry Syrup Oxymel

(Adding apple cider vinegar to this syrup turns it into an oxymel. I recommend making this recipe with the ACV for extra benefits, but the recipe above with only honey is great too!)

2 cups dried elderberries

4 cups water

3 cups raw honey

1cup raw apple cider vinegar

Follow the same instructions as the recipe above. This recipe lasts for 6 months in the fridge.

For both recipes:

Child – take 1 tsp. daily

Adults – take 1 tbsp. daily

(Or hourly if sick)

Watch a video of me making elderberry syrup!

Don’t know where to buy dried elderberries? Two of my favorite places are Bulk Herb Store & Mountain Rose Herbs.

Though it does save a lot of money to make your own syrup, if you would like to buy some, you can. Berry Well is one good quality elderberry syrup you can buy.

Enjoy making this healthy, easy syrup for you and your family.

*Disclaimer – These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA and are not intended to treat, cure or prevent any disease*
Linked to:
Wildcrafting Wednesday
The Prairie Homestead
A Pause on the Path
Becoming Lydia

Ashwagandha Smoothie For Improved Energy, Sleep, Libido, and More

April 8, 2017 By Jill 7 Comments

Ashwagandha Smoothie | Jills Home Remedies | Here is a delicious recipe for Ashwagandha Smoothie that can help improve sleep, energy, libido, plus relieves anxiety and supports the adrenals! Try it today!

As I mentioned in my most recent email, here is the promised recipe for a great smoothie that can help improve sleep, energy, libido, plus relieve anxiety and support the adrenals! (If you are not a JHR subscriber, you can subscribe here to stay informed on all the new natural health updates as well as occasional information not shared here on the blog.) This recipe is taken from the newly released book Alchemy of Herbs. If you’d like your own copy, today is the day you want to buy it! More on that below.

Ashwagandha is the star herb in this smoothie recipe!

Ashwagandha is used to treat fatigue, insomnia, low libido, anxiety, asthma, arthritis, insulin resistance, fibromyalgia, hypothyroid, reproductive health, and more! It’s adaptogenic (meaning it supports the adrenals and helps the body adapt to stress), anti-inflammatory, cardioprotective, an aphrodisiac and an antioxidant. [1]

By simply adding this herb to a smoothie, you can improve your health in an easy way. I did tweak it slightly and that is indicated in the recipe in parenthesis. Trust me when I say that this recipe is delicious and so very healthy!

Ashwagandha Smoothie

This yummy ashwagandha smoothie is a great way to share the nourishing and supportive qualities of ashwagandha. If you have a sensitivity to dairy, use any nondairy yogurt of your choice. For the nut or seed butter, peanut, almond, cashew, and sunflower seed butters are all good options.

Yield: 5 cups, 3 to 5 servings

Ingredients

2 bananas (I used frozen bananas. This makes it thicker, which is how we like it.)

2 cups almond milk (I used one cup)

1 cup plain yogurt (I used homemade kefir)

1/2 cup nut or seed butter

1/4 cup coconut oil

2 tablespoons ashwagandha powder (buy here)

2 teaspoons cinnamon powder (buy here)

maple syrup or honey, to taste (I omitted this because I add extra bananas if more sweetness is needed.)

Directions

Place all the ingredients into a blender. Blend until smooth.
Pour the mixture into glasses. Use a spatula to get all the liquid from the sides of the blender—there are lots of good herbs in there.
Drink immediately.

Recipe from Alchemy of Herbs: Transform Everyday Ingredients into Foods and Remedies That Heal by Rosalee de la Forêt (Hay House, 2017)

References

Alchemy of Herbs

Natural Living Spring Giveaway

March 6, 2017 By Jill 23 Comments

With spring right around the corner, it’s time for a natural living giveaway! But not just any natural living giveaway, I have joined with a few naturally minded friends who also want to share a few of their favorite things!

And what happens when 3 herbalists and a chiropractor get together to bless their readers?

You get this amazing package of goodies:

Essential Oils

Sara Elizabeth from A Mama’s Story is giving away a mini-diffuser and a bottle of citrus fresh. Citrus Fresh is one of my favorite blends. With its wonderfully uplifting fragrance, I love how it supports clarity and focus.

Ways to use Citrus Fresh in my home:

Diffuse around my children while they’re doing school.
Add a few drops to a cup of vinegar to soften and freshen clothes in the washer.
Add a few drops to a cloth and toss into the dryer to add fragrance to clothes as they dry.
In the evenings, I love to add Citrus Fresh to Lavender in my diffuser to promote relaxation.

Herbs

I’m shipping a 1/2 pound bag of Red Raspberry Leaf to the winner! This is an herb I keep on hand all the time because it’s so nutritious, beneficial for the whole family, and safe for any age!

Red raspberry leaf boasts a long lists of vitamins, minerals, and nutrients that are a great benefit for any member of the family. Whether it’s consumed for daily nutrition or as needed nourishment during times of illness, this herb can make a huge difference for the whole family!

While anyone can use this herb, red raspberry is most popular for women’s health. It nourishes the uterus, tones the reproductive areas, and may make for an easier birth for pregnant mamas. It also can help to balance hormones and ease menstrual cramps for all ages.

Organization

My friend Nicole of Some Call it Natural is providing an absolute treat, especially if you’re a planner junkie like me. She’s generously giving away one copy of her 2017 Some Call it Natural Planner.

If you don’t want to wait to see if you won a copy, you can head over and purchase one. The planner is available in both an undated and dated format. You can also check out some sample pages while you’re there. Included is just about anything you need to keep your days smoothly.

Homemade Goodness

And finally, leave it to my friend Meagan of Growing Up Herbal, to provide something wonderful–a DIY Elderberry Syrup kit! Elderberry syrup is a mainstay in my home, and there’s nothing like one made in a mama’s kitchen. If you haven’t visited Meagan’s site recently, she’s an absolute treasure trove of information.

What an awesome bundle of gifts. Take your time and enter below. Some options can be used once a day, so take advantage of that. Have an awesome week ahead!

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