Nancy Grew: Elderberry Oxymel

What do you get when you combine raw apple cider vinegar, honey, elderberries, elecampane, and ginger? A berry tangy "oxymel" that prevents viruses from replicating and helps congested lungs by making coughs more productive.

Tangy elderberry oxymel

Oxmel is defined as a mixture of acid (vinegar) and honey used for medicinal purposes. Raw apple cider vinegar and honey are commonly used for a variety of maladies. Combine those key ingredients with elderberries, ginger, and elecampane and you have a potion to treat wet congested coughs. Here's how;

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Gather your Supplies

Pint sized glass jar with plastic lid

Measuring cups; dry and liquid (2 cup)

Measuring spoons

Shallow dish or small plate

Elderberry Oxymel

1/2 C dried elderberries

1 TBS ginger root; fresh or dried

1 TBS dried elecampane root

3/4 C raw local honey

3/4 C raw apple cider vinegar

Dried elderberries and elecampane root with fresh ginger root

Measure the herbs and place in a pint sized glass jar.

A wire whisk makes blending the honey and vinegar easy.

Pour 3/4 cup vinegar into a 2 cup measuring cup. Add 3/4 cup honey and stir until the honey is completely dissolved.

Pour the vinegar honey mixture into the jar.

Pour the honey/vinegar mixture over the herbs in the jar.

Ready to place out of sunlight for 4 - 6 weeks.

Make sure the herbs are completely covered with the honey/vinegar mixture. If you need more liquid add a bit more vinegar.

Cover the jar with a plastic lid and label with ingredients and date. (Vinegar will rust metal and leach the rusty residue into your liquid, which you will want to avoid.)

The liquid will be deep red when the oxymel is ready to be strained.

Set the jar in a shallow dish or small plate to catch any liquid that might leak out of the jar.

Allow the herbs to infuse for 4 to 6 weeks, shaking occasionally. If the liquid level looks low, just add more vinegar.

A nylon jelly bag works well to strain the herbs from the liquid.

Strain the liquid, place in a bottle or jar, and label with the contents and date. Compost the marc (left over herbs and berries) or feed to your chickens as a yummy treat.

Squeezing the jelly bag will get out every last drop!

Store in the refrigerator for up to 6 months.

Done and ready to use!

Use this remedy for wet congested coughs that produce lots of mucus. Or take a spoonful at the first signs of a viral infection to prevent the onset of a cold or the flu. (I added a tablespoon to a glass of kombucha and it was tasty!)

Sourcing Ingredients

Elderberries can be wildcrafted or grown in a zone 4 garden. Elecampane is a hardy perennial in zone 4. Dried elderberries and elecampane can be purchased from Mountain Rose Herbs.

Fresh ginger root is available in most grocery stores. You can find dried ginger root at Mountain Rose Herbs.

Bragg's is the go-to brand for raw apple cider vinegar. Raw AC vinegar is cloudy with a brown residue, called the "mother" on the bottom of the bottle and contains probiotics and beneficial enzymes that are not present in pasteurized vinegar. Want to make your own AC vinegar? Learn how here.