tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-330458431394170089.post1029157604373020056..comments2022-03-27T12:00:48.965-05:00Comments on PureCajunSunshine: Everything you need to know about alcohol-free elderberry syrup for preventing colds and influenzaUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger23125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-330458431394170089.post-86656935734685909272009-11-02T16:19:50.922-06:002009-11-02T16:19:50.922-06:00Anonymous, I am so sorry you feel so poorly!
Abo...Anonymous, I am so sorry you feel so poorly! <br /><br />About the jam question...I don't think there would be enough medicinal properties in it to do as good of a job as the real deal.<br /><br />My absolute favorite way of taking it is a lightly sweetened elderberry juice (PREPARED AS DIRECTED IN THE RECIPE). That way, I'm not bouncing off the walls from the unhealthy sugar rushes of syrup. <br /><br />For medicinal purposes, it is important to follow the recipe. If the juice is too 'weak' then it may not do the job of dealing with viruses.<br /><br />(I use the syrup only for when I need to take it away from home, etc. as it needs no refrigeration.)PureCajunSunshinehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17423646282071776181noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-330458431394170089.post-62812978362487483562009-11-02T16:12:50.505-06:002009-11-02T16:12:50.505-06:00A crockpot!!!! Now that's a good idea...if you...A crockpot!!!! Now that's a good idea...if you can set it to slow cook at a gentle simmer without boiling.<br /><br />I'm gonna steal your idea! I will buy a crockpot soon!<br /><br />Thanks!PureCajunSunshinehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17423646282071776181noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-330458431394170089.post-36528213199327745782009-10-09T19:57:12.340-05:002009-10-09T19:57:12.340-05:00Too late for me, I guess. I've got a horrible ...Too late for me, I guess. I've got a horrible flu that hit me a few days ago. I was wondering, though, if elderberry jam would have the same helpful qualities. Sorry if this has already been addressed. My head's swimming and I'm dealing with major brain fog. Anyway, my parents gave me some of this homemade jam a couple of weeks ago and I wasn't eating it much though it's quite good. I just don't normally eat that much jam. Would be nice to know for future reference. Thanks!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-330458431394170089.post-45679049574036466552009-09-27T22:35:07.031-05:002009-09-27T22:35:07.031-05:00Could a crock-pot be used to cook the berries?Could a crock-pot be used to cook the berries?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-330458431394170089.post-12280273370454046612009-09-27T22:32:53.673-05:002009-09-27T22:32:53.673-05:00When you talk about using a glass pot, are you tal...When you talk about using a glass pot, are you talking about a pyrex pot like <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Corning-Pyrex-Panelled-Sculptured-Versa/dp/B0028J2WG6/ref=sr_1_25?ie=UTF8&s=miscellaneous&qid=1254108637&sr=1-25" rel="nofollow">this</a>?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-330458431394170089.post-74781725538489663242009-09-04T20:00:21.399-05:002009-09-04T20:00:21.399-05:00Thank you so much for all of your help and for sha...Thank you so much for all of your help and for sharing your expertise with beginners like me. You have made my maiden venture into natural medicine making a joy and gvien me confidence to produce and share. My appetite has been whetted so if you would kindly make recommendations for further reading materials this too would be greatly appreciated. Thank you for sharing:)JAMnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-330458431394170089.post-81183082154277151102009-09-03T22:05:30.995-05:002009-09-03T22:05:30.995-05:00It is possible your sister may be seeing what I ca...It is possible your sister may be seeing what I call a ‘sugar haze’, which is normal for homemade elderberry syrups. It’s harmless, but it sure does look weird, floating against the dark background of the darkness of elderberry syrup! Although I have never had it happen, it may be possible to contaminate a 70% sugar solution with molds and bacteria. Molds are common culprits in spoiled medicinal syrups, which is why I favor going with a 70% sugar solution over the standard 65% called for in most recipes to make shelf stable syrups.