Instant Pot Elderberry Cough Syrup Remedy

There are some things I’m willing to pay for. And lots of things I’m not. I’m that person that ALWAYS sees something and says “I can make that”. I swear if I just had a break press and shear I could forge my own car.

Things I am willing to pay for:

• A great pair of boots. They’re long lasting and an investment really. I’ve made lots of investments in this department. You should see my closet. Or maybe you shouldn’t.
• Down pillows & comforters. I’ve used both since I was a kid. Those cardboard, hard as a rock pillows just leave me stiff and sore. There’s nothing better than slipping beneath my light as air down comforters, well, anytime!
• A good meal. I mean a GOOD meal. Which is hard to find since I eat organic at home and expect to do the same when I am out and about. Fortunately the tide seems to be turning and more and more local eateries are focusing on farm to fork. Hallelujah!

In an early 90’s study out of Isreal showed that black elderberry treated/cured flu symptoms faster than Tamiflu and that according to the New York Times, February 5, 2005, the World Health Organization (WHO) has even admitted that Tamiflu is not as effective as previously believed.

What I’m not willing to pay for? Things that make me sick or I can’t pronounce. Really, if I can’t pronounce it why am I ingesting it​? When is the last time you grew some Dextromethorphan or Guaifenesin? Ya, my Guaifenesin was short and stocky his year. No blooms at all.

But if you buy over the counter cough medicines they can contain these ingredients and more. No thanks. My health is an investment (let’s pause and remember my beautiful boot collection…. ahhhhhh) that I take seriously. Health is a constant balance. I don’t believe that you can “doctor” yourself out of an illness and then go back to your candy eating, soda drinking ways and be well. If it sounds like I’m speaking from experience… I am. A gut wrenching (literally) wake up call from my gall bladder about 5 years ago got my attention. Quick. The ER doctor that attended to me (I swear he was twelve) told me it was my gall bladder the second he saw me. I said “groan… no… this happens all the…aghhh….time. Its just….moan….stress. It will…sob…go away soon”. Next thing I knew I was getting an ultrasound and a gall bladder diagnosis. This brilliant young doctor then said “Two things can happen now, you can follow a gall bladder diet and I’ll never see you again or you can keep eating how you are and you’ll be back in 3 months for surgery”. Thanked him and said he’d never see me again. I kept my promise and my gall bladder. So, yes, I pay attention to what I ingest.

Cough and cold season is upon us and my edict holds true to even medicines. Nope, no aspirin. I make my own willow bark and turmeric capsules if I have a headache. I also make elderberry syrup for our cough symptoms. Now, this is where I will tell you that I am making NO claims about the ability of elderberry syrup to work for anything. Folks have gotten into serious trouble for saying such things. I wouldn’t want to lose all my boots. What I can tell you is that this particular syrup is a constant in our home and when we have a cough, we use it. So there. Then we stop coughing. So double there.

Here’s whats in my Elderberry Syrup:

Dried Elderberries

Lemon

Ginger

Raw Honey

Cinnamon

Vanilla

Water

Orange (optional)

Cloves (optional)

Pepper (optional)

Strangely, all things I can find on my farm, in the produce aisle or consider to grow. Except cinnamon, pepper and vanilla and even then, who says I can’t?! Maybe I can. I dunno.

Anyway, a far cry from unpronounceable ingredients…yes? And it tastes oh so good. Let’s not forget those new boots I need… making your own syrup saves a ton of money. If you buy this syrup ready made on line or in the store you are paying at least $25 for 8 ounces and this price goes up as coughs get worse! I buy my ingredients at the store and the berries on Amazon. My favorite are Frontier organic dried elderberries if you were wondering.

So herewith, I’d like to offer you my Instant Pot Elderberry Cough Syrup recipe. It comes with a neat recipe print out and even pictures of a super cute granddaughter helping me! Because if Maddi and I can make it ~ you can too! Now if you’ll excuse me I’m going to go look at my boots investments…Find the cutest kid on the block to pour in your measured elderberries…

Have same cute kid pour in rest of ingredients while you sit back and relax…

Start your Instant Pot and set on high pressure for nine minutes. Have cute kid in background thinking she wasn’t going to be in this picture 😉

Start your countdown aided by adorable granddaughter and her favorite stuffy…”Toothless”. It takes about 20 minutes in all for the pressure to come up and cook time. Very little time for such powerful relief.

Have you used elderberry cough syrup before? What were your results?

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