Comments on: Elderberry Elixir http://bearmedicineherbals.com/another-gratuitous-elderberry-post.html Traditional Western Herbalism with Kiva Rose Sun, 05 Sep 2010 20:33:05 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Deb http://bearmedicineherbals.com/another-gratuitous-elderberry-post.html/comment-page-1#comment-12134 Deb Wed, 18 Aug 2010 01:14:07 +0000 http://bearmedicineherbals.com/blog/?p=66#comment-12134 I just made this with dried berries, honey and brandy. However, there is a white frothiness at the very top around the edges. Has this ever happened to you? I've made a cordial with vodka, sugar, and elderberries before and this didn't happen. Could this be because of the honey? I just made this with dried berries, honey and brandy. However, there is a white frothiness at the very top around the edges. Has this ever happened to you? I’ve made a cordial with vodka, sugar, and elderberries before and this didn’t happen. Could this be because of the honey?

]]> By: Kiva Rose http://bearmedicineherbals.com/another-gratuitous-elderberry-post.html/comment-page-1#comment-12121 Kiva Rose Tue, 10 Aug 2010 18:27:15 +0000 http://bearmedicineherbals.com/blog/?p=66#comment-12121 The only dangerous part of the berry is is the seeds, and even then, only when ground/chewed up very thoroughly (otherwise they simply pass through your digestive tract) and even then only in very large amounts. I've eaten large amounts of elderberries raw and have also consumed many quarts of elderberry elixir (and that's just me) not to mention dispensing gallon upon gallon to clients, including many babies and small children. The only dangerous part of the berry is is the seeds, and even then, only when ground/chewed up very thoroughly (otherwise they simply pass through your digestive tract) and even then only in very large amounts. I’ve eaten large amounts of elderberries raw and have also consumed many quarts of elderberry elixir (and that’s just me) not to mention dispensing gallon upon gallon to clients, including many babies and small children.

]]> By: Celeste http://bearmedicineherbals.com/another-gratuitous-elderberry-post.html/comment-page-1#comment-12120 Celeste Tue, 10 Aug 2010 18:20:39 +0000 http://bearmedicineherbals.com/blog/?p=66#comment-12120 Hi Kiva, We just picked a bunch of wild elderberries and have been scouring the internet for what to do with them. I agree with you that cooking them seems to be counter-productive, potentially destroying much of the berries' effectiveness. But most of the other sites I've found recommend cooking the berries because of toxins. What's your take on that? Hi Kiva,
We just picked a bunch of wild elderberries and have been scouring the internet for what to do with them. I agree with you that cooking them seems to be counter-productive, potentially destroying much of the berries’ effectiveness. But most of the other sites I’ve found recommend cooking the berries because of toxins. What’s your take on that?

]]> By: Kiva Rose http://bearmedicineherbals.com/another-gratuitous-elderberry-post.html/comment-page-1#comment-9430 Kiva Rose Sat, 31 Oct 2009 01:19:29 +0000 http://bearmedicineherbals.com/blog/?p=66#comment-9430 Mountain Rose Herbs or Pacific Botanicals are both good sources. Mountain Rose Herbs or Pacific Botanicals are both good sources.

]]> By: Terri http://bearmedicineherbals.com/another-gratuitous-elderberry-post.html/comment-page-1#comment-9420 Terri Fri, 30 Oct 2009 14:46:21 +0000 http://bearmedicineherbals.com/blog/?p=66#comment-9420 Thanks for clearing that up, Kiva. My notes were probably wrong. Thanks for clearing that up, Kiva. My notes were probably wrong.

]]> By: Kiva Rose http://bearmedicineherbals.com/another-gratuitous-elderberry-post.html/comment-page-1#comment-9401 Kiva Rose Thu, 29 Oct 2009 17:32:39 +0000 http://bearmedicineherbals.com/blog/?p=66#comment-9401 I haven't changed it recently that I recall(although I might have at some point in its history), but the 1/2 oz is a typo, it should 2 1/2 oz for dried berries, follow an appr 1:5 proportion for dried berries. Either way, I've updated the post to more easily usable for dried or fresh berries, and to correct the typo. Thank for reading! I haven’t changed it recently that I recall(although I might have at some point in its history), but the 1/2 oz is a typo, it should 2 1/2 oz for dried berries, follow an appr 1:5 proportion for dried berries. Either way, I’ve updated the post to more easily usable for dried or fresh berries, and to correct the typo. Thank for reading!