<br /><br />By shelf stable, I mean it needs no refrigeration ever. Not before or after opening. <br /><br />A couple of times over the years, I mis-measured my sugar/liquid ratio and ended up with a batch of spoiled syrup. The mold started out looking exactly like the typical sugar haze but it continued to progress until it eventually bloomed into full spoilage. <br /><br />Because sugar is the only preserving agent in old fashioned syrups, and because my elderberry syrup does not contain a myriad of chemical preserving agents found in commercial products, I prefer to bottle itin pint jars and halfpint jars. That way it gets used up in a reasonable amount of time, and so the risk of contamination is reduced.<br /><br />If your syrup was freshly made under sanitary conditions, and the measurements were correct (or pretty close to it), chances are very, very good that the ‘questionable film’ is a sugar haze. If it has been sitting around for more than a couple of weeks before developing a film or haze, and bottling procedures were less than stellar, it *might* be contaminated with growing mold spores. If this is the case, one way to find out for sure: leave it alone for a few more days, and see if it develops further into sure enough mold.PureCajunSunshinehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17423646282071776181noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-330458431394170089.post-38886266904100959592009-09-03T16:30:31.671-05:002009-09-03T16:30:31.671-05:00help - gave jar of 70% sugar batch to my sister - ...help - gave jar of 70% sugar batch to my sister - once opened, she reports that it developed a "questionable" film. Since this is a "shelf-stable" mixture, is the film okay? Does "shelf-stable" mean that it's okay not to refrigerate mixture once it is opened or does "shelf-stable" mean that mixture can sit unopened on shelf but requires refrigeration once it is opened? thanks for your valuable information. jamAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-330458431394170089.post-6212516956552612932009-08-20T23:24:10.764-05:002009-08-20T23:24:10.764-05:00Congrats on your syrup and tincture!
Try lightly ...Congrats on your syrup and tincture!<br /><br />Try lightly sweetened juice sometime! Enjoyable drink! Loaded with health benefits for the whole body, including the eyes. More on that later...<br /><br />You asked about dosages.<br /><br />These are approximate guidelines, not exact dosages. Doses may vary more or less, depending upon the level of risk, along with many other factors such as an individual’s immunity, weight, etc.<br /><br />If the risk of exposure to ordinary flu is high, I usually take one to two tablespoons of the sugar-free JUICE, or two tablespoons of elderberry SYRUP every four to six hours as a cold and flu preventative.<br /><br />For homemade TINCTURE, a popular adult dose is 2 tablespoons every 6 hours. <br /><br />If I want a more aggressive therapy, I’ll increase the dosage and frequency. Juice is especially nice for this purpose. Otherwise we’d be boinging off the walls from all that sugar, or getting knee-walking drunk from all the extra alcohol.PureCajunSunshinehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17423646282071776181noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-330458431394170089.post-44888782059691964012009-08-20T18:31:40.218-05:002009-08-20T18:31:40.218-05:00oops - that would be a yield of 14 pints, not 14 q...oops - that would be a yield of 14 pints, not 14 quarts:)renaurahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00237722888473733047noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-330458431394170089.post-42228527444813351352009-08-20T15:00:23.790-05:002009-08-20T15:00:23.790-05:00All done - 8 cups of fresh berries yielded about 1...All done - 8 cups of fresh berries yielded about 14 quarts of syrup (high sugar recipe) Plenty to share - Also made tincture using everclear - is dosage for tincture same as for syrup (2T every 4-6 hrs)? I sure do appreciate all of your help and valuable advise.renaurahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00237722888473733047noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-330458431394170089.post-61158960532029161322009-08-19T03:51:30.988-05:002009-08-19T03:51:30.988-05:00My transplants are still putting on new leaves so ...My transplants are still putting on new leaves so I don't expect to see berries from them this year. When they finally do start 'making' I'll need to be ready with a few tricks to ward off the birds. <br /><br />The bears will be a 'nother matter, as the berry season does not coincide with bear hunting season round these parts...PureCajunSunshinehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17423646282071776181noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-330458431394170089.post-41614073215921168522009-08-19T03:39:55.123-05:002009-08-19T03:39:55.123-05:00;) You're welcome!
