Fire Cider (oxymel) is a natural, no chemical formulation made with added herbal extracts to support immunity. It’s everyone’s best friend for naturally fighting colds, flu or viruses. The formulation is an old fashioned witches brew (colloquially speaking), that is very time consuming, but our concoction is a simplified, easy recipe!
Your modern herbalist, Charmaine D, is able to create your unique blend!
Read on to find out why this could be your saving grace.
Booster/ Prophylactic – Support and everyone’s best friend against naturally fighting colds, flue’s and viruses
Oxymels are sweet-tasting liquid medicines that are often used to improve rather pungent herbs, such as garlic, that also have the added effect of soothing mucous membranes. Honey and vinegar provide antimicrobial and expectorant actions respectively.
This ancient form of medicine dates back to the Greek physician Hippocrates (460-370 BC). Hippocrates states in his On Regimen in Acute Diseases “you will find the drink, called oxymel, often very useful… for it promotes expectoration and freedom of breathing.”
One of the most famous oxymels is Fire Cider. Fire cider was created by herbalist Rosemary Gladstar in the 1970s and consists of fresh horseradish, onion, garlic, ginger and cayenne. This fortifying tonic is a spicy immunity booster that can protect you from illness and keep you warm on a cold day.
Oxymels are effective because there is room to tweak and cater to your specific needs. For example, you can play with the proportions of each ingredient to best suit your health and herbal requirements.
To create an oxymel bespoke for you, many ingredients can be considered:
- Dandelion
- Echinacea
- Elderberries and elderflowers
- Garlic
- Hibiscus
- Horseradish
- Lemon balm
- Nettle
- Tulsi (holy basil)
- Turmeric
- Elecampane
- Garlic
- Mullein
- Thyme
- Oregano
- Rosemary
Each ingredient can help and support the bodily systems in different ways. For example, holy basil and hibiscus in oxymel make a great after-exercise pick-me-up and energy booster.
INGREDIENT INFORMATION
Vinegar was discovered when a forgotten wine barrel was left in storage, causing it to ferment, turn sour and subsequently become vinegar. It has since been used in cooking, as a medicine, a preservative and to boost strength and wellness. Early records in China, the Middle East and Greece describe the many medicinal purposes for vinegar; digestive aid, antibacterial balm and cough treatment.
Apple cider vinegar is not only a probiotic, but due to its vitamin profile from the apples, it is high in Vitamin B and plant-based antioxidants.
Honey, the most incredible natural product, used for nutrition as well as health. Formed from nectar of flowers by bees, honey has been used by humans since the ancient times. Some of the many ailments that honey has traditionally been used to treat are; eye diseases, bronchial asthma, throat infections, tuberculosis, hiccups, fatigue, constipation and eczema. It is considered to be antioxidant, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, antiproliferative, anticancer and antimetastatic. Honey is considered to be one of the most effective natural treatments for curing a sore throat, while also providing bacteria-fighting properties, assisting the body in fighting off viruses, bacteria and fungi. Consuming honey daily can help with your immunity in the long run and can even be used before a workout for an energy boost.
The combination of vinegar’s acetic acid, proteins, enzymes and helpful bacteria and honey’s soothing, germ-fighting qualities is an all round, powerful and potent health booster. By adding additional herbs you are creating an incredibly effective tonic for your health and wellbeing.
The benefits of some of the more common herbs to add are:
- Horseradish – alleviates sinus congestion and headaches
- Ginger – aids digestion, infections and nausea
- Garlic – a powerhouse of antimicrobial and antibacterial properties
- Onion – similar to garlic with the added benefit of preventing colds and flu
- Cayenne pepper – aids blood circulation through the cardiovascular system (blood flow = healing!)
If the idea of Fire Cider for supporting you and your family’s immunity this cold season is appealing then read on.
