Elderberry Syrup and Calendula Tea for Sore Throat, Cough, Flu and Cold

Cough, sinusitis, fever, sore throat… all common winter ailments that can exhaust our body and mind. Although sleep is the best remedy to fight a cold or flu, coughing can be very uncomfortable and exhausting as it prevents us to sleep well. In this article shows two excellent remedies for flu and cold: calendula tea and elderberry syrup.

Calendula for Flu and Cold

Calendula (Calendula officinalis) is one of my favourite plants. Not only it has cheerful golden flowers, but it is one of the most versatile among medicinal herbs. Plant pharmacological  studies have suggested that calendula extracts may have anti-viral and anti-inflammatory properties, and therefore the flowers are used in topical applications to treat skin problems, such as healing wounds, cuts, ulcers, sun burn and to replenish damaged or irritated skin.

But calendula is also used not only for topical application, but as gargle to treat gum disease or to sooth sore throat due to its excellent antiseptic properties.

The antimicrobial effects of calendula may be effective to remove mucus and combating infection along the respiratory tract. Therefore gargling or drinking tea made from fresh or dried calendula flowers may help to reduce inflammation and relieve sore throat. If you are using dried petals they can be stored in screw top glass jars for later use.

The tea also contains cayenne pepper. The role of cayenne pepper is to help relieve the pain in the sore throat.

The main active compound found in cayenne is a substance known as capsaicin. Capsaicin has shown to contain pain-relieving properties by hindering the transmission of a neurotransmitter responsible for transmitted pain signals to your brain.

Calendula Tea Recipe To Relieve Sore Throat

1/4 cup fresh calendula petals (or half the amount dried petals)
A piece of fresh orange peel
2 tbsp orange juice
A sprinkle of cayenne pepper
Honey or stevia to taste
Preparation
Infuse the calendula petals in 1 cup of boiling water with the fresh orange peel for 5 minutes. Add the honey or stevia and the orange juice. Stir well, strain and add a sprinkle of cayenne pepper. Drink slowly twice or three times a day to sooth your throat.

How to Make Elderberry Syrup (Elderberry Syrup Recipe)

This recipe was written by a yogi, health coach, and dedicated blogger who loves living a natural, eco-friendly, and healthy lifestyle.

Cough, sinusitis, fever, sore throat… all common winter ailments that can exhaust our body and mind. Although sleep is the best remedy to fight a cold or flu, coughing can be very uncomfortable and exhausting as it prevents us to sleep well.

So whenever you feel a sore throat or a cough coming on, try her recipe instead of those over-the-counter chemical-laden cold and flu syrups.

What’s In The Elderberry Syrup?

Elderberries and Echinacea are well-known for their flu and cold fighting properties. They are very effective in fighting influenza and other respiratory viruses and strengthen the immune system.

Ginger root has been used for ages as remedy for nausea, it works as an expectorant and reduces inflammation. 

Clove is wonderful to soothe a sore throat and helps to cough up phlegm.

Cinnamon is not only added for its great taste, but helps you to boost your immune system as well.
And then last but not least, she adds honey for its antiviral and antibacterial properties. Honey has been used for ages to soothe a sore throat and works as a natural preservative. So you don’t need to add alcohol to preserve the syrup and therefore it is safe to use for kids above 1 year old.

Elderberry Syrup Recipe

It doesn’t taste that bad, it’s cheap, chemical-free, and made in no time. So why would you ever opt for store-bought alternatives again?

Ingredients:

• 1 cup fresh black elderberries (or ½ cup dried elderberries)
• 3 ½ cups filtered water
• 2 tablespoons dried Echinacea
• 2 tablespoons fresh ginger root (or 1tbsp dried)
• 1 teaspoon grounded cinnamon (or more to flavor, I love cinnamon so I always add a bit more)
• ½ teaspoon cloves or clove powder
• 1 cup raw honey

Combine all ingredients in a sauce pan, but leave out the honey.

Bring to a gentle boil over medium heat. When boiling, reduce the heat and simmer for about 45 minutes. Stir occasionally. While stirring smash the elderberries with the back of your spoon to make sure all the good stuff ends up in your syrup.

The liquid should be halved, before you remove the pan from the stove. Strain the mixture, but be careful not to burn yourself. If the mixture is too hot for you to handle, allow it to cool down for a few minutes.

Add the honey when the mixture is still warm and stir until all honey is dissolved. Pour the syrup in a Mason jar or glass bottle (for better preservation, sterilize your jar for 10 to 15 minutes in boiling water).
You can use the syrup for up to 2 months when stored in the fridge. We use 1 tablespoon every 2-3 hours. For children use half the amount.

And that’s how easy it is to make your own elderberry syrup.

This article if from healthy and natural world site.

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