Higbee Honey's Elderberry Botanical Honey Tonic is a blend of raw honey, raw apple cider vinegar, and organic herbal ingredients traditionally used to support healthy immune function. We have included organic Elderberries, Echinacea, Mullein, Cinnamon, Clove, Hibiscus Flower, Juniper berries, Rosemary, Astragalus, Rosehips and Propolis to support and nourish the immune system. It’s an excellent addition to the family medicine cabinet - Your kids will love it!

Our Elderberry Honey Tonic is available in 8, 16, and 32 oz. glass bottles. Added to warm water, tea, or sparkling water, it is a delicious way to get moving toward wellness. We exclusively use our Wasatch Wildflower Raw honey and certified organic Raw apple cider vinegar. 

Stay Healthy! Order Now! Our small batches sell out before the next batch is made so it is wise to order early and order more than just one!

Elderberry tonic—typically made from the berries of Sambucus nigra—has a long history in traditional European and North American herbal medicine. Modern research supports several of its immune- and respiratory-focused benefits, especially when used at the first sign of illness.

Here are the key medicinal benefits:

1. Immune System Support

• Rich in anthocyanins and flavonoids, which enhance immune signaling

• May increase cytokine production, helping the body respond faster to infections

• Commonly used preventively during cold and flu season

2. Cold & Flu Symptom Reduction

• Clinical studies suggest elderberry can:

  • Shorten the duration of colds and influenza

  • Reduce severity of symptoms such as fever, congestion, sore throat, and body aches

• Most effective when taken within the first 24–48 hours of symptom onset

3. Antiviral Properties

• Elderberry compounds can:

  • Inhibit viral replication

  • Prevent viruses (including influenza strains) from attaching to host cells

• This makes it particularly useful in upper respiratory infections

4. Anti-Inflammatory Effects

• Helps calm inflammation in:

  • Sinuses

  • Bronchial passages

  • Joints (mild support)

• Beneficial for people experiencing inflammatory responses during illness

5. Antioxidant Support

• Elderberries contain very high antioxidant levels

• Helps reduce oxidative stress, which:

  • Supports cardiovascular health

  • Protects cells during infection and recovery

6. Sinus & Respiratory Relief

• Traditionally used to:

  • Loosen mucus

  • Ease sinus pressure

  • Support productive coughing

• Often paired with herbs like ginger, cinnamon, clove, or licorice in tonics

7. Mild Diaphoretic Action

• Encourages gentle sweating

• Can help break fevers naturally when used appropriately

Common Forms of Elderberry Tonic

• Syrup (elderberry + honey)

• Alcohol tincture

• Glycerite

• Vinegar-based tonic (oxymel)

• Hot decoction or tea

Safety & Important Notes

• Raw or unripe elderberries are toxic (contain cyanogenic glycosides) and are cooked in a steam kettle for 2.5 hours to detoxify.

• Avoid leaves, stems, and bark

• People with autoimmune conditions should consult a healthcare professional before regular use

• Generally safe for adults and children 

Here’s a selection of research papers on elderberry (Sambucus nigra) that you can look up — including summaries of key findings and links to abstracts or full texts when available. These focus on elderberry’s effects on immune responses, antiviral activity, cytokines, and clinical symptom outcomes:

Clinical Trials & Human Studies

1. Zakay-Rones et al. (2004) — Influenza A & B Clinical Trial

Title: Randomized study of the efficacy and safety of oral elderberry extract in the treatment of influenza A and B virus infections
Journal: Journal of International Medical Research
Design: Double-blind, placebo-controlled RCT
Key findings: Subjects with flu-like symptoms given elderberry syrup had symptoms resolve ~4 days earlier than placebo, and used fewer rescue medications. (PubMed)
📚 Link (PubMed): https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/15080016/ (PubMed)

Mechanistic & Laboratory Research

2. Torabian et al. (2019) — Anti-Influenza Mechanisms

Title: Anti-influenza activity of elderberry (Sambucus nigra)
Journal: Journal of Functional Foods
Highlights:

• Elderberry extracts directly inhibit influenza virus entry and replication in cell models.

• Also associated with increases in pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-6, IL-8, TNF), indicating immune-modulating effects.

• Effect stronger in post-infection stages than early viral attachment. (ScienceDirect)

DOI: 10.1016/j.jff.2019.01.031 — (Searchable on ScienceDirect) (Nutrition Review)

3. Barak et al. (2001) — Cytokine Production in Human Cells

Title: The effect of Sambucol, a black elderberry–based natural product, on cytokine production
Journal: (Peer-reviewed immunology study)
Key points:

• Elderberry extract significantly increased pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-1β, TNF-α, IL-6, IL-8) in human monocytes compared with controls.

• Suggests immune activation potential at the cellular level. (PubMed)
  📚 PubMed Abstract: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/11399518/ (PubMed)

Reviews & Broader Evidence

4. MDPI Review (2022) — Bioactive Antiviral Compounds

Title: Elderberries — A Source of Bioactive Compounds with Antiviral Action
Journal: Plants (Open Access, peer-reviewed)
Summary:

• Elderberry constituents may block influenza virus from binding to host cells and enhance immune signaling via cytokine modulation.

• Clinical trial evidence suggests that elderberry extract reduces severity and duration of influenza-like symptoms when taken early.

• Also discusses elderberry’s high antioxidant activity. (MDPI)
  📖 Full text available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/11/6/740 (MDPI)

5. BMC Complementary Medicine & Therapies (2021) — Systematic Review

Title: Elderberry for prevention and treatment of viral respiratory illnesses
Findings:

• Evidence supports elderberry may reduce symptom severity or duration in influenza and colds, though evidence quality is limited.

• No strong evidence that elderberry overstimulates the immune system. (SpringerLink)
  📖 Open access: https://bmccomplementmedtherapies.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12906-021-03283-5 (SpringerLink)

Notes on the Evidence

Antiviral mechanisms: Lab studies suggest elderberry extracts can interfere with viral entry/replication and alter cytokine signaling, supporting immunomodulation. (ScienceDirect)
Clinical outcomes: Small human trials show reduced duration/severity of influenza symptoms with elderberry syrup, but larger trials are needed. (PubMed)

📖 Useful Links to Originals

• PubMed – Zakay-Rones et al. RCT (2004): pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/15080016 (PubMed)

• PubMed – Barak et al. cytokines study: pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/11399518 (PubMed)

• MDPI review – Elderberries antiviral action: mdpi.com/2223-7747/11/6/740 (MDPI)

• BMC Complementary article – respiratory viral illnesses: bmccomplementmedtherapies.biomedcentral.com (SpringerLink)