Immune Support Strategies Part Two: Health Tonic -- Powerful Defense Weapon!
Today I’m going to discuss a fantastic immune-boosting health tonic that most of you will probably never make. But that’s okay! Read on anyway – I promise it’s worth it.
Learn how each of the ingredients of this magical recipe can support your immune system. At a minimum, I want you to start incorporating more of its ingredients into your fall and winter cooking. Your immune system will thank you!
The immune-boosting health tonic is called Fire Cider. I promise it’s easy to do once you round up the ingredients.
Basically, just put all the ingredients into a quart-sized glass jar. Add apple cider vinegar. Shake. Store in a dark cool place for 4-6 weeks, remembering to shake the jar a few seconds daily. Then strain and store in a cool place.
Ingredient list with a description of how each can help boost your immune system:
½ cup freshly grated horseradish root. (Amoracia rusticana) Excellent for clearing congested sinuses.
½ cup freshly peeled and grated ginger root (Zingiber officinale) Known for its anti-inflammatory and anti-clotting properties.
1 medium chopped onion (Allium cepa) Great for supporting a healthy cardiovascular system as well as reducing the symptoms of allergies and colds.
10 chopped garlic cloves (Allium sativum) contain allicin a compound that can be effective against cold viruses.
2 chopped jalapeno peppers. Hot peppers are known to have both pain-reducing and anti-inflammatory properties.
The zest and juice of one lemon. Citrus is high in vitamin C.
2 tablespoons of dried rosemary leaves (Rosmarinus officinalis) Known for its pain-reducing properties.
2 tablespoons freshly grated turmeric root (Curcuma longa) Contains a compound called curcumin which can reduce pain by blocking prostaglandins. It also has anti-clotting properties.
¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper. Again, hot peppers are known for reducing pain.
Organic unfiltered apple cider vinegar. I always use Braggs. Vinegar will help extract medicinal compounds from plants. It is high in acetic acid which is known for its antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties (Duke, 1997).
Instructions:
Add the plants and herbs to the quart-sized jar.
Pour apple cider vinegar making sure you cover all ingredients in order to avoid spoilage.
The vinegar mixture should not touch metal. So use a plastic lid or use a piece of natural parchment paper under the lid.
Shake, shake, shake
Store in a cool dark place.
After one month, strain the contents.
Pour the vinegar mixture into a clear jar and compost the rest.
Add honey to the liquid and stir well.
Take the mixture and add more honey if desired.
Drink 1-2 tablespoons as needed or add to other dishes or salad dressings
Motivated to make fire cider today?
Not quite? Well, at least start thinking about all the ways you can incorporate the above ingredients into your everyday fall and winter cooking.
By the way, I’ll be posting pictures of my fire cider in early December. If you decide to make your own, snap a picture and send it to me. I’ll reward you with 25% off your first appointment with me. That’s how much I want people to try making fire cider!
Who should avoid fire cider?
Anyone allergic to any of the ingredients
Anyone on blood thinners should check with their physician because garlic, turmeric, and ginger all have mild anti-clotting properties.
You can email your picture of home-made fire cider to lisajo@lisajonutrition.com
Disclaimer
The included information is not meant to or should not be used to replace or substitute medical treatment, recommendations, or the advice of your physician or health care provider. The information contained within is strictly for educational purposes and is based on evidence-based nutrition. If you believe you have a medical problem or condition, please contact your physician or healthcare provider.
Reference
This post has only one reference, The Green Pharmacy, by James Duke, Ph.d. (1997).
I had the pleasure of meeting Dr. Duke at his Green Pharmacy gardens while studying nutrition at the nearby Maryland University of Integrative Health. When Dr. Duke and his wife passed away, there was a concern about what would happen to the unique herbal sanctuary they had created in Howard county, Maryland. No one wanted to see it plowed under for townhouses. I’m happy to report that the garden still exists and hosts occasional public events and volunteer opportunities. To learn more click here.
The fire cider recipe was inspired by and adapted from Mountain Rose Herbs.