To book an acute consultation with me, Charmaine D, to help you in creating a bespoke tonic for you and your family’s health, go online or call 0407 077 134 and leave a message requesting a 30 minute acute call. Together, we will collate your symptoms and discuss a remedy created uniquely for you and your family. Either as a prophylactic or for now to fight off a cold, flu or virus, I will provide you with a 200ml herbal remedy, a 500ml jar and a label. You will then be able to make your Fire Cider according to the recipes, in the way of a modern herbalist. Your remedy can be kept in the fridge for a 12 month period.
Fire cider can be used as both a preventative during the colder months, or for specific immune support at the first sign of cold symptoms. The added benefit is that it supports and stimulates digestion and circulation which creates a warming effect during cold wintery days. Honey is the sweetness that mellows those ‘hot’ flavours in the tonic.
It’s that time of year again! When everyone in your house seems to be falling ill, when your kids have a permanent runny nose and you just can’t seem to shake that cold you’ve had for a few days. Now is the perfect time to make fire cider. Originally, fire cider could take more than a month to brew as it uses fresh plant material. However, with the invention of liquid herbal extracts, we are able to concoct instant fire cider! Similarly to chicken soup, fire cider has infinite variations to be adjusted depending on your wellness needs and taste. As well as medicine, fire cider can be added to olive oil to create a zesty salad dressing.
Fire cider became the talk of the town when an American federal court case fought to keep these traditional tonics and remedies trademark free. In 2019, after a five year battle, it was agreed that fire cider cannot be trademarked or own, but rather it is a generic term. This set a precedent for other herbal products that are, and will stay, commonly shared and community owned.
Preparing fire cider in your home is often the gateway to herbalism. Additionally, for practitioners, it is often a herbal staple for wintertime remedies as it is an incredible immune boosting and sinus clearing. Named ‘fire cider’ for a reason, this tonic really does pack a punch!
This beginners ‘witches brew’ is relatively simple and fun to make at home, however, the extensive brewing time often turns people away. Even as a dedicated and devoted naturopath I do not have the time to make it the traditional way. Therefore, I have taken on the herbal extract path for my fire cider.
Again, use a ‘Why You?’ consultation to chat to me about your recipe for your immune health. We will tailor it to take on other things too, like liver support, or whatever it is your body and health need.
Recipe
Use the basic recipe and purchase herbal extracts from Charmaine D to complete your customised immune boosting remedy just for YOU!
This will make approximately 200 ml of tonic at a price point of $45 – $65. Vinegar and honey supplied by you.
Ingredients
- ¾ cup organic raw apple cider vinegar
- ¾ cup organic raw honey
Example of herbal extracts that may be added and supplied to you by Charmaine D. The dosage can be discussed and prescribed in your free Why You consult:
- Herbal Extract Company Garlic (Allium sativum)
- Herbal Extract Company Horseradish (Armoracia rusticana)
- Herbal Extract Company Thyme (Thymus vulgaris)
- Herbal Extract Company Ginger (Zingiber officinale)
- Herbal Extract Company Cayenne (Capsicum frutescens)
Instructions
- Combine apple cider vinegar and honey in a pot over low heat and gently warm until it is the consistency of syrup
- Remove from the heat and add all the herbal extracts
- Stir well to combine
- Using a funnel, pour the liquid into a 500 ml amber glass bottle with a label
- Store the tonic in a cool, dark place or in the fridge for up to 12 months
- Shake gentle before each use.
- To drink, either shot it straight or dilute it with a small amount of water, or added to hot what as a tea
Maintenance Dose: 10 ml shot once or twice per day
Acute Immune Support: 10 ml every 3-4 hours during active infection
Do not give to children under 12 months old.
Other ways to enjoy this fire cider:
- Take a shot straight up (1 – 2 tablespoons)
- Dilute in warm water, juice or apple cider
- Mix with olive oil to make a salad dressing
- Add to fried rice
- Use in alcoholic or non-alcoholic Bloody Marys
- Marinade meat or tofu with it
- Hangover cure
Reference: The Herbal Extract Company has been the instigator for this amazing development of making Fire Cider easy to adjust and make within a short period of time and be an instant remedy for your immune boosting this year
Charmaine D is here for you and is committed to helping you move through your ailments and forward into the rest of your life.
Book in and see how she can help you!