Keeping your family healthy and choosing natural remedies does not need to be an oxymoron. These immune supporting elderberry astragalus gummies are perfect for everyone in the family, and it will make it more fun to take their “medicine”. 

When the cold and flu hits, you want relief fast. Some mineral rich bone broth, plenty of fresh water, and rest are often just what the doctor ordered. But, what if I told you there was a way to help keep your body from getting sick in the first place?

Your immune system is designed to ward off illness and when it’s running in tip top shape, you will find you seldom get sick. However, your body’s immune system can get worn down and less able to fight off illness. Things that can cause your immune system to get run down:

• stress
• lack of sleep
• poor eating habits (too much sugar or processed foods)
• lack of exercise
• lack of sunshine

What do you do when your body is already run down, though? How do you fight off illness when you are working a full time job, taking care of your family, possibly running a homestead and more? How do you manage it all?

May I introduce you to an class of herbs called adaptogens?

From the Latin word “adaptare” meaning “to adjust”, adaptogens do just what you think they would. They help your body adjust. Other qualifications of adaptogens:

• non toxic to recipient
• produces a non specific response in the body (an increase in the power of resistance against multiple stressors-physical, chemical or biological
• helps to normalize phsysiological responses in the body

Basically, adaptogenic herbs help the body handle stress and support your immune system. Of course, a proper diet with plenty of fresh fruits, veggies, high quality fats and lean meats along with exercise, time spent outdoors and proper rest all play a key role in your overall health. No herbs can undo a consistent lifestyle of fast food, high sugary sodas, and a lack of  movement.

But, you can help your body adapt and even overcome times of stress and busyness. Times when there are too many birthday cakes, times when hitting the gym just can’t happen. These immune support astragalus elderberry gummies are just the ticket, too. Perfect size to take with you, and even good for kids as young as 2, they are so easy to make. With immune supporting herbs like elderberry and astragalus and flavorful amia and goji berries, they are sure to hit it out of the park.

About the herbs we use:

• Astragalus is a Chinese legume, often used in culinary medicine in healing soups or other nourishing foods. It is safe for most situations, even with long term use as there are no known contradications. It also has a tradition of being an immune support and reducing the severity and longevity of infections.

See more about astragalus here and find out how to make a tincture, too!

• Elderberries have a long history of being used for cold and flu symptoms. Studies also support the idea that elderberries may help with better digestion. Elderberries are also an immune stimulant, meaning they support the immune system in fighting infection.

See more about elderberries and find out how to make a simple syrup! 

Put these astragalus elderberry gummies together with some gut healing gelatin and you have a wining combination that will help your family stay strong and healthy!

In her new book, The Complete Guide to Adaptogens, Agatha Noveille shares over 75 recipes that will help your body heal and be supported on many levels. From multi grains, to sweet potatoes, spicy hot chocolates and switchels, this full color book has it all. Many delicious recipes, including this one are included. As an herbalist writer at Indie Herbalist, Agatha has the knowledge and expertise with herbs to guide you.

Some other adaptogens that are covered in her book:

• Albizia
• Ashwagandha
• Astragalus
• Burdock
• Cordyceps
• Dang Shen
• Eleuthero
• American Ginseng
• Asian Ginseng
• Gogi berries
• Gotu Kola
• Hawthorn
• Holy Basil or Tulsi
• Fo-ti
• Jiaogulan
• Licorice
• Maca
• Nettle
• Reishi
• Rhodiola
• Schisandra berry
• Shatavari
• Suma

You can get this awesome resource here.

What I like about this second edition is that the book is now full color, complete with photos. Beautiful to look at, easy to read and understand and not just the standard “tincture” or “herbal salve” recipes that are often seen. This book has real life, easy recipes that your family will truly enjoy, with herbs that are easy to find!

Immune Berry Astragalus Gummies

Excerpted from The Complete Guide to Adaptogens From Ashwaganda to Rhodiola, Medicinal Herbs That Transform and Heal by Agatha Noveille Copyright © 2018 Adams Media, a division of Simon and Schuster. Used by permission of the publisher. All rights reserved. Photographs by Harper Point Photography

Have you seen gummy vitamins on the shelf at your local health food store? Originally they were just for kids, but more and more companies are making them for the adult crowd too. These astragalus gummies are better tasting than any of the ones from the store, and contain fewer preservatives (that is, none). Here’s another plus: the only sweetness comes from the fruit itself!

You shouldn’t devour these at quite the same rate as your favorite gummy bear candies, but you can use 3–6 gummies per day. If you have any liquid left over, you can add an equal amount of honey to make a syrup and enjoy it a few teaspoons at a time.

Ingredients you need:

• 3 cups cherry, purple grape, or pomegranate juice
• 1/2 cup dried elderberries (get them here)
• 1/4 cup cut and sifted astragalus root (get it here)
• 2 Tablespoons amia berries
• 2 Tablespoons goji berries (get them here)
• 1/2 cup, plain, unflavored gelatin powder (get it here)

Instructions:

1. Simmer the juice, elderberries, astragalus root, amia berries and goji berries in a medium saucepan over low heat for 20 minutes.
2. Remove the mixture from the heat and strain it into a heat-safe measuring cup.
3. Measure out 2 separate cups of the liquid. One cup should go into a heat safe bowl and sit in the back of the refrigerator until cold. The other cup of liquid can go back into the saucepan.
4. Once the juice in the refrigerator is cold, sprinkle the gelatin on top and let it rest for a few minutes. This allows the gelatin to “bloom”, or reconstitue before the next step.
5. Bring the cup of juice in the saucepan to a simmer, and then pour it over the cold juice and gelatin mixture.
6. Stir the gelatin and juice together briskly with a whisk until the gelatin is completely dissolved. From there, use a dropper to transfer the liquid from the saucepan into silicone candy molds. If you don’t have candy molds, you can pour the liquid into a glass baking pan.
7. Stash the filled candy molds (or glass baking pan) in the refrigerator for 1-2 hours to cool and harden, then remove the gummies from the candy molds (if using the glass baking pan, cut the gelatin into 1″-2″ cubes) and store in an airtight container in the fridge.

Are you ready for cold and flu season with your family? Will you make these gummies to help them stay healthy? Be sure to pin this for later!

Immune Elderberry Astragalus Gummies