Natural immune booster

This kick ass herbal concoction of herbs, roots and foods used in this tonic, is recognized to prevent and shorten the duration of cold and flu symptoms.

Fire Cider and immunity teas are great to have readily available during cold and flu season.  When our immune system needs a boost, when you feel run down, you are around someone sick, feel something coming on or to daily reinforce your health and immunity.  It’s an excellent daily tonic not only for the immune system but also the digestive system.

Fire Cider Benefits

Before pill for illness, there were fermented foods, herbs, and roots.  The benefits are based on the beneficial ingredients in fire cider.

• Boosts the immune system

• Improves digestion

• Anti-inflammatory

• Antioxidant

• Antibacterial

• Antiviral

• Antifungal

• Decongestant

• Circulation boosting

• Lowers high blood pressure

• Removes plaques from arteries

• Raise HDL cholesterol (the good guy)

• Lowers blood cholesterol

• Prevent atherosclerosis

• Energizes the body

• Improves blood circulation

• Pain and inflammation

Ideally it’s made before you need it because it takes a month to steep.

Fire cider is a combination of immune boosting herbs, roots and peels steeped in vinegar.  Each ingredient has its own health benefits, combined make a powerful holistic remedy!

Recipe

Per Quart Jar:

• 1 medium onion, diced (we prefer sweet yellow or white)

• 4 to 5 cloves of garlic, chopped

• 3 to 4 tbsp fresh grated horseradish

• 3 to 4 tbsp fresh grated ginger root

• Raw unpasteurized apple cider vinegar – Enough to fill the jar & submerge the other ingredients. We needed just under a full 32 oz bottle per half-gallon jar

• Raw honey, local if possible – added later, see the instructions below

• Cayenne pepper, also added later

Optional:

• 3 to 4 tablespoons fresh grated turmeric rhizome (substitute equivalent in teaspoons if using turmeric powder)

• 1 lemon and/or orange, per quart. In this batch, we used 2 lemons, 1 orange, and 1/2 a grapefruit per half gallon. You can juice and zest them, or just slice and throw in whole. We did the latter, but removed the grapefruit rind to save space in the jar. Grapefruit rinds can also be extra bitter, so keep that in mind.

• Fresh herbs like rosemary, thyme, oregano or lemongrass, to taste preference – a few sprigs per jar is good!

• Hot chilis – at least one per jar, scaling up for larger batches or for a heat-loving taste preference.

• Black pepper. A pinch of peppercorns or few dashes of ground pepper to each jar.

INSTRUCTIONS

Step 1: Chop

Chop, grate, or otherwise prep the ingredients as described above. The smaller the pieces, the better it will all infuse! A food processor can help make this job really quick and easy.

Step 2: Pack

Add all the goodies into you choice size of mason jar, or flip top jar, which should be about two-thirds to three-quarters full of the prepared ingredients when done. 

Step 3: Pour

Slowly pour the apple cider vinegar over everything, lightly knocking out air bubbles as needed, until the container is full.

Step 4: Cover

Cover the jars with either BPA-free plastic mason jar lids, high-quality food grade stainless steel lids that will not rust, or if using a standard jar lid, add a piece of waxed parchment paper on top before putting the lid on. This is so the acidic nature of the vinegar won’t corrode the metal lid.  

Step 5: Steep & Shake

Store the infusion at room temperature, somewhere that you will see it and remember to shake it daily (or more, if you think of it!). 

You want to shake it up well every day to not only increase the steeping action, causing the beneficial properties of each ingredient to infuse into the ACV even more, but also to help prevent any growth of mold by keeping the contents submerged and moving. What I mean is, you don’t want to let the same ingredients float on top for days on end. Keeping them moving and mixed decreases the chance for mold

This is a tonic kids can drink but most kids unless very adventurous probably won’t like it.  You can dilute it for them in some water or juice. Another great immune boosting concoction you can make at home for kids is Elderberry Syrup!