Have you have ever tried ...;) You're welcome!<br /><br />Have you have ever tried the dried berries sold commercially (which is always the European variety)? If so, I would be most interested in your comparisions with the potency of the European and native American elderberry varieties!<br /><br />I'm going berry picking tomorrow. Hopefully, the birds and the bears have left enough berries for me to make at least a few jars of syrup.PureCajunSunshinehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17423646282071776181noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-330458431394170089.post-86626326764819080092009-08-17T21:31:26.247-05:002009-08-17T21:31:26.247-05:00thank you very much for your helpful advise and ti...thank you very much for your helpful advise and timely replies. I'm a lafayette,la cajun with a large yard full of elderberries. I will be making both of your recipes:) Will keep you posted. thanks againrenaurahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00237722888473733047noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-330458431394170089.post-7392895908880960302009-08-17T17:21:28.034-05:002009-08-17T17:21:28.034-05:00I hit 'send' too soon! I'm hurrying be...I hit 'send' too soon! I'm hurrying because a thunderstorm is brewing and I need to get off of the 'puter soon. Haste makes waste!<br /><br />Here are my personal modifications to the above recipe using fresh berries to make a powerful concentrated tincture:<br /><br />Fill the jar 2/3 full with fresh mashed elderberries.(I mash my berries in a bowl first, adding a bit of vodka while mashing.) <br /><br />Add alcohol to cover the berries by one inch. Mash berries against the side of the jar, and stir the berries and pulp around. <br /><br />Cap and soak for one lunar month. I shake that jar every day, sometimes more often. <br /><br />Strain and bottle.PureCajunSunshinehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17423646282071776181noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-330458431394170089.post-86802061377684744012009-08-17T17:09:15.586-05:002009-08-17T17:09:15.586-05:00I'm not a licensed herbalist, but here's w...I'm not a licensed herbalist, but here's what I do... (this is for information purposes only, and not meant to prescribe or treat any illnesses). <br /><br />One of my favorite elderberry tincture recipes comes from an informal herbalist also known as Goatlady, owner of many happy goats. This elderberry tincture (alcohol) is very easy to make and works well. Keep in mind this recipe calls for dried berries. If you are using fresh berries, the general rule of thumb is to use twice the amount of fresh berries as you would dried. 1 cup dried = 2 cups fresh.<br /><br />Use any really clean, preferably sterilized, glass jar - size does not really matter, but quart canning jars seem to be preferred for ease of storing, sterilizing, and filling. <br /><br />In any size glass jar, fill the jar 1/3 full of dried black (S. nigra) elderberries, this does not have to be exact, eyeball measurement is just fine. <br /><br />One pound of dried elderberries will eyeball fill 3 quarts with a bit left over or you can just evenly divide a pound of the dried berries between 3 quart jars. <br /><br />Now fill the jar almost to the top with vodka, not less than 80 proof. Cap the jar securely, give a shake or two, and store in a cool, dark area for 7-10 days. <br /><br />After the 7-10 days you can strain off the liquid and toss the berry residue. (Do not think to reuse that residue, the resulting liquid will not work as you expect.) Your tincture is now ready to use should there be influenza in your area. You do not have to strain off the liquid, but the tincture is not going to get any more medicinal just sitting there soaking the berries.<br /><br />(I like to soak all my herbal medicinals for a whole lunar month, to take advantage of the drawing powers of the moon. The moon has the power to pull oceantides and it also seems to work very well to fully extract medicinals soaking in liquids. I also use the highest proof alcohol available for tincturing fresh berries, such as ‘Everclear’, and any old 80 proof vodka is used for dry berry tincturing. --PureCajunSunshine) <br /><br /><br />Here’s what Goatlady says about how to use elderberry tincture:<br /><br />Since elderberries medicinal properties work directly on Influenza A or B virus present in the body it could be taken as a preventative. It would be in the body ready to grab any Influenza virus that enters the system and prevent the virus from taking hold and setting up an infection. <br /><br />As a preventative, most suggest using a tablespoon full twice a day - usually take one before going out in public and than another at bedtime. This is just to get the stuff in your system to nab any virus you may pick up while out shopping, going to church, etc.