ABOUT THIS TINCTURE

i have a large elderberry bush in my yard that i harvest every year.
i pick the berry clusters fresh, gently remove each berry from the stems
and tincture the berries fresh in grain alcohol or in ½ vodka ½ grain.
fresh berries are a bit high in water, so i like to use some grain
to keep the tincture fresh and potent.

i wild foraged mullein leaves throughout the growing season and tincture them fresh in vodka.
i included an option for added mullein leaf for people who need a little bit of extra lung support
with their daily elderberry immune support and cold + flu prevention.
mullein helps keep the lungs open + clean. i consider it the holy scrubber pad of the herbal world.

GENERAL HISTORY, INFORMATION + USE

elderberry bushes readily thrive in sun-part sun in most of the US.
they’d be enchanted to receive your spent coffee grounds, tea leaves and banana peels.
if you’re interested in wild foraging, go take a peek around.
they’re wonderful medicine and more common than you might think!

elderberry is the most infamous immune support herb of all time.
it is an excellent preventative and decreases the severity of symptoms + days spent sick.
it has been ubiquitously cherished throughout the history of herbal medicine.
it has been extensively studied and validated by modern science.

it is a specific for influenza.
it is full of nutrients + antioxidants that fuel strong immunity.
it also builds + enriches the blood, though if you're specifically interested in these effects i'd recommend a daily cup of elderberry tea.
it is a classic humeral medicine, which is the basis modern western medicine was built from.
it opens systems, it cleans house and expels the wastes.
low daily doses keeps this process quiet and persistent, but don't be surprised to find phlegm leaving the body.

i wish people knew about elderberry and knew how to use it effectively. it is quietly profound. it’s the kind of thing that can really open your eyes to a lot of things. i’ve used it extensively and find it very very reliable. i’ve outlined dosage considerations below. if you need any help figuring out how to use elderberry reliably, please reach out and i’d be so glad to help you.

NOTES ON MULLEIN LEAF
mullein is an infamous lung remedy that is also excellent for the joints and spine.
it opens and clears the lungs. it is an expectorant. follow tincture with a mug of hot water to facilitate those deeper opening and cleansing properties. i also love to tell people to take their remedy before a hot bath or shower.
the heat helps the remedy penetrate the system more deeply. tea has the benefit of the heat being built in.

more so for mullein *tea* than for tincture, sometimes people over do it with the dose (or use poor quality tea) and then hack up a bunch of phlegm and have a bit of a bad time. they get freaked out and think they're getting worse instead of better. i've read this a handful of times. coughing more and having a productive cough (getting the phlegm out) is the whole goal. of course we want that to be an easy, comfortable process. so let me give you some notes on mullein for you to noodle on.

while mullein is very popular and extensively written about, i have been surprised to see few notes on the importance of using quality mullein. matthew wood discussed taking care to wild forage quality leaves, as old leaves were historically considered inauspicious, associated with 'witches' and known to cause nightmares.
as someone with experience, poor quality mullein is an uncomfy and rough remedy. (and everyone back then was worried about witches)

mullein leaf should be light green and fuzzy. if what you have looks brownish and rough, i wouldn't even use it.
i use mullein leaf in a couple best selling teas and go to great lengths to stockpile enough for the year.
most of the bulk stuff, organic or not, isn't good quality and is uncomfy to use.
let me know if you have any questions about this.

as long as you have high quality mullein (tincture or tea) it works nicely and it's no big deal.
tincture is particularly forgiving.
a word of advice, just because something says it's organic doesn't mean it's high quality.
i know. i'm sorry. people get mad at me for saying this.
it's easy to read about all the wonderful things herbs can do for you
but it's hard to find top quality herbs that have all their medicinal constituents properly preserved.
don't shoot the messenger! this is why i consult for free.
if you need help finding meaningful solutions through all the nuances, i'd be glad to assist.

ELDERBERRY + MULLEIN FOR ADULTS:

for cold and flu season, i like to take 10 drops 1-2x most days for a low, consistent dose.
i usually work from home and don’t go out too much during cold + flu season.
up to 1 dropperful a day is good preventative measure for adults, especially if your day to day involves being around a lot of people.

If i’m headed somewhere crowded- the mall, a concert, a party i’ll take a dropper full.
if i were to go to the airport, i’d take 2 dropper fulls.

i take 2 dropperfuls of elderberry + mullein if i’ve been exposed to someone sick
or at the first inkling of coming down with a bug.
i follow tincture with a glass of water and take it easy for the day.
this works very well. take a hot bath or hot shower. wrap up in layers and stay hot.
keep your pores open. sweat it out a little bit. don’t do anything strenuous. get extra rest.

this works incredibly well. this is truly a game changing herbal ally.
this is how we build relationships with plants.

if you've already fallen ill, take 1 dropperful three times a day until you're feeling better. follow tincture with a mug of hot water or i like to drink a cup or two of ‘good morning grouchy’ tea during the day if i’m fending off a bug or under the weather. it promptly opens the lungs and sinuses and takes down aches and pains. although it’s great for a lot of things, it’s an incredible sick day tea.

if you don't have any on hand, or if your lungs are really bugging you, whether it’s a cough, congestion or both- make a strong cup of white pine tea. head over to my white pine or white pine + elecampane tincture descriptions to read up. white pine is absolutely prompt and excellent for cough and congestion. (my 'you're one sick puppy sick day kit' has all of these remedies in a kit if you want to try that.

too many people end up with lingering symptoms post bug. there are so many safe solutions and preventative measures for this. i like to use reishi based teas like 'the hermit' if you're exhausted and still wheezy weeks or months after a nasty bug. reishi builds you back up after a bad shake. i have a handful of reishi based teas.

if you're only willing to try a tincture, peek my aralia racemosa (wild spikenard) tincture. incomplete recoveries that leave you wheezy and exhausted are fully indicated here. it tastes funny but works great. 5 drops a couple times a day will take you far.

if you have any questions at all, send me a message and i’d be so glad to help you work it out.


ELDERBERRY + MULLEIN FOR KIDS + ADOLESCENTS

5-10 drops 1-2x a day or up to 1/2 a dropperful is a good preventative measure for adolescents

i used to say ‘kids don’t need preventative doses’ but then i taught pre-school for a year.
a low dose won’t hurt a kiddo, especially if it’s cold + flu season
and they’re at daycare or school all day in the thick of it.
it broke my heart to see their crusty, drippy noses all winter long.
i would consider 3-10 drop doses depending on age and size.
i’d do 1-3 drops for a toddler. i’d do 3-10 drops for secondary-elementary school kids.


3-10 drops 2-3 times a day is a good dose for a child that's under the weather.
alcohol based tinctures are generally considered safe for children (not infants) because the amount of alcohol is so minuscule. that being said, please do your own research and only make decisions that you feel very comfortable with. that's the most important thing. there are other options for elderberry i'll discuss below.

elderberry is a nutritive measure that supplements the body's natural efforts. mullein is a lovely support for getting phlegm and boogers out of the system. it's a nice expectorant. when it comes to children, letting them fight off a cold or flu on their own is how they develop a strong immune system. however, if they've had electric green boogies all winter long, enough is enough. at that point, you’re in white pine territory. (i have an extensive description up for white pine if you want to take a peek.)

other people sell elderberry syrup. it doesn't keep as long as a tincture does and it usually uses a sugar medium. a lot of people like this for children. tea is another option, just take care to give it a long steep to get everything out of it. people tend to not steep their tea long enough.

if you have any questions at all please message me, i answer promptly. i consult for free so you can have the most safe, minimal + effective remedies for your situation. be well!