Elderflower Fizz and Syrup

 Last fall I had enough berries on my Elderberry bush to make Elderberry syrup.
That is found here  http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=1619104225715683534#editor/target=post;postID=3054331216500554520;onPublishedMenu=allposts;onClosedMenu=allposts;postNum=5;src=postname

 In the Garden:
I planted five bare root bushes 3 years ago with my eldest son on my back.  Two bushes survived an occasional mowing and the relocation of our garden.  Now one bush is enormous and the other still small due to the location of each.  What I did not know is that these beautiful plants once established send out off shoots in the Spring.  My large bush had at least 10 baby plants around its base.  I gave some away and planted three in new locations in the front garden.  The shoot that I let grow under the large bush turned sideways and a bit ugly and I tore it out.   When I planted the first Elderberry bushes I told my Grandfather (then 92). He said, "Why would you plant those? They will take over!" So I must forewarn you as my grandfather did. If your soil is quite healthy you could create an Elderberry hedge in a few years.  If you do not want large beautiful plants with heavy floral scent in Spring and healthful berries in fall then do not plant.  Also, it is wise to prune back each year to keep them a reasonable size for picking.
On another garden note, I learned that the leaves (that you will most definitely prune) are great for the compost pile.
Health Benefits:
Elder flowers are high in Quercetin, a natural anti-histamine.  This seems just about perfect to me.  In the spring when the pollen is at it's highest, nature gave us these beautiful flowers to drink, be merry, and calm the runny nose and itchy eyes of the gardener.
Elderberries have so many healthful qualities and when made into syrup my children love to take a spoonful.
Toxic Stems:
Just a note of caution here.  The stems of the plant are toxic.  Do not consume them.  It can be trying to get the flowers and berries off of the little stems.  In the fizz I trimmed as much away from the flower as possible and strained the rest out after two days.   I did try to make a tea and discovered that applying hot water to the stems brings out brown yuck and did not work.  When picking berries some of the little stems make there way in but you will strain them out or pick up with some tweezers.

Elderflower Fizz:
12 heads of Elder flowers
3 cups of sugar
6 lemons
2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
Filtered water

We used two 1/2 gallon jars (One used to be a Jalapeno Jar).  We placed 1 1/2 cups of sugar in the bottom of each jar and added hot water to dissolve the sugar.  Then filled it half way up with cold water.  I then gave my little guys the task of adding 6 flower heads to each jar and 3 lemons cut in thick slices.  They stirred while I placed a tablespoon of apple cider vinegar in each jar. You could easily make half a recipe in this manner as well.

Mixing the Elderflower Fizz

After two days we strained the liquid.  It was enough to fit into One jar.  I labeled it Elder and left on the counter for two weeks. Then bottled it into wine bottles and some beer bottles for distributing to friends.

My Elderberry Bush sent out new blooms for a couple weeks. I decided to experiment some more.  This time making a syrup that can be added to tea, whipped cream, cakes...


Elderflower Syrup:
6 flower heads
1 cup sugar
3 cups water

I made a simple syrup on the stove. Combine 1 cup of sugar and 3 cups water.  Cook on medium heat until slightly thick.  Let cool to room temperature.
Set flower heads with umbels down in bowl.  Pour syrup over and cover with plastic wrap or towel and place in fridge overnight or about 8-10 hours.
Strain into two 12 ounce mason jars or several little jelly jars for gifts.

Elderflower Syrup

NO Fear of the Fever

I started the morning at 5 am, with my sweet eldest (3 1/2 years old) asking for his dinner and chewing on the garlic bread he had left behind the night before.  At dinner he was listless, drank his diluted juice and wanted to be excused to play his harmonica.  He happily fell asleep at 7:45 to awake at 11:30 with a high fever crying for Mama.  I managed to plop Belladonna in his mouth between cries, held him, and soothed him into a deep sleep that lasted until 5 am.  Fever gone, hunger back.
Fast forward 5 hours and little brother (almost 2) came down with the fever.  His hands were cold, his head slightly warm, he nursed to sleep.  He awoke 40 minutes later screaming Mama with a fever of 104 F. I slipped Belladonna and Aconite onto his wailing tongue. 1 hour later he was sleeping in his bed.

It has taken me 3 1/2 years to learn that I do not need to fear the fever.

I took a class years ago from an Anthroposophic nurse at a Teacher's Conference. She described the home
remedies to do for a fever and that the fever is there for a reason. But for many reasons, mostly my loved ones and pediatrician suggesting the Tylenol, I often gave Tylenol or Advil if the fever was over 102.
I wish I kept an accurate journal of the middle of the night fevers and treatments we have been through.
I am quite certain that the fevers that were medicated with Tylenol and Advil lasted longer.
The experience has given me the observation skills and trust to no longer, FEAR THE FEVER.

Here are a few tips I heard about but now know are true:

1.  If the hands and feet are cold the fever is still rising.  Keep them comfortable without chill.

2. If hands and feet are about the same temp as the stomach, the fever is done rising.  Now you can give cool wash cloth, bath, or lemon wrap on the feet.

3. Treating with Tylenol or Advil may make the child more comfortable to sleep for a bit, but when it wears off the temperature will probably try to rise again to ward off the illness, making the illness last longer.

4. It seems a whole lot easier to hold my children, help them sleep, and give them some homeopathic remedies, rather than to convince them that the gooey, sticky medicine they don't want is good for them. (Especially now, that I feel that it isn't)

5. The Homeopathic Travel Kit from my local Homeopathic Doctor has been one the the best purchases of my life. $90 and it will last for years.  They will refill the bottles for $2 when needed.

6. Belladonna for sudden onset of high fever with flushed face.  Aconite for fever with pale face, intense thirst and restlessness. Pulsatilla for fevers with low thirst and clinging whining babes.

7. Rescue Remedies Pastilles are a great distraction from their ailments.  My little guys think they are a treat and it calms them.

8. If their throat hurts after the homeopathic medicine has been given, Tylenol can be comforting, but I try to use it very sparingly and not for the purpose of bringing down a fever. (Our last illness turned to sore throats and coughing for a week.  I did give them Tylenol when my boys were crying in pain and so they could drink fluid. I had to take an ibuprofen myself one night in order to get my head and throat from hurting so I could fall asleep.)  So I do use it as pain relief when necessary to keep comfortable while the body battles the illness, but not to cover the illness or fever.

Which would I rather give to my little guys?  The pretty ones without red #5.