The fruit of the chokecherry (Prunus Virginiana) has long been used for making a delectable jelly and syrup to grace the homestead pantry shelf. With its cherry like flavor it is a perfect addition to those breakfast foods. Recently, I explored the medicinal benefits of Chokecherry in the post Nature's Herbal Gift - Chokecherry. As a result of this research I will be making chokecherry syrup for my home Apothecary and combining it with other herbs, such as elderberry, to give it a complete punch.. In this post I will walk you through how I make Chokecherry medicinal syrup. 
Chokecherries can be found growing almost anywhere and picking them is quick and easy. It can also be a fun outing to do with the kids.
Although chokecherries can be picked anytime they are hanging on the bush, I find that picking them before they start falling to the ground yields more fruit than waiting till after a frost, as some say should be done. How much you want to pick will depend on how much Chokecherry medicinal syrup you want to make. But being you will be storing the chokecherry medicinal syrup in the fridge, you would want to have extra chokecherries waiting in the freezer. Additionally, extra can easily used for making chokecherry jelly or syrup throughout the year. I go more into this in my posts on How to make Chokecherry syrup and How to make Chokecherry jelly.
How do I freeze chokecherry for making chokecherry medicinal syrup?
Wash the chokecherries in clear water and remove all twigs, leaves, bugs, etc.. Allow to drain in a colander and then freeze in a freezer bag that has been marked with the contents and date frozen. Simply remove the amount you need to make up the chokecherry medicinal syrup.
Preparation required
Wash your jar and lid. Rinse.
Label your jar, including the date and dosage.
Remove amount of chokecherries from the freezer.
How do I make chokecherry medicinal syrup?
To a pot, add 1 cup of fresh or frozen chokecherries.
Add 2 cups of water.
Bring to boil and simmer 20 minutes. During the simmering time, crush the chokecherries with a potato masher or the back of a spoon to help extract the juice.
Drain well through a sieve. Use the back of spoon to work the chokecherries and remove all the juice.
Return the juice to the pot and add 1 cup of honey.
2 tbspn of lemon juice can be added for extra medicinal benefit and storage time.
Heat only to melt the honey.
Pour into clean and labeled jar.
Put on lid. Allow to cool for a bit and then store in the refrigerator.
Can I combine chokecherry medicinal syrup with elderberry syrup?
With the similarities to elderberries and the results of the research, I feel it they would be a good compliment to each other. One could either have separate jars of each or make the syrup using 1/2 elderberry and 1/2 chokecherry.
Dosing:
There is no recommended published dosing for Chokecherry medicinal syrup, but because its similarities to elderberries, I will be dosing using the elderberry recommended dosage.
- Take 1 tsp every day for strengthening immune system.
- Take 1 tsp every 30 minutes to 2 hours at first sign of virus.
- When I was sick I took 1 tbspn 4 times a day and I did notice a difference.
As honey is not recommended for children less than 1, a different sweetener could be used.
Note
I am not a medical professional and am not certified in herbal medicine and am only just a student in herbal medicine. My usage and/or suggestions are for information purposes only.