<br /><br /><br />When an adult exhibits symptoms of influenza infection i.e. sudden onset of high fever, dry persistent cough, weakness, commercially prepared elderberry preparations suggest taking internally 2 teaspoons of preparation every 4 hours i.e. Sambucol (commercial elderberry syrup). To use homemade elderberry tincture consensus of opinion seems to be that taking 2 tablespoons every 6 hours or so for 7-10 days will do the trick. There will be a reduction in symptoms within 2-3 days of taking elderberry tincture as per recommended above, but the virus will still be present so take for the full 7-10 days just like taking an antibiotic for a prescribed treatment course.PureCajunSunshinehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17423646282071776181noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-330458431394170089.post-39816991139836204652009-08-17T11:18:12.950-05:002009-08-17T11:18:12.950-05:00can you please provide "how-to's" an...can you please provide "how-to's" and dosages for making tincture with fresh elderberries? thanks so much.renaurahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00237722888473733047noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-330458431394170089.post-27867239168555115062009-08-17T11:12:57.869-05:002009-08-17T11:12:57.869-05:00again thank you for elderberry information. i hav...again thank you for elderberry information. i have plenty in my yard to make according to your recipe. i would like to make some tincture too - can you supply "how to's" and dosages for such? much appreciated.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-330458431394170089.post-28564413299970592812009-08-04T00:33:01.899-05:002009-08-04T00:33:01.899-05:00There are many varieties of elderberry in the USA....There are many varieties of elderberry in the USA. The black or blue/black kinds are safe to use, once they ripen and darken. The red elderberry varieties are poisonous, and none of their berries will ever ripen to the characteristic dark color, no matter how old they are.<br /><br />BTW, I have yet to try the native American varieties for colds and flu, and so I'm hoping to be able to beat the birds and bears to the local elderberry patches this year. I would like to test drive the American berries and compare them to the European Sambucus nigra variety on ordinary colds and flu before The Big Pandemics get here...PureCajunSunshinehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17423646282071776181noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-330458431394170089.post-33249910968145638132009-08-04T00:03:17.785-05:002009-08-04T00:03:17.785-05:00If you are using fresh berries, follow the same re...If you are using fresh berries, follow the same recipe calling for dried berries, but use twice the amount of fresh berries as you would dried. <br /><br />Be sure to use only the black berries (or blue/black), not the reddish colored varieties! Also, the ornamental varieties sold in nurseries are not considered to be of medicinal quality.<br /><br />Harvest tip: use a fork to comb the berries off the 'umbrella'. Carefully pick out the unripe lighter colored berries before processing. A few here and there are unavoidable, but a few too many will make you sick.PureCajunSunshinehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17423646282071776181noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-330458431394170089.post-49858119371201138192009-08-03T15:23:38.428-05:002009-08-03T15:23:38.428-05:00Many of my elderberry bushes look ripe for picking...Many of my elderberry bushes look ripe for picking. I am interested in making syrup for flu prevention/treatment. Your recipe is for dried elderberries - how to you make medicinal syrup using fresh berries?Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06234879164461417471noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-330458431394170089.post-28173924802873504492009-07-02T00:36:25.292-05:002009-07-02T00:36:25.292-05:00Yes, elderberry is chock fulla good stuff, Vitamin...Yes, elderberry is chock fulla good stuff, Vitamins A & C, like you said, plus all sorts of other goodies. (Watch for more elderberry posts coming up!)<br /><br />I recently transplanted some native bushes to here, and am doing the same as you...checking them out every day!<br /><br />Hmmm...the birds are waiting and watching as well.PureCajunSunshinehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17423646282071776181noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-330458431394170089.post-64946481301886056222009-07-01T23:36:20.410-05:002009-07-01T23:36:20.410-05:00The recipe i use is one passed down from my grandm...The recipe i use is one passed down from my grandmother which is very similar to this one.<br /><br /> The elderberry is also super mega packed with vitamin a and c. My elderberry bushes have green berries on them already. Im so excited im checking them out every day waiting on them! :^D They grow wild here in ponchatoula, louisiana. Peace.Erdwin J. Clausen, Jr.http://www.myspace.com/asetofeyesnoreply@blogger.com