DIY Elderberry Syrup

DIY Elderberry Syrup

Lisa Purdy ND, MH

Elderberries are back! Available and in stock, now is the time to make your elderberry syrup to have on hand for the winter cold & flu season.

Why elderberry? Because it is an immunomodulator! It helps the body adjust its immune level, without sending it into overdrive. Considered to be anti-viral, elderberry can sometimes disarm a virus and flush it out of the body before it has a chance to duplicate itself and set up housekeeping. The herb contains compounds that are active against flu viruses and has historically been used to treat epidemics. Elderberry is useful for nerve problems, back pain, and inflammation of the urinary tract and bladder. Drink as a tea to soothe a sore throat and ease respiratory distress. Elderberries are safe for all ages and children love the taste!

Cautions: Raw berries have laxative and diuretic actions and please note that ALL green parts of the tree are poisonous! Hence the reason for making them into a cooked syrup. Please also note that diabetics need to carefully monitor their blood sugar levels while using elderberries, to prevent low blood sugar. Elderberries work in the same way as blueberries and green beans, by sensitizing the body’s insulin receptors so that more of the insulin produced by the body can be used.

Lisa’s Elderberry Syrup

½ cup dried elderberries (or 1 cup fresh – freeze berries first to make it easier to pick out ALL of the green stems)

1 cinnamon stick                                                    5 cloves

1 Tbsp. fresh ginger, grated                                2 cups water

Simmer about 20 minutes in a stainless steel pan, reduce liquid by half.

Strain, squashing berries.

Add 1 cup honey to liquid. Store in refrigerator.

Suggested dose is 1 tsp. every two hours, up to 3 Tbsp. a day for active symptoms. 1 tsp. daily for prevention. Children ½ dose…not for use with infants, because of honey.

A Personal Note From Lisa

Hello friends,

Well, now it has happened…Our “stay at home” order has been extended for another month. We all groan, take a deep breath, and dig in to find the strength to get through. Today, I want to share a few thoughts from a natural health perspective.

First, All classes are postponed until late May or June. The Annual Plant Sale in May is cancelled. After this is ALL OVER, I anticipate that we will want to get together, share our experiences, and learn how to take better care of ourselves and our families. So we will have the “Be Your Own Doctor” class series to look forward to in June. Check our website (www.healthylife-solutions.com) for exact dates and more information.

Next, I plan to BE OPEN, Tuesday – Saturday, 11-2 for as long as possible or until family needs arise. We will continue to offer curbside service, so you can get what you need with as little contact with others as possible.

So, What Do You Need?

Let me first express that nothing I share should be considered a claim to cure the coronavirus, or anything for that matter. I am NOT a doctor. I am sharing things with you that I have heard or read. The virus simply must run its course. All we can do is try to provide natural health support for ourselves and our families.

1.     Immune Support – I just got in a few bottles of Elderberry syrup (first come/first serve and limit one per customer). Other products to consider: Wellness Formula (chewable too), Echinacea Wellness, Vira-Bac-YST (great immune combo!), Astragalus, Olive Leaf, Oregano oil, Grapeseed extract, Vitamin C & D, and Zinc, to name a few.

2.     Sinus & Allergy Support – I love SinuCare (essential oil blend in a softgel). It clears the sinuses without over drying or raising blood pressure. Also ALJ, recently changed its name to Allergy Remedy, this contains Mullein, which I believe to be one of the BEST herbs we could be taking right now. I also have Quercetin & Nettles, both in Histablock, which is helpful to calm down inflammation. I also have Sinus Relief, which is a colloidal silver nose spray – I use this often when out around people, to help kill bugs I might pick up. Essential Oil blends are a must to help you breathe and clean up the air. Use them in a diffuser and topically on your chest, neck, and bottoms of the feet.

3.     Headache & Fever – Don’t use typical over the counter NSAIDS! Even the traditional medical doctors are saying this. I have heard that coronavirus headache and fever is NO FUN, but try natural methods for relief, which won’t interfere with a fever’s work in the body. I would use Relief Formula from Nature’s Sunshine, Formula 303, and also magnesium to help be more comfortable. Peppermint essential oil always helps my headaches, rub lightly on the forehead. STAY HYDRATED! Electrolytes are good to have too: Ionic minerals or Cell Food. See my website blog about fevers https://www.healthylife-solutions.com/blog/2020/4/1/lets-talk-about-fevers

Everything I have read, says that it is very important to try to help your body fight the virus while it is in the Head…Sinuses and Throat. Once it gets down into the lungs, the virus is very difficult to fight. So PAY ATTENTION to that sinus, allergy, sore throat, headache, & FEVER! This is the early stage – fight HARD. What if it isn’t the virus? Just allergies or a cold? So what…it won’t hurt to fight it hard just in case it is the virus. Why do you think they have us staying home? Because early symptoms don’t seem that bad, and we would go out and infect everyone else. So take care of yourself and don’t let it progress down into the lungs!

