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Post by COB on May 29, 2012 22:40:38 GMT -7
Dried black elderberries, scientific name Sambucus Nigra. You can get them online. When you get the dried berries, you'll notice they stink. There's no delicate way to put it. They smell like a combination of fruity berries and sweaty old hiking boots. Ignore that.
Get yourself a bottle of rum, brandy, whiskey or vodka, the cheap stuff, and a quart glass jar with a good clean lid. A canning jar is perfect. Use a new lid and ring.
Fill the jar with berries up to about 1/3, then pour in the booze to fill it the rest of the way. Put the lid on and sit the jar out of the way somewhere for a week. Then at the end of the week, you can use the stuff.
Preventative usage is 1 tsp once a day. That will help keep you from catching the flu or a cold. If you have the flu or a cold, take 2 teaspoons twice a day, or even more if you feel led to. No, don't go guzzling the stuff just cause it's booze. Don't use it all up wastefully like that, because you're going to hate yourself when you really need it and you've drunk it all.
This stuff keeps for YEARS and is perfectly good. Store the unused berries in another clean jar with a tight lid so you don't have to smell them until you need them, and you can make more batches later on with them. Store all the jars in a dark room temperature cupboard.
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Post by solargeek1 on Jun 9, 2015 17:29:56 GMT -7
I am bumping this up for the following reason:
I made this stuff back in 2012 and it is still ready as needed.
Well, I need it. Turns out, I am one of the rare people who have allergies (badly) but Claritin, Zyrtec, Singulair and the like all cause me to feel like my heart is pounding, even at times when I am sitting still and totally relaxed. So no more of those. But I can't breathe and also sneeze and blow my nose constantly without meds.
I researched why NYQUIL never causes this reaction and it is an "old line" antihistimine/hypnotic (love that word for medicine!) "Doxylamine succinate (6.25 mg/15 mL) (antihistamine/hypnotic)"
When totally unable to breathe, I would use NYQUIL and then Vick's Vaporub under my nose. Still use the Vaporub every night.
Ingredients for VAPORUB are: "Regular: Camphor (synthetic) 4.8% (Cough suppressant and topical analgesic) Eucalyptus oil 1.2% (Cough suppressant) Menthol 2.6% (Cough suppressant and topical analgesic)"
Menthol and Eucalyptus oil are known decongestants (they call them cough suppressants but not for me).
Well, Elderberry tincture is listed in several places as a natural decongestant and similar to an antihistamine but without the drying of the mucus (sorry so graphic) that so many OTC drugs cause and which make symptoms seem worse.
So, I will be making more! Thanks to COB.
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Post by olebama on Jun 9, 2015 17:52:04 GMT -7
I was going to plant some elderberry bushes this spring, but never got around to ordering them. I have to make sure I get the right plant. Thanks for bumping.
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Post by woodyz on Jun 10, 2015 15:42:13 GMT -7
I have to laugh
my Grandfather made elderberry wine for as long as i can remember back.
he always had gallon jugs hid all around the farm because my Grandmother would pour it out if she found it.
he always told me when I was little it was his allergy medicine
because he was allergic to my Grandmother
Of course he also told me I had to check if the electric fence was working by peeing on it, but it only took me one time for that one
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Post by angelhelp on Jun 11, 2015 16:47:18 GMT -7
How old were you when you fell for that one?
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Post by thywar on Jun 11, 2015 17:14:28 GMT -7
How old were you when you fell for that one? Young enough not to be concerned about peeing in front of his grandpa. Lol
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Post by sirderrin on Jun 11, 2015 17:18:48 GMT -7
How old were you when you fell for that one? Young enough not to be concerned about peeing in front of his grandpa. Lol or proud enough LOL
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Post by thywar on Jun 11, 2015 17:19:45 GMT -7
Lol. True
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Post by cajunlady87 on Jun 11, 2015 17:22:48 GMT -7
Lady Katie, instead of rubbing the vapor rub under your nose, at bedtime rub it under your feet and wear socks. Let me know how it works out for you.
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Post by woodyz on Jun 11, 2015 18:59:39 GMT -7
onion in your socks
not kidding i just remembered when you said that
i was 7 and peeing on that electric fence meant not being able to stop until i was empty
that don't mean it didn't hurt the whole time
he thought it was the funniest thing and told everyone about it for what seemed the next ten years
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Post by solargeek1 on Jun 11, 2015 20:36:40 GMT -7
Lady Katie, instead of rubbing the vapor rub under your nose, at bedtime rub it under your feet and wear socks. Let me know how it works out for you. CL, I have done that when I had rough feet. It didn't do anything for congestion but I will try tonight:)
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Post by cajunlady87 on Jun 12, 2015 5:36:30 GMT -7
The reason I mentioned it is because I have read the application in many cold remedy testimonials where the people swore by the results.
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Post by solargeek1 on Jun 12, 2015 13:12:59 GMT -7
The reason I mentioned it is because I have read the application in many cold remedy testimonials where the people swore by the results. I tried it but didn't notice any difference. Was hoping to. I will stick with elderberry tincture and vick's vaporub under my nose.
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Post by woodyz on Jun 12, 2015 13:26:00 GMT -7
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Post by graf on Jun 15, 2015 9:42:08 GMT -7
After getting a cold I drink yarrow and elderberry flowers tea I dehydrate both seems to help
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