What is Fire Cider?
Famed herbalist Rosemary Gladstar was the first to concoct this spicy hot, deliciously sweet vinegar tonic in the early 1980’s. I’m sharing one simple recipe, but there are countless out there. Feel free to get creative and customize your own blend and use it to boost your immune system and combat colds and flus.
Health Benefits of Fire Cider
You may be wondering how exactly fire cider is good for you? Let’s take a look at the ingredients in this simple recipe:
-Fresh turmeric and its most active compound, curcumin — have proven health benefits, such as the potential to improve heart health and prevent against Alzheimer’s and cancer. It’s a potent anti-inflammatory and antioxidant. It may also help improve symptoms of depression and arthritis.
-Ginger has powerful anti-inflammatory properties. The top health benefits of ginger include its ability to help with arthritis and osteoarthritis, relieve nausea and pain, prevent cancer, improve respiratory conditions, and reduce flatulence. It also helps boost bone health, strengthen the immune system, and increase appetite.
-Onions are a good source of vitamins, minerals, and fiber and are known to offer a variety of health benefits, such as: lower Risk of cancer, lower risk of heart disease and stroke, diabetes control, and lower risk of Alzheimer’s disease.
-Garlic is used to treat high blood pressure, high cholesterol, coronary heart disease, heart attack, atherosclerosis, asthma, building the immune system, help level blood sugar, and is used topically to treat fungal infections.
–Habanero peppers boost your metabolism, and offer headache, sinus, and arthritis relief as well as releasing endorphins. They are high in minerals and Vitamins C and A. Capsaicin kills unwanted bacteria and intestinal parasites.
–Lemons contain loads of vitamins, fiber, and other plant compounds that provide essential health benefits. The pulp, rind, and juice are rich with vitamins that stimulate immunity and reduce the risk of disease. The soluble dietary fiber in lemon aids in healthy digestion.
–Raw apple cider vinegar is known to be a good source of acetic and ascorbic acid (Vitamin C), mineral salts, amino acids, and other key components of good nutrition, but it is also a well-loved folk remedy thought to ease digestion, fight obesity and diabetes, wash toxins from the body, kill lice, and reverse aging.
–Raw honey (locally produced) is great for fighting seasonal allergies. Because bees collect pollen from flowers in your area and then convert it to honey to feed their hives, eating raw, local honey is like a delicious allergy shot that’s also full of vitamins and minerals. Honey is also anti-fungal, anti-viral, and makes a great, non-narcotic cough suppressant and throat soother.
-Sage has the ability to improve brain function, lower inflammation, prevent chronic diseases, boost the immune system, regulate digestion, alleviate skin conditions, strengthen the bones, slow the onset of cognitive disorders, and prevent diabetes.
-Rosemary can potentially help improve gut health, boost memory, and improve mood. It also helps to reduce inflammation, relieve pain, and protect the immune
Fire Cider Recipe
- 1/2 gallon glass jar with tight fitting lid
- 4 cups Raw apple cider vinegar with the mother
- 6-8 cloves chopped garlic
- 1/2 cup chopped fresh ginger
- 1/2 cup chopped fresh turmeric or horseradish (optional)
- Onion (white, yellow, or red – any type is fine)
- 2 habanero or other hot peppers
- 1 whole lemon (can substitute grapefruit, orange, or cranberries)
- 1 whole lime (can substitute grapefruit, orange, or cranberries)
- Beneficial herbs of your choosing, 1 bunch each: sage, thyme, rosemary, lemon balm, elderberry, etc.
- Raw honey or pure maple syrup to taste
Instructions
- Chop all of your plant ingredients and layer them in a 1/2 gallon glass jar. Add apple cider vinegar to the top of the jar then cover with lid. Let sit at room temperature out of the sun for four weeks. After four weeks, strain the liquid into a new glass jar and discard the rest.
- Sweeten the strained cider with raw honey or maple syrup to taste. Store in the refrigerator or a dark, dry place for up to 6 months.
- Take 1-3 tablespoons daily.
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More to Explore
I would love to buy a gallon of marijuana infused Fire Cider with ad many antibacterial, antifungal, and antibiral herbs, along with pomegranates, crabapples, and elderberries in it to last my wife and I through the entire winter.
Leslie,
That sounds very interesting. I have never made anything with marijuana as it has only recently become legal in CT. I am not familiar with cannabis in fire cider but would be interested in learning about it if you decide to make some for yourself.