1.     Sore Throat & Cough – Now you need to really PAY ATTENTION! The body is fighting hard, do everything you can to support the fight. I have several homeopathic cough formulas that might bring relief. Remember, you want the body to cough up the phlegm, not to let it stay inside those lungs. Mullein, fenugreek, fennel, marshmallow and lobelia are a few helpful herbs to consider. I love to use Tei-Fu essential oil blend. It feels so good rubbed on the chest, neck, and glands. It seems to help you breathe, and I use it at night any time that I am fighting a respiratory sickness. You can gargle with warm salt water and colloidal silver. Don’t worry about food if you are not hungry, maybe just some chicken broth. Consider eliminating dairy or wheat, anything that causes more mucous. Do worry about drinking lots of warm liquids, stay hydrated!

2.     Lung Support – This seems to be our last line of defense and prevention. Our goal is to prevent it from infecting the lungs! Personally, I would start on a lung support formula whenever the cough begins. No messing around! Herbs work best if used early on in a sickness. I have found four formulas to help: Lung Support (a Traditional Chinese Herbal medicine formula), BosMed + Frankincense Oil, Dr. Christopher’s Lung & Bronchial, and Lung Cleanse & Defend formula. These are on order and should be coming in this week…get them early, so you are prepared.

Remember, that not everyone who gets the virus, ends up in the hospital. They will really be encouraging us to fight it at home – So, Be Prepared and have some tools in your box to fight with. Most of these herbs and supplements may be taken along with anything your doctor might prescribe by phone, so don’t be afraid to fight this virus with everything you’ve got.

Joshua 1:9. “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.”

Lisa Purdy, ND, MH

Healthy Life Solutions

Virus Worries???

Virus Worries???

Me too. As a mother and grandmother I have a lot of people to worry about. It is in times like these that I remember Joyce Meyer’s story of worry being like a rocking chair - there may be a lot of movement, but it isn’t going anywhere! So instead of worry or even panic, I suggest we pray & prepare.

If you wait until an epidemic is upon us, you may not find the remedies you will need to help your family. I suggest a bit of stocking up ahead of time. No, we don’t have to turn into “end of the world preppers”, but we don’t have to stick our heads in the sand and do nothing either. How much food and medicine do you have in your house right now? How long would it take for all the shelves in local stores to be empty if people panicked? It isn’t crazy to have a bit stashed ahead in case of any disaster. You want to be able to help your family, friends, and community if possible.

This year has held a lot of sickness: flu, coughs, pneumonia. In the shop the immune system shelves were looking empty, so I have ordered in new stock to make sure we are prepared. Please stop in and pick up a little extra, just in case. Here are some ideas of products to always have on hand to boost your immune system.

Vitamin C – researchers found that an intake of 200 mg or greater, reduced the duration and severity of common cold symptoms. In extreme physical stress, such as experienced by marathon runners and skiers, vitamin C reduced the common cold risk by half.

Elderberry– one of the best antivirals that I know. I take Elderberry D3fense every day. It has 2000mg of vitamin D3 in each capsule, plus the elderberry. Vitamin D also helps to boost the immune system, so it is important to get enough in the dreary winter months. We have elderberry syrup, tea, chewable, capsule, and tincture. So it is available to everyone. If you want to learn how to make your own elderberry syrup, make sure to sign up for our Be Your Own Doctor Class, and we will show you how.

Echinacea – boosts the immune system! I like the Echinacea angustofolia, which is the white coneflower. It has more antibacterial qualities than other varieties, so it is the best for medicine. Also, look for the root, as that has the strongest medicinal qualities. You can easily grow and harvest your own Echinacea for herbal medicine – join our classes to learn how. My personal product favorite is Echinacea Wellness, which is a great combination of herbs to help boost immunity and keep you healthy. This is always in my cupboard.

Oscillococcinum– it took me a month to learn how to pronounce that word! But this is my GO TO for FLU and respiratory illness. It is a homeopathic made from water fowl, so it works on the wet and mucousy types of sickness. It works best at the very beginning of an illness, as does Echinacea. So take it at the first hint of being unwell, and sometimes that one dose is all you need. If you wait until you are really sick, this doesn’t work as well, so make sure you have this on hand for those early stages and fight it off quickly.

Oregano Essential Oil – antibacterial, antifungal, anti-parasitic, antiseptic to the respiratory system, antiviral, and immune stimulant. Oregano oil is generally recognized as safe (GRAS) for human consumption by the FDA. Dilute 1 drop oil in 1 tsp. honey or in ½ cup of beverage. Not for children under 6 years old, and use with caution and greater dilution with children over age 6. Please use only oregano essential oils that are prepared in a pure form for internal consumption.

Silver Shield – Silver nanoparticles exhibit strong antimicrobial activity and have been shown to be non-toxic and virtually free of any side effects. This product poses no risk of heavy metal contamination as the nanoparticles are eliminated from the body within 48 hours. Silver is increasingly being used for medical purposes and is registered as a biocidal material since 1954. It has been used for public health hygiene, to purify water, and to combat a broad range of pathogens including bacteria, viruses, and fungi. Silver is currently used in dental device coatings, stents, catheters, wound dressings, bone prostheses, cardiac devices and surgical fabrics. Numerous studies have shown positive results in using silver with Staph, Streph, MRSA, pneumonia, candida, H1N1, HIV, and HPV, just to name a few. Be prepared with silver shield (liquid & gel) in your medicine cabinet. Just a note – silver is great for pets too, ask me how I use it with my dog, Mozart.

I could continue writing about more wonderful immune system products, but our time is short. So stop into the shop and I will help you to pick out exactly which products meet your needs. Remember, let’s not panic, just pray & prepare!