What is fire cider?

It’s that time of year again! Sweater weather and the colds and flu that come along with it.

Prevention is truly the best medicine, bolstering our immune systems by using foods that naturally protect, detoxify and stave off pathogens. I can't express strongly enough the importance of incorporating as many vegetables and fruits into your diet as possible! And, ideally steamed or sauteed, so your stomach doesn't have to work as hard to digest what you are eating. In addition, lightly cooking vegetables is often needed to even make some of the vitamin or mineral content bioavailable to our bodies. I also find a fire cider regimen will kill just about anything trying to invade! Fire cider is an easy to make herbal remedy that is always on hand in my kitchen. Included is just one variation on this recipe, you can find hundreds online! I encourage you to use the herbs that appeal to you, and to experiment! Once the weather cools, I try to do a shot of fire cider daily, to combat what the world throws at me.

Food is medicine, everything you put in your body is helping or harming, be mindful.

Fire Cider Ingredients

1/2 cup fresh grated organic ginger root

1/2 cup fresh grated organic horseradish root

1 medium organic onion, chopped

10 cloves of organic garlic, crushed or chopped

2 organic jalapeno peppers, chopped

Zest and juice from 1 organic lemon

Several sprigs of fresh organic rosemary or 2 tbsp of dried rosemary leaves

1 tbsp organic turmeric powder

1/4 tsp organic cayenne powder

organic apple cider vinegar

raw local honey to taste

Directions:

Prepare all of your roots, fruits, and herbs and place them in a quart sized jar. If you've never grated fresh horseradish, be prepared for a powerful sinus opening experience! Use a piece of natural parchment paper under the lid to keep the vinegar from touching the metal, or a plastic lid if you have one. Shake well! Store in a dark, cool place for one month and remember to shake daily.

After one month, use cheesecloth to strain out the pulp, pouring the vinegar into a clean jar. Be sure to squeeze as much of the liquid goodness as you can from the pulp while straining. Next, comes the honey! Add 1/4 cup of honey and stir until incorporated. Taste your cider and add another 1/4 cup until you reach the desired sweetness.

Herbal Ingredient Variations

Thyme, Horseradish Root, Rosehips, Star Anise, Schisandra Berries, Astragalus, Burdock, Oregano, Peppercorns, Beet Root Powder, Habanero, Bird's Eye Chili, Whole Chili Peppers, Orange, grapefruit, lime peels/juice

Namaste-

Emily L Armstrong, DOM

*For those of you with what we might describe as hot, burning issues (think acid reflux, UTI’s, etc…) I would only use with great caution. Nobody wants to set you on fire.

Fire Cider! Fight the Germ Onslaught this Cold and Flu Season Naturally!