]]> By: Terri http://bearmedicineherbals.com/another-gratuitous-elderberry-post.html/comment-page-1#comment-9400 Terri Thu, 29 Oct 2009 15:09:40 +0000 http://bearmedicineherbals.com/blog/?p=66#comment-9400 Hi Kiva, I made this a few months ago and really enjoyed it. I book marked this page but it looks like it's changed since I was last here. The recipe looks like it's changed too. The one I followed had 1/2 pint of berries, cover berries with honey and then fill rest of jar with brandy. With the new recipe, 1/2 oz of berries only gives me about 2 tbls instead of filling the pint half full. I was curious as to why the change. Thanks! Hi Kiva,
I made this a few months ago and really enjoyed it. I book marked this page but it looks like it’s changed since I was last here. The recipe looks like it’s changed too. The one I followed had 1/2 pint of berries, cover berries with honey and then fill rest of jar with brandy. With the new recipe, 1/2 oz of berries only gives me about 2 tbls instead of filling the pint half full. I was curious as to why the change.
Thanks!

]]> By: kristina bentley http://bearmedicineherbals.com/another-gratuitous-elderberry-post.html/comment-page-1#comment-9370 kristina bentley Sun, 25 Oct 2009 17:11:34 +0000 http://bearmedicineherbals.com/blog/?p=66#comment-9370 Thank you Kiva. Yeah, I was wondering if the honey dosage would have to be higher, and as you said, frequent doses of sugar is defintitely a concern. I have had a history of alcoholism, although I am not worried now about falling back into that. After doing some testing, I found myself with almost instantanious headaches and stomach cramping after only one sip each time of a white wine, a red wine and then a whisky. I have been drinking Kombucha lately with no ill side effects. I feel like I would prefer to make an actual elixir. I think I will do that, and if I find myself with a bad reaction, it will just be designated to the boys I suppose! Thank you again Kiva. Thank you Kiva. Yeah, I was wondering if the honey dosage would have to be higher, and as you said, frequent doses of sugar is defintitely a concern.

I have had a history of alcoholism, although I am not worried now about falling back into that. After doing some testing, I found myself with almost instantanious headaches and stomach cramping after only one sip each time of a white wine, a red wine and then a whisky.

I have been drinking Kombucha lately with no ill side effects.

I feel like I would prefer to make an actual elixir. I think I will do that, and if I find myself with a bad reaction, it will just be designated to the boys I suppose!

Thank you again Kiva.

]]> By: Kiva Rose http://bearmedicineherbals.com/another-gratuitous-elderberry-post.html/comment-page-1#comment-9369 Kiva Rose Sun, 25 Oct 2009 14:59:41 +0000 http://bearmedicineherbals.com/blog/?p=66#comment-9369 Hi Kristina, The truth is, in a dropperful of regular tincture there's less alcohol than in an a very ripe banana. In elixir, there's significantly less than that. I certainly don't view it as an issue unless there's clear reaction to alcohol (and even then, I tend to think this is often a problem with what the alcohol is made from, not alcohol itself), a history of severe alcoholism or something like that. I have had adrenal fatigue as well as chronic utis and yeast infections in the past, and did not find that herbal tinctures caused me any difficulty. The honey is fairly effective, but no, I don't find it to be as effective as the elixir, and you need a significantly larger dose. Personally, I worry more about frequent doses of sugar (which honey is) than I do of alcohol.... If you eat fermented foods or beverages, you likely get small doses of alcohol frequently anyhow, and I don't think small doses of tincture are really any more significant than that but everyone should follow their own instincts about these kind of things... Hi Kristina,

The truth is, in a dropperful of regular tincture there’s less alcohol than in an a very ripe banana. In elixir, there’s significantly less than that. I certainly don’t view it as an issue unless there’s clear reaction to alcohol (and even then, I tend to think this is often a problem with what the alcohol is made from, not alcohol itself), a history of severe alcoholism or something like that.

I have had adrenal fatigue as well as chronic utis and yeast infections in the past, and did not find that herbal tinctures caused me any difficulty.

The honey is fairly effective, but no, I don’t find it to be as effective as the elixir, and you need a significantly larger dose. Personally, I worry more about frequent doses of sugar (which honey is) than I do of alcohol….

