Immune System Booster: Elderflower

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When I was reading up on elderflowers a few weeks ago for my blog post on the delicious cocktail The Hugo Spritz, I was surprised to learn how potent they are for boosting the immune system.

Elderflower is very popular in many cultures for its anti-inflammatory and antiseptic properties. It can be very effective in relieving the symptoms of colds, sinus infections, flu, and respiratory infections.

It has antibacterial and antiviral properties and can boost the immune system. It can also help alleviate joint pain and can help lower blood sugar.

Elderflower is packed with bioflavonoids, which are compounds found in plants, and elderflower is known for its antioxidant and antibacterial properties.

Research conducted in Ireland has shown that elderflower is very effective in destroying pathogens found in hospitals, such as MRSA! That’s just crazy that such a delicate little flower is so lethal. 🙂

So you know how when you are made aware of something, you start seeing it everywhere? That’s what happened to me after I learned about elderflower as an immune system booster.

I came across an elder immunity syrup that combines elderberry, raw honey, and apple cider vinegar.

I think we all have heard about the amazing things apple cider vinegar can do for our health. So combining that with organic honey and the elderflower sounds like a powerful combo to me.

It comes in a very dark bottle and you just shake it and drink a small amount up to three times a day. I have to say the taste is not as bad as I thought it would be. It does have a strong vinegar taste, similar to kombucha, but the honey and sweetness of the elderflower make it tolerable.

Then we were out shopping last week and came across a TheraBreath Immunity Support Spray that contains the elderflower, zinc, vitamin C, and vitamin E.

We use this mouthwash brand already, so we were surprised that we hadn’t noticed this immune system boosting spray before. But like I said, once you’re aware of something, you start seeing it everywhere. 🙂

So we got some of that too. You just spray several squirts into your mouth, swish it around, and swallow it. It has a bit of a cherry flavor and is not unpleasant at all.

I’ve always preferred to build and maintain a strong immune system rather than always being in a reactive mode treating illnesses. And I’ve always been a fan of natural alternatives to help with that.

If you’re anything like me, you’ve spent the last year fretting over every sore throat and stuffy nose. Stuff that wouldn’t even have fazed us a year ago makes us nervous, thinking we might have the coronavirus.

That’s why it’s so important to fortify our immune system. It’s always a good idea, but especially during a pandemic. Even if we manage to avoid getting the coronavirus, we can still come down with the usual things that are still out there.

I have mentioned before that my mother-in-law gave me a bottle of oregano oil last winter when I had a cold. She is a big proponent of natural remedies and I have to say this oregano oil, while EXTREMELY strong, seems to really help when I feel a cold or scratchy throat coming on.

This stuff is POTENT. I can only tolerate a couple of drops under my tongue, where I swish it around, and then swallow it with a chaser at the ready. I have to have a drink to help cool my mouth down.

But I really do think it helps knock down a cold or sore throat coming on. Knowing how powerful oregano oil is, I have used the less aggressive oregano juice every single day since this whole coronavirus thing started. Without fail.

My daughter has had to get tested for the coronavirus a few times anytime a co-worker tested positive. She has thankfully never tested positive, and I have been really encouraged to hear that the doctor always discusses nutritional and supplement recommendations to help build and maintain a strong immune system when giving the test results.

Strengthening my immune system has always been a priority for me, and I have only been really sick three times I can think of in the last 20 years. I still get the occasional cold or crud, but I try to knock it out with supplements and natural remedies as soon as I feel something coming on.

That’s not to say that medical attention isn’t sometimes necessary when we are ill. It definitely is. But anything we can do to stay healthy so that we can minimize the likelihood of getting sick is always good.

And now that I have learned about how powerful the elderflower is in helping to build a healthy immune system, I have been adding the syrup and immune spray to my daily defense tactics. 🙂

I would encourage you to read up on immune system boosters and incorporate them into your life. A good offense beats having to always be on the defense any day.

And elderflower seems to be a really good one. If you’re not up for supplements, maybe a daily Hugo Spritz Cocktail might just be what the doctor ordered! 🙂