Herbal Medicine: Blackberry Syrup

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First, you pick the berries...

First, you pick the berries…

OK, let’s start with a warning and a disclaimer: herbal medicines are not something you just jump into without educating yourself. There are plenty of herbals that have side effects, just like conventional medicines. There are some herbal preparations that can kill you quite quickly – aconite springs to mind. The other issue is knowing what you’re treating; as a registered nurse I’m a pretty fair diagnostician after forty-plus years in the business. If you want to get into herbals, find some good books or online sources and spend some time with them. If you can find a knowledgeable practicing herbalist who will teach you the basics, even better. With that said, I do use herbs in a number of ways.

An old-fashioned food mill.

An old-fashioned food mill.

This is the time of the year to start thinking about flu season. I don’t say that to encourage flu shots, but to encourage immune-boosting elderberry or blackberry syrups. Both are traditional winter remedies to help prevent flu and colds and to help you get over the viruses more quickly. Commercial elderberry syrups are available, but I like to make my own. I haven’t run across a commercial version of the blackberry syrup. Luckily both grow on the ranch, although I have a LOT more blackberries than elderberries.

Elderberry has been more thoroughly studied, but both show antiviral effects. Elderberry has been shown to be effective against some strains of the flu, while blackberries were effective against herpes virus, which causes cold sores. Elder flower and elderberries may also reduce the swelling in mucous membranes and have anti-inflammatory effects. You want Sambucus nigra, or black elderberry; don’t use dwarf elder, which can be toxic. If you aren’t sure what you’ve got, find an expert to help you. Blackberries are pretty easy to identify.

Use organic spices if possible; conventional spices have usually been irradiated.

Use organic spices if possible; conventional spices have usually been irradiated.

As for the other ingredients, ginger helps sore throats. Cinnamon is anti-inflammatory and can combat bacteria and fungi. Cloves are another anti-inflammatory. Honey helps suppress coughs and has antibacterial properties. Traditional recipes vary, but most include fruit, honey, spices, water and sometimes alcohol or vinegar. The alcohol and vinegar are used primarily as preservatives and aren’t really necessary. Exact quantities are not as important as the overall proportions. If you have an extra cup of berries, toss ‘em in.

Straining the syrup.

Straining the syrup; honey on the side.

Syrup that has been boiled down, pulped and strained.

Syrup that has been boiled down, pulped and strained.

You won’t need as many elderberries as you will blackberries, but you’ll use proportionally more water to extract the good stuff from the elderberries. The usual dose as an immune booster is ½ to 1 tsp for kids (smaller dose for smaller kids). For adults, it’s ½ to 1 Tbs. Some sources say you shouldn’t take immune boosters every day. I’ve seen recommendations to take these syrups five days a week and then stop for the weekend, or to take it for two weeks and stop for a week. I’m of the opinion that you should use it as a preventative for situations where you know ahead of time you’re going to be exposed to flu bugs. For example, start the kids on it a week before school and keep them on for a couple of weeks. By then they should have adjusted to all the new bugs in the school environment. If you know you’re going to be flying somewhere, follow the same instructions — planes are notorious for harboring respiratory bugs. If you actually come down with something, take the daily dose two or three times a day until the symptoms are resolved.

Stir in the spices and simmer a bit more.

Stir in the spices and simmer a bit more.

Elderberry Syrup
About one cup black elderberries
3 to 3/12 cups water (some people replace one cup of water with one cup of vinegar)
1 ½ Tbs fresh or dried ginger root (if fresh, peel and cut into matchstick strips)
1 tsp cinnamon
½ tsp clove powder or 1 tsp whole cloves
1 cup raw honey

Wash elderberries and remove any debris such as leaves. Bring all ingredients except honey to a boil; cover and let simmer for about 45 minutes to an hour. The liquid should reduce by about half. Remove from heat, strain into a glass bowl and let the liquid cool to lukewarm. Add honey, stir well and pour into glass bottles or jars. Store in the fridge.

Blackberry Syrup
8 quarts blackberries (this makes a lot of syrup, so adjust quantities downward as desired
2 quarts water
1 Tbs each whole allspice and whole cloves
1 stick cinnamon
Honey (the original recipe called for 4 quarts of sugar, but sugar adds nothing to this remedy and also depresses the infection-fighting T-cells in your immune system – seems counterproductive in an immune-boosting recipe)

Pick over and wash berries. Put berries and water in a big saucepan; bring to boil. Simmer until the fruit is very soft, about one hour. Strain into a glass or stainless steel bowl, then put the pulp through a food mill. Discard pulp and seeds. Return juice to saucepan, add spices and simmer another 20 minutes. Strain out spices, let cool to lukewarm and stir in honey until dissolved. If you make the full recipe, it will take about one quart of honey. If desired, you can add one pint vodka, whiskey or brandy per quart of syrup. Screw lids tight and keep in a cool dark place.

Final product.

Final product.

Not only is it pretty, it smells and tastes wonderful.

Not only is it pretty, it smells and tastes wonderful.

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8 Responses to Herbal Medicine: Blackberry Syrup

  1. Annie says:

    Bee – if I use a steamer/juicer to extract the juice from blackberries or elderberries, do I still need water in the recipe? Does steam extract what a solution would also extract?
    Thanks
    Annie

    • Bee says:

      Sorry I didn’t answer yesterday, been trying to catch up in the garden! The steamer does pull the juice out, but I don’t think it’s as concentrated as what you get by simmering the berries. It would probably be fine for jelly-making, but for the elderberry syrup, I’d simmer the berries instead. It only takes about 45 minutes and it’s a lot less complicated than setting up the steamer.

  2. Sylvia HUGHES says:

    Hi Bea I have a grandson that is eighteen months. Can I make herbal BlackBerry syrup with pue maple syrup since he can’t have honey. If so how much syrup per batch

    • Bee says:

      Sylvia, if your concern is botulism, at 18 months he should be old enough to have honey. It’s the first 12 months that honey isn’t recommended. If there’s some other reason you want to use maple syrup, it’s really a matter of adding it to taste. Cook and strain your elderberries. Measure the liquid. I’d try adding a quarter as much maple syrup as elderberry juice. Taste, then just keep adding two or three tablespoons at a time until it seems right.

  3. Sylvia says:

    Hi Bee,, I make BlackBerry syrup, instead of whole allspice which I can not find I use
    Ground is that OK and I also seal my jars and store in my basement is that alright

    • Bee says:

      Ground may not be quite as fresh as the whole spice, but if that’s all you can find, by all means, use it. Basement storage should be fine if the jars are well sealed. I assume from your comment that you’re canning the syrup according to accepted recommendations? We have very hot summers here and I don’t have a basement. Since I only need to store a couple of quart jars I use the refrigerator for that reason.

  4. Jewell says:

    Hi there, Gaia makes a commercially available blackberry syrup. I believe it’s sourced from Italy and produced there as well. Very thick, and effective, too. I usually get mine from CVS Pharmacy.

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