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.
it long steeps in the dark for 3-6 months before straining.

for more elderberry options, see also my: 'you're one sick puppy' sick day support kit
-elderberry tincture
-white pine + elecampane cough tincture
-good morning grouchy tea sleeve
-all natural, wild foraged chest decongestant salve

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.

ELDERBERRY 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 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. 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 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. too many people end up with lingering symptoms post bug. there are so many safe solutions and preventative measures for this.
if you have any questions at all, send me a message and i’d be so glad to help you work it out.


ELDERBERRY 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.
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.

elderberry is a nutritive measure that supplements the body's natural efforts. -but-
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.
just an fyi for your radar, be well!


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.