By Valerie Macon
Between dodging the flu bug and other microscopic menaces going around, Jennifer Jordan was always on the hunt for natural remedies to keep her young son healthy — and when he did get sick, she sought natural treatments. She had been buying pricey, commercially produced elderberry syrup at a giant health food store. When she left her job to stay home with her son, she started on a delightful adventure to make her own elderberry syrup, experimenting with recipes and infusing her own special touch into homemade elderberry concoctions. Soon, her parents were beneficiaries, then friends were clamoring for a taste. But it wasn’t until her best friend’s children, who affectionately call her “Auntie Jenny,” started asking for “Auntie Jenny’s honey juice” that the lightbulb lit. That was six years ago. Auntie Jen’s Elderberry Syrup and her gummy-like Elderberry Jellies have become a staple for those seeking their potent goodness and many benefits.
Elderberries, the small dark purple berries of the elder bush, thrive across Europe, North America, Asia, and Northern Africa. For millennia, they have served as both food and medicine. Indigenous peoples used them to treat fever and rheumatism. The ancient Egyptians used them to heal burns and improve their skin. Even today, elderberries remain part of folk medicine in parts of Europe. Although promising health benefits are associated with elderberries, most research is lab-based with limited human testing, preventing official recommendations for specific uses. However, reasonable evidence supports its use for a variety of health issues.
Elderberry has soared in popularity as a supplement, a trend Jennifer attributes to a post-COVID resurgence of interest in natural remedies and their potential benefits beyond just colds. “There are lots of different uses for elderberries other than for a cold or ‘I don’t feel good’,” she notes. Jennifer’s elderberry syrup is a power-packed blend. Elderberry, itself, is an antioxidant rich in vitamin C, and an anti-inflammatory. Many customers use it to manage arthritis. Her syrup also incorporates ginger, another anti-inflammatory, creating a multi-faceted approach to reducing inflammation. Furthermore, the local unpasteurized raw honey in her syrup contains natural pollen, which may ease seasonal allergies, and honey is well-known for its immune-boosting properties. So, her syrup may help to keep you well in many different ways.
Much has been written about the amazing benefits of these tiny berries. Dr. Josh Axe, a natural medicine physician and clinical nutritionist, highlights their significant nutritional value, including vitamins A, B6, and C, potassium, iron, and fiber. Healthline confirms this, noting that one cup of elderberries provides 57 percent of the daily requirement for vitamin C 36 percent of the daily requirement for fiber. Dr. Axe lists eight key benefits that elderberries may provide including significant cold and flu relief, sinus infection aid, blood sugar regulation, diuretic and laxative effects, healthy skin support, allergy symptom relief, and potential cancer prevention due to their high anthocyanin and antioxidant content.
The health benefits attributed to elderberries extend beyond Dr. Axe’s top eight list. Their antioxidant and antimutagenic properties are thought to reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease and stroke by neutralizing harmful free radicals. Research also indicates their effectiveness in combating infections, including influenza A, B, and H1N1 (a subtype of influenza A). Traditional uses further suggest their potential in easing arthritis pain, promoting wound healing, and maintaining healthy weight, with evidence pointing towards preventive properties against some chronic diseases such as diabetes. In addition, elderberry flowers have been used to soften skin, soothe burns and sunburns, and for healing sprains.
The Botanical Institute highlighted a study involving 312 economy-class travelers on an international flight that revealed the elderberry group experienced fewer colds with reduced severity. A further placebo-controlled double-blind study indicated the antiviral potential of elderberry extract. Even at the cellular level, a test-tube study demonstrated antibacterial activity against gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria in extracts from both the berries and the flowers. More recently, 2019 research uncovered that elderberry extract may work to reduce inflammation, adding to the multiple studies highlighting its antioxidant properties.
I asked Jennifer what goes into making Auntie Jen’s Elderberry Syrup. She explains it involves a slow-cooking process that she does in a commercial kitchen. Beyond elderberry, ginger, cloves, cinnamon, and raw local honey that are listed on the label, what makes her syrup stand out is her use of reverse osmosis purified water in her products, never tap or filtered water. Everything is organic — no pesticides, no additives, no preservatives — and that is why the syrup must be kept refrigerated. All her bottles are food-grade bottles and are made in America. The syrup is not canned because when you heat honey to a certain temperature, it is not as beneficial as it is when kept cold or raw. This commitment to purity results in a product she believes is the most potent and flavorful. Achieving this level of potency and flavor requires a meticulous and lengthy process. And because her syrup is more potent than some of the others on the market, she recommends 1 teaspoon per day for adults and 1/2 teaspoon for children for daily maintenance, double if you suspect illness coming on.
Jennifer personally attests to the effectiveness of elderberry syrup in her own family: “I feel like it has helped. My eight-year-old is incredibly healthy. We take it throughout the flu season. If he gets a summer cold, we increase the dosage, and he recovers quickly. Any illness we experience is mild, and we’re over it in just a few days.”
