Fire Cider Tonic Benefits and Original Recipe
Hailed for centuries, the primary ingredient in fire cider has been used for a variety of health reasons. From digestion to congestion, circulation and immunity, this apple cider vinegar tonic recipe has been shared in a variety of ways across the globe.
It was not until the 1970’s that this particular concoction of apple cider vinegar and other plants was deemed fire cider in North America. Rosemary Gladstar, the well respected American herbalist who made fire cider mainstream sees fire cider as both a tonic and a medicine. In addition to being a warming tonic, she sees fire cider as being able to help people with congestion, boost energy, fight off colds and relieve muscle cramps in legs. Depending on what you add into your fire cider, you can receive different benefits from the ingredients used. Just take a look at the core ingredients of fire cider to see the scientifically studied health benefits each one can provide.
Core Fire Cider Recipe Ingredients
Apple Cider Vinegar
- Warming
- Stimulates decongestion
- Claims made it helps with heartburn but no medical studies have been done to address this.
- Moderately lower blood glucose levels.
- Antimicrobial properties
- Modest effect on weight loss by decreasing appetite
- Anti-fungal and can kill of candida
Garlic
- Warming
- Stimulates decongestion
- Lowers blood pressure
- Cardiovascular benefits
- Anti-Cancer properties
- Antibiotic
Ginger
- Warming
- Stimulates decongestion
- Improved blood circulation
Horseradish
- Warming
- Stimulates decongestion
- Supports cancer resistance
- Rich in antioxidants
- Antimicrobial/antibacterial
- Digestive aide
The Traditional Fire Cider Recipe
When it comes to this herbal apple cider vinegar tonic, the base recipe is only a suggestion. It is encouraged to experiment with tastes and flavors. Some like to add in lemons or cinnamon sticks. The base however consists of fresh garlic, onions, ginger, horseradish and cayenne peppers. The magic happens as all the ingredients sit in the vinegar over time and then are drained out. At this point you add in honey to sweeten this tonic up.
Rosemary Gladstar’s Original Fire Cider Recipe
Ingredients
• 1/2 cup grated horseradish root
• 1/2 cup or more chopped onions
• 1/4 cup or more chopped garlic
• 1/4 cup or more grated ginger
• Chopped fresh or dried cayenne pepper “to taste”. Can be whole or powdered. Remember that the spices may intensify overtime so better to not over do it.
• Raw honey
• Raw unpasteurized apple cider vinegar
Fire Cider Add-ons
- turmeric
- echinacea
- cinnamon sticks
- lavender
- dried elderberries
- oranges – include peel
- lemons- include peel
- turmeric
- thyme
- rosemary
- dried juniper berries
- peppercorn
- oregano
- bay
- licorice roots
- Add all ingredients into a large clean mason jar. Be sure that all ingredients are submerged under the vinegar. Cover the mouth of the jar with parchment paper or waxed paper before screwing on the lid. This keeps the acidic vinegar from eroding the metal.
- Place jar in a warm location and let it infuse for four to eight weeks. It is best to shake it each day.
- After the infusing is complete, strain out the herbs and reserve the liquid. The strained herbs can be used to make chutney.
- Add honey “to taste.” As Mary Poppins says, “A little bit of honey helps the medicine go down.”.
- Rebottle and enjoy! Ideally store in the refrigerator however, it will keep for a few months unrefrigerated in a cool shaded area.
How Often Should You Take Fire Cider
Use a small shot glass as a daily preventative tonic or a few spoon fulls throughout the day if you feel an illness coming on.
How to use Fire Cider
Food additions
- Mix with an oil like avocado oil and make into a salad dressing
- Add to soups
- Use as a dipping vinegar with bread
- Incorporate with pickling vegetables
- Spruce up a bloodymary
Topical applications of Fire Cider
- Rub into sore muscles and aching joints
- Soak a cloth in fire cider and place it on the chest for congestion
- Mix with honey for a cough suppressant
Where Does Fire Cider Originate From
The term, “Fire Cider” was coined by renowned herbalist, Rosemary Gladstone. Rosemary was hoping to bring this ancient knowledge back into the mainstream of using plants not only as food but also as medicine. The first known concoction of fire cider was created in a kitchen at the California School of herbal studies in the 1970’s.
While Rosemary popularized this vinegar tonic in America, this concoction actually hales from a much earlier time, that of Hippocrates (the father of medicine). Hippocrates in 400 BC had created an herbal vinegar formula of his own which consisted of honey and vinegar. This drink in latin was referred to as oxymel (oxy=acid, mel=honey. It was prescribed during his time for respiratory conditions, sores and wounds. Hippocrates was not likely to have been the first to use vinegar tonics as evidence of vinegar uses have been found in ancient Babylonian and Persian cultures.
Gather friends and make this fire cider your next winter tradition!
For more like this, check out my favorite natural cold protocol.
This information is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.
