Elecampane & Elderberry Winter Syrup

by Felicity Joy August 12, 2026

~ Elderberry & Elecampane Winter Syrup ~

Winter is the perfect time to make your own herbal syrups, and this Elderberry & Elecampane combination is one of my favorites.

So, what exactly is an herbal syrup?

Syrups are sweet, concentrated herbal preparations made by combining strong infusions or decoctions with honey. They are especially useful for soothing irritated tissues such as the throat and lungs, supporting the immune system, and making herbal medicine more palatable for children or anyone who may not tolerate tinctures or bitter teas.

Honey does more than simply sweeten the syrup. It helps preserve it naturally with its antimicrobial properties, coats and soothes the throat, and helps carry the herbs into the body.

Unlike many commercial cough syrups, which can be packed with refined sugar and unnecessary additives, a homemade herbal syrup uses raw honey as both medicine and preservative, making it a simple and nourishing way to work with herbs at home.

And they’re incredibly easy to make.

Elderberry (Sambucus nigra) is a classic winter herb, traditionally valued for its antiviral, immune-supporting, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and diaphoretic properties. Elderberry syrup is traditionally used for colds and flu, particularly at the first signs of infection.

Elecampane (Inula helenium) is a wonderful warming lung tonic and expectorant, traditionally used for persistent, wet coughs and bronchial irritation. It helps support mucus clearance and has also traditionally been used for respiratory conditions such as asthma and whooping cough. The root is also a digestive bitter, making this a fascinating plant to have growing in your herbal garden.

Elderberry & Elecampane syrup recipe

You’ll need:

½ cup fresh elderberries

½ cup fresh elecampane root

OR ¼ cup dried elderberries + ½ cup dried elecampane root

2 cups water

Raw honey

To make:

~ Combine the herbs with water in a pot.

~ Bring to a gentle simmer, reduce the heat and allow to simmer slowly for 1-2 hours until the liquid is reduced by half.

~ Strain the herbs through a fine sieve or cheesecloth while warm.

~ Measure your herbal liquid and stir in an equal amount of raw honey. For example, for 1 cup of herbal liquid, add 1 cup of honey.

~ Stir until the honey has fully dissolved, then pour into a clean jar or bottle and label.

~ Store in the fridge and use within 1–2 months.

Always simmer gently rather than boiling hard, as excessive heat can destroy beneficial compounds.

You can also add warming spices such as cinnamon, ginger or cloves while simmering for an extra warming winter blend.

This is just one of the many herbal preparations I cover in my Grassroots Herbalism Guide.

Inside the guide I share practical knowledge for working with plants and making your own herbal medicine, including syrups, tinctures, infused oils, vinegars, teas and much more.

If you’ve been wanting to learn how to make your own herbal medicine and build your home herbal apothecary, Grassroots Herbalism ~ A Practical Guide to Homegrown & Foraged Herbal Medicine is a great place to start.

Find your copy here: