Elderberry Syrup for Cough, Flu and Cold

With the winter at the door, and everybody spending so much time inside, common ailments like cold and flu are spreading like wildfire. More toddlers at my daughter’s pre-K are sick than not, and it’s only December! When you look for something to make your little ones feel better – remember that American Association of Pediatrics stopped recommending over-the-counter cold and cough remedies for children under 6 (1). One of the ‘better’ reasons is plain ineffectiveness (2); the others include prolonged course of disease, because drugs like acetaminophen suppress our virus-neutralizing antibodies (3); and even increased morbidity (4).

Basically, when your kids get a cold or the flu – you are on your own. But the good news is you can reduce their discomfort and its duration more effectively with simple home remedies. Remember that you don’t want to stop the cough, since it is a protective mechanism of our bodies to get rid of pathogens and clear mucus. Your goal should be to make a child more comfortable, and cough more productive.

HONEY

Honey relieves cough symptoms more effectively than cough syrup or placebo (5), including night time coughing spells (6). I always use manuka honey because it has the highest antibacterial properties of any other types of honey (7). Manuka honey is also very potent against the flu virus (8). It’s more expensive than regular stuff but well worth it. Remember: do not give honey to children under the age of 1.

PROBIOTICS

Probiotics relieve fever, runny nose and cough in children (9) and are safe to use even by children under one. They also reduce the need for antibiotics in children, and even prevent the onset of respiratory infections (10). Try adding some elderberry syrup to kefir, kombucha, yogurt, or this little treat that my kids really like.

ELDERBERRY

Black Elderberry had a ton of different uses in my native Russia, and it was a go-to remedy for colds and flu. It has a nice, blueberry like taste so I definitely preferred it to the other common treatment – a shot of warm vodka with hot pepper… yuck. If you wonder why every health food store sells all kinds of elderberry syrup, tea and lozenges, and Sambucol is running ads on every channel – elderberry is very effective at shortening the duration of upper respiratory infections and relieving the symptoms (11, 12). It has a high amount of polyphenols and flavonoids, and especially anthocyanin, which is known to boost immune system (13). Anthocyanin, along with other flavonoids, acts as inhibitor of flu virus activity (14).

The reason I prefer to make my own elderberry syrup is because commercial varieties use mostly glucose syrup as a base, trying to keep cost down. I use raw honey, which has strong anti-viral properties, making this syrup even more effective.

SOME NOTES

I add raspberries because they mellow out the taste of elderberries, which, even though pleasant, gets pretty strong; plus they add extra vitamins and minerals to the mix. Rose hips are high in Vitamin C and many different antioxidant compounds (15), and were used in Russia, when I was growing up, to replenish fluids after saunas or during illness.  Echinacea is widely used in folk medicine and gained some popularity a few years ago, but there are studies that dispute its effectiveness. You can use it or leave it out. I like it because I’m a believer in folk wisdom. I use vanilla extract purely for flavor. This syrup tastes very good and my four year old would drink it out of the jar if she could. My two year old is more picky with her sweets, plus she doesn’t like the taste of honey, but I still give it to her mixed into her oatmeal, in kefir smoothies or with warm water.

Elderberry syrup is not just for kids, it’s a much better alternative to commercial remedies for people of all ages.