You can forget about taking a trip to your local pharmacy the next time you come down with a bad case of the flu or the common cold. Why spend money on flu medication when you can create your own DIY herbal remedies in the comfort of your own home? Here are some useful elderberry remedies that you can use to treat your colds or flu naturally. (h/t to SurvivalBlog.com)

Elderberries are dark purple fruits that grow from the elderberry shrub. Due to their health-promoting properties, elderberries have been used for various medicinal purposes since ancient times. They are loaded with powerful antioxidants that can boost your immune system and reduce inflammation. Because elderberries possess potent antiviral properties, they can reduce the duration and severity of viral infections, such as the cold and flu. To maximize the health benefits of consuming elderberries, you should take them every three to four hours within the first day of experiencing the cold or flu symptoms. (Related: Elderberries are more effective than vaccines at protecting you against colds and flu.)

How to make your own DIY elderberry remedies

Elderberry syrup

Elderberry syrup tastes sweet, which makes it easy to persuade small children to take it, unlike foul-tasting medicines. Use it just like any other syrup. You can pour a tablespoonful of elderberry syrup on a stack of pancakes or waffles to make a tasty, immune-boosting breakfast.

Ingredients:

• ½ cup of dried berries or 1 cup of fresh berries
• 3 cups of water
• ¾ to 1 cup of sugar or honey
• ½ teaspoon of ground ginger, to taste
• ½ teaspoon of ground cinnamon, to taste
• 1-2 anise star pods, to taste

Procedure:

1. Add all the ingredients to a large sauce pan and mix them thoroughly.
2. Cover the sauce pan and bring the mixture to a boil.
3. Turn down the heat and allow the syrup to gently simmer for around 20 minutes.
4. Strain the berries out of the syrup.
5. Add the sugar or honey to preserve the syrup.
6. Store the syrup in a refrigerator.

Elderberry tincture

Unlike elderberry syrup, elderberry tincture does not have a sweet taste. It also contains alcohol, which makes it a more suitable remedy for adults. However, one advantage the tincture has is that it is shelf stable. Since the elderberry extract is more potent in a tincture form, you can take less of it to experience the same effects. The next time you feel the need to drink alcohol, instead of getting a shot of whiskey, why not drink a teaspoonful of elderberry tincture in a shot glass? Your body will thank you for it.

Ingredients:

• 1 cup of dried elderberries
• 2-3 cups of 80 proof alcohol

Procedure:

1. Place the cup of dried elderberries into a quart jar.
2. Fill the rest of the jar with the 80 proof alcohol. Make sure that the ratio is one part elderberry to four parts of 80 proof alcohol.
3. Cover the jar with a watertight lid.
4. Shake the jar vigorously once a day for around six weeks.
5. After six weeks, strain the berries out of the tincture.

As soon as you feel the first signs of a cold or flu, take a teaspoon of the elderberry tincture and you’ll start to feel better in no time. Elderberries can also be taken in the form of teas, capsules, gummies, jellies, tonics, and topical ointments.

Learn more natural remedies for treating flu infections by going to Influenza.news.

Sources include:

SurvivalBlog.com

VeryWellHealth.com