It’s cold and flu season and I’m not going to lie, I’m a little bit excited. I know you are judging me hard as you read this, but let me explain. This time of year is the perfect time to make a delicious and powerful immune syrup that actually works when it comes to fighting off colds and flus. It’s as simple to make as tying your shoes and once you taste it for yourself, you may even become a bit excited too!
This syrup uses your choice of herbs to create a delicious elixir that will keep you healthy through the winter while tickling your taste buds all the while. While you can make herbal syrups using any herbs that you wish, the following herbs are some of my favorites to use in the immune syrup because of their powerful immune properties.
- Elderberries: help to prevent and heal the body from the flu
- Elderflowers: increases fever, cleansing to the body, and helps to draw things out like mucous and infection
- Ginger root: increases circulation
- Thyme leaf: antiviral, disinfectant, good for scratchy, dry cough
- Rosehips: high in vitamin C
- Yarrow leaf: healing to internal wounds and inflammation, disinfectant
- Licorice root: increases moisture in the body ( a little goes a long way)
This recipe also uses honey and whiskey. I know what you are thinking, how does whiskey go into an immune syrup?! Well, I am glad you asked! While the whiskey is optional, it is a traditional ingredient used in folk and herbal medicine. It is considered to stimulate and nourish the immune system, it soothes and calms the nervous system, and is disinfectant and antibacterial.
Honey also has amazing immune properties when consumed in the raw form. That is why it is added last in this recipe, so that it isn’t heated too much, which would kill the beneficial properties and enzymes. Honey is antibacterial, anti-fungal, anti-inflammatory, and contains beneficial compounds that help alleviate allergies.
- 2 cups of water
- 3 tbsp of dried herb* (Choose from the list above!)
- ¼ cup honey
- ¼ cup whiskey (optional, traditional ingredient from ancient and folk medicine recipes)
- *You can use fresh herbs, just double or triple the amount that you use.
- Combine water with hard part herbs (barks, roots, stems) and bring to a low simmer for about 30 minutes or until the amount of the water has been reduced by half.
- Remove from heat and add in the soft part herbs (flowers and leaves) and let steep for 30 minutes to one hour.
- Strain the herb and give back to the earth (Our used herbs provide nutrients to the earth and plants just as they do to our bodies!)
- Add in honey and whiskey and whisk thoroughly.
Try adding 1 tbsp to 4 oz of sparkling water for a super special and bubbly treat!
Blair is a Nutrition Consultant and Natural Chef with a passion for helping others achieve optimal health through a holistic approach that focuses on body, mind, and spirit. 