If you eat fermented foods or beverages, you likely get small doses of alcohol frequently anyhow, and I don’t think small doses of tincture are really any more significant than that but everyone should follow their own instincts about these kind of things…

]]> By: kristina bentley http://bearmedicineherbals.com/another-gratuitous-elderberry-post.html/comment-page-1#comment-9365 kristina bentley Sun, 25 Oct 2009 04:30:15 +0000 http://bearmedicineherbals.com/blog/?p=66#comment-9365 Hello Kiva! Been getting a lot of pressure from the "in-laws" [whom I live with] to get the H1N1 vaccine...for th ebaby's sake as they put it. Not going to happen. But, I am looking for some good preventative measures and planning on going the elderberry route. I found a source for some dried berries [wasn't able to find the real live thing this year, hopefully soon though..I know they're near!]. I am wondering if I should forgo the alcohol and just go with a honey for a couple of reasons... Osro is 16 months old, and I don't know anything about the risks of giving toddlers alcohol. I am pretty certain that I am dealing with adrenal fatigue and am prone to UTI's and yeast infections, which leads me to believe the alcohol may not be good for me. Is the elixir more effective than a simple honey [which I would end up mixing or just taking along with ginger honey]? Hello Kiva!

Been getting a lot of pressure from the “in-laws” [whom I live with] to get the H1N1 vaccine…for th ebaby’s sake as they put it. Not going to happen. But, I am looking for some good preventative measures and planning on going the elderberry route. I found a source for some dried berries [wasn't able to find the real live thing this year, hopefully soon though..I know they're near!].

I am wondering if I should forgo the alcohol and just go with a honey for a couple of reasons…

Osro is 16 months old, and I don’t know anything about the risks of giving toddlers alcohol.

I am pretty certain that I am dealing with adrenal fatigue and am prone to UTI’s and yeast infections, which leads me to believe the alcohol may not be good for me.
Is the elixir more effective than a simple honey [which I would end up mixing or just taking along with ginger honey]?

]]> By: Kiva Rose http://bearmedicineherbals.com/another-gratuitous-elderberry-post.html/comment-page-1#comment-9317 Kiva Rose Mon, 19 Oct 2009 22:42:44 +0000 http://bearmedicineherbals.com/blog/?p=66#comment-9317 Sure, you can if you want.... you have to strain and squeeze the berries if you want the last bit out though. Sure, you can if you want…. you have to strain and squeeze the berries if you want the last bit out though.

]]> By: amy http://bearmedicineherbals.com/another-gratuitous-elderberry-post.html/comment-page-1#comment-9313 amy Mon, 19 Oct 2009 21:15:59 +0000 http://bearmedicineherbals.com/blog/?p=66#comment-9313 WHen making elixer and you pour berries and honey and alcohol in jar and let sit shake for 4-6 weeks can you start taking in and do you just leave the berries in there? thank you so much amy WHen making elixer and you pour berries and honey and alcohol in jar and let sit shake for 4-6 weeks can you start taking in and do you just leave the berries in there?
thank you so much
amy

]]> By: amy http://bearmedicineherbals.com/another-gratuitous-elderberry-post.html/comment-page-1#comment-9282 amy Fri, 16 Oct 2009 17:28:24 +0000 http://bearmedicineherbals.com/blog/?p=66#comment-9282 Thank you so much for your help. I will boil some up and see how it taste. I am so HAppy i came across your site!! I have been reading here all morning... Your a blessing Thank you so much for your help. I will boil some up and see how it taste.
I am so HAppy i came across your site!! I have been reading here all morning…

Your a blessing

]]> By: Kiva Rose http://bearmedicineherbals.com/another-gratuitous-elderberry-post.html/comment-page-1#comment-9281 Kiva Rose Fri, 16 Oct 2009 17:24:54 +0000 http://bearmedicineherbals.com/blog/?p=66#comment-9281 You could try making a tea with them, and if it comes out deeply colored and strong tasting, they they're probably just fine. You could use wine, but it won't be anywhere near as strong as it would if you used vodka or brandy because of the alcohol percentage difference and thus extraction strength. You could try making a tea with them, and if it comes out deeply colored and strong tasting, they they’re probably just fine.

You could use wine, but it won’t be anywhere near as strong as it would if you used vodka or brandy because of the alcohol percentage difference and thus extraction strength.

]]> By: amy http://bearmedicineherbals.com/another-gratuitous-elderberry-post.html/comment-page-1#comment-9280 amy Fri, 16 Oct 2009 17:12:42 +0000 http://bearmedicineherbals.com/blog/?p=66#comment-9280 how would i know if they are bad? They smell good and look fine they were in a zipped bad in my fridge. They are probably 2-3 yrs old I forgot about them. Also can I use elderberry wine instead of brandy or vodka its what I have on hand??? thank you for your time amy how would i know if they are bad? They smell good and look fine they were in a zipped bad in my fridge. They are probably 2-3 yrs old I forgot about them.
Also can I use elderberry wine instead of brandy or vodka its what I have on hand???
thank you for your time
amy

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