08 06 2010

Elderflower

Andrea Hughes Herbal Medicine elderflower cordial, hayfever, sambucus nigra

After the rain today, the distinct aroma of Elder Flowers infused the air up on the downs!

You would be forgiven for thinking that this Herbalist spends all her time out in Nature!
I do have Clinic’s and a dispensary to run, but I do also have a dog, hence the wonderful daily walk’s!

The scent of the Elderflower brought me to think about making my yearly batch of Elderflower cordial, it tastes gorgeous and is very easy to make.

Here is a basic recipie and one that works for me!

Ingredients:

Fresh Elderflowers

Sugar

Lemons

The weight is not important as the amount of sugar can be adjusted after steeping.
Collect your Elderflowers and remove the bigger stalks.
Place in a bowl and pour on enough fresh boiled water to cover and sprinkle with sugar.
Cover with lemon slices ( peel removed) Leave to steep for 24hrs, strain and adjust sweetness to taste.

Remember to cover the top surface with lemon slices to reduce the area exposed to oxidation as this will otherwise turn brown.

Elderflowers are Diaphoretic, anti-cattarhal and antispasmodic.

Use in a tea for Hayfever, Colds and Flu, sinusitus, Catarrhal deafness.

3 Comments

sophia
08/06/2010 @ 8:44 pm

Thank you so much for sharing. I was wondering if by any chance you will be offering a class making such a wonderful mixture, any time soon?
- Andrea Hughes
  14/06/2010 @ 8:34 pm
  
  Thank you so much for your interest Sophia, I am planning a workshop for July and will send you further info soon.
Karen, Herblaist
16/04/2011 @ 5:40 am

Sounds yummy. How nice it must be to able to walk out and wildcraft herbs. I’m in the desert and we do have some herbs but not the wonderful green leafy and flowery type. Thanks for sharing your recipe! Karen, Clinical Herbalist

Testimonials

I don’t know whether you remember me, but I came to you about 18 months ago because I had had recurrent miscarriages. After a course of treatment you gave me, I conceived at the beginning of the year, and have just had a beautiful little boy. I am so grateful to you for all your help, and especially for linking together a lot of my medical issues. My irritable bowel has also been much better since your treatment. Thanks again for all you did, I will definatly recommend you to friends and fa… Read more

Sensitive & kind

Andrea was recommended to me as I have been struggling with PMDD since I was a teenager. I have been to my GP about my periods since I was 15, even speaking to a Gynecologist. There was absolutely no help and I felt so hopeless that I would experience PMDD forever. Andra recommended doing a DNA test for neurotransmitter pathways, as well as vitamin tests and from the results, we could see what I needed and why I was experiencing the symptoms that were happening around my period. After a … Read more

MaisieWest Sussex

Everything seems to make sense and tie in perfectly. You know I have only felt the anxious feelings a couple of days since starting the herbs and that was just before my period a week ago – and really mild This is the best month I have had for at least 6months – so something must be working! I am so grateful for all your help. The anxiety/moods really were taking over my life – affecting my relationship with my partner and the kids!

Everything seems to make sense and tie in perfectly

Hi Andrea Just wanted to let you know how much better I’m feeling! The last few days I’ve felt actual hunger, something I haven’t felt for months. Your wonderful herbs and particularly I feel, the Agrimony, are doing wonders. I’m off the omeprazole now ( for almost a week) and no repercussions. I’m sticking to wheat and dairy free with the exception of a little goat cheese, no bright stools at all. This lovely lady presented with a history of medication of proton pump inhibitors, s… Read more

Better Digestion and no Omeprazole!

Dear Andrea This is a huge success story….. As you may remember,my Son had experienced stomach pain every night for nearly 10 years. The hospital prescribed Ranitidine to contain the pain. At first it seemed to help but then didn’t help at all. We came to you. You recommended to steer clear of gluten at first. Then we decided on a stool sample. This showed yeast and low good bacteria. His stomach pain eased almost immediately with your treatment, but every 5 days or so a painful… Read more

LindaWest Sussex

You have been so extraordinarily good with me, giving me absolutely top-notch, end-to-end, science-based advice. You have also been gently supportive and encouraging in the most warmly humanistic way imaginable. I just can’t thank you enough. The comparison with where I am today and where I was just a year ago is truly breath-taking. Thank you! Although I shall be in touch with occasional emails, I don’t plan on making a further appointment for the foreseeable future, but it is enormously rea… Read more

Chronic illness a year on..

I came to you for the tea making course, I’d just like to say Thank you so much – I learnt so much from those couple of hours with you, it was actually a very profound experience.

Tea Blending Workshop

My daughter ( now nearly 5 ) has suffered with very disturbed sleep, ( waking 8-10 times a night, for 4 years ) bumpy skin , tummy aches , highly strung and generally not a happy child since the day she was born – have tried numerous trips to doctors and other health practitioner’s (spending lots of money and getting nowhere) and finally came across Andrea who to us is a heaven sent angel as she diagnosed Millie with intolerances to dairy, soya , egg and goats milk – 6 weeks on with an eliminati… Read more

Sleeping after 4 very long years!Goring

Following almost 20 years of surgery, antibiotics and steroids for sinusitis, I became extremely run down, caught Pneumonia and almost died. I spent 10 days in hospital. Thank goodness for the NHS and their life saving care. Yet it was Andrea and her herbs (the girls!) that allowed me to live my life again. It has now been over a year since my first visit to her calm and quiet surgery. I always look forward to going. Since the first visit, my health and energy improved and continues to do so.… Read more

Mr W TraversGoring by Sea

I am so happy to have discovered Andrea! I had been suffering for so long before with various problems including recurrent thrush, very low mood and PMS symptoms and many gut-related issues which have now almost completely disappeared. Where doctors before had just told me that all these symptoms were chronic, or prescribed antibiotics which seemed to make things worse, Andrea took time to identify exactly what was going on in my body and to plan a treatment that took in to account all aspects o… Read more

HollyBrighton