Susannah Shmurak - Everything Elderberry

Copyright 2020 by Susannah Shmurak

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any manner without the express written consent of the publisher, except in the case of brief excerpts in critical reviews or articles. All inquiries should be addressed to Skyhorse Publishing, 307 West 36th Street, 11th Floor, New York, NY 10018.

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Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data is available on file.

Cover design by Daniel Brount

Cover photos by Susannah Shmurak and Jan Berry

Print ISBN: 978-1-5107-5400-3

Ebook ISBN: 978-1-5107-5401-0

Printed in China

Neither the author or the publisher is engaged in rendering professional advice or services to the individual reader. The ideas, protocols, procedures, and suggestions in this book are not intended as a substitute for consulting with your physician. All matters regarding your health require medical supervision. Neither the author nor the publisher shall be liable or responsible for any loss or damage allegedly arising from any information or suggestion in the book.

The author or publisher is not responsible for your specific health or allergy needs that may require medical supervision. The publisher or author is not responsible for any adverse reactions to the recipes contained in this book.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

INTRODUCTION

While modern medicine has in many cases eclipsed tried-and-true herbal remedies, another modern invention, the internet, has helped revive these fading ways to treat illness and support everyday good health. You probably picked up this book because you read about elderberry syrup on a blog and were curious to know more. Thats how I first learned about elderberries, too.

Reading about elderberry syrup online immediately piqued my interest. A simple berry-based concoction that could help me fight off colds and flu was very appealing in a region of the country where winter (and cold season!) lasts five to six long months.

But buying tiny, expensive bottles of elderberry syrup did not appeal to this frugal do-it-yourselfer, and I quickly schooled myself in ways to tap the benefits of elderberries without breaking the bank. As I learned to make my own elderberry preparations, I developed an insatiable curiosity about other herbal remedies. Exploring the fascinating world of plant medicine, I discovered hundreds of common plantssome masquerading as weeds in our gardens, some staples of the spice cabinetthat we can use to address common ailments. Many of these simple herbs and spices show up in the recipes included here.

This book also contains information on how to source elderberries and use them safely, as well as what scientific evidence we have for their storied health benefits. In my effort to understand this intriguing plant better, I sought out scientists, growers, herbalists, and makers of jams and spirits. I combed through historical herbal texts, centuries worth of cookbooks, and piles of modern herbalist books. I experimented with using the flowers and berries in baking, teas, and condiments, and plied family and friends with the results. Its all here for you, along with loads of information about how to find or grow elderflowers and elderberries and how you can use these ages-old remedies in your wellness routine.

Elderberry has served for many as a gateway to the not-quite lostand, thanks to the internet and ever-growing popular interest, quickly reboundingart of home remedies. Since elderberry has been widely studied, is readily available, and tastes so good, its a perfect place to start if youre curious about supporting health naturally.

How to Use This Book

Whether youre a veteran forager, an enthusiastic gardener, or someone who just wants to understand what all the fuss is about, this book has you covered.

You can absolutely use this book just for the how-tos on health-supporting teas, tinctures, and other herbal concoctions, or peruse the recipes to discover how versatile elderberry can be. For those readers interested in learning more about elders rich history, foraging and growing information, or the scientific studies conducted on elderberry, Ive provided overviews. Since there are so many conflicting recommendations about how to use elderberry, I spent a lot of time sifting through herbal reference books and speaking with herbalists and biochemists. Youll find what I gleaned in the section on using elderberry for immune support.

>> Please do not skip the section on safely preparing and using elderberries and elderflowers, and if you plan to forage, the section on correctly identifying elderberry plants. Though elderberry is a food, there are some important things to know in order to use it safely and effectively.

While elderberry syrup is perhaps this impressive little berrys best-known form, there is so much more we can make from flavorful elderberries! In addition to their uses for immune support, elderberries contain potent antioxidants that support long-term health, and they make nutritious and tasty additions to baked goods, drinks, and all manner of treats. Once you get started making your own elderberry gummies and homemade beverages, youll likely find lots more ways to incorporate this delicious ingredient into everyday cooking.

As youll discover in the pages that follow, elderflowers also have a long history of medicinal and culinary use. If youve never cooked with flowers before, get ready to have some fun with elders beautiful and delicious blossoms.

Dive into some of the history and research, check out the foraging and growing information, or just whip up some syrup, muffins, tea, or jam from these gorgeous and tasty fruits and flowers. Enjoy!

CHAPTER 1

AN ELDERBERRY PRIMER

SAMBUCUS CANADENSIS. ELDER ... In domestic medicine, this plant forms almost a pharmacy in itself.

Charles Millspaugh, American Medicinal Plants (1892)

Lets start at the beginning. What is elderberry, anyway?

Elderberry is the common name for the fruit of the plant Sambucus , varieties of which grow in many parts of the world, from Australia to Canada. Common names include elder, black elderberry, European elderberry, blue elderberry, elder bush, and hundreds of others in dozens of languages. The French call it sureau noir , the Danish call it hyld, and the Germans call it schwarzer Holunder . In Italian its sambuco , in Spanish saco , in Swedish flder , in Farsi palam , and in Russian busine . In various times and places it has also been known as Judas tree, bore tree, pipe tree, and Devils wood, among many others.