I take vitamin d, whole vitamin c, turmeric, zinc, quercetin, and elderberry gummies for immune health and haven’t gotten sick except for a 24 hour stomach bug since I started it. My 1 and 3 year old get sick pretty regularly though and I want them to be better at fighting it off.
My 3 year old gets an elderberry gummy for kids that has a little zinc and I’m planning to also add in vitamin-d drops. There don’t seem to be many vitamin supplements for babies though and I’d like to be able to also give something to my 1 year old. Anyone have any suggestions for research they can point me to?
I recommend that you make your own elderberry syrup. I can give you a recipe if you're interested (for children over 1 year old due to the honey). But also, when your child has a fever, don't rush to give them tylenol or something to bring it down. Let the fever do its job, that's part of the natural immunity building thing. Unless it gets high - like 102 - 103, then make an attempt at a cool bath to reduce their temp before involving meds.
I’m interested in the elderberry syrup recipe. Thanks!
My pleasure! You can find freeze dried elderberries at iherb.com or frontiercoop.com. I've seen them on amazon, but they price gouge so I shop with the smaller companies. I recommend getting the organic, they're a little more expensive but worth it.
2/3 cup freeze dried elderberries 3.5 cups spring water (or filtered, I don't use tap water) 1 good sized hunk of fresh ginger, peeled & finely chopped 2 tbsps ground cinnamon 2 cups raw honey
Put all ingredients except the honey in a sauce pan and set to simmer on low to medium heat, stirring every 10 minutes. After it cooks down about an inch in the pot (about 25 to 30 mins), remove from heat and strain out all solids. You should have about 2 cups of strained liquid. Stir in the honey, mix well (I use a whisk) and refrigerate. It will keep for 6 months in the fridge. You'll love the smell it gives off in your house while cooking!
Preventatively, kids can take 1 tsp per day, adults 1 tbsp. If you're already sick, double or triple that, depending on severity of your illness. It has cured many a flu in my family! :) And babies older than 1 year can take it, but not less than 1 year because of the amount of honey in it. For babies less than a year, you could steep dried elderberries to make tea, and sweeten it with regular sugar because it is quite bitter without any sweetener.