Fire Cider
Fire Cider is an old herbal folk remedy. The pungent, hot, sour and sweet properties of this herbal tonic is sure to kick out a cold. But Fire Cider is not only used to for cold and flu season. Fire Cider is a great immune enhancing formula that can be taken daily as part of your daily regimen. It can promote circulation and also aid in digestion. Sip it straight, add it to other beverages or even add to create a craft cocktail. You can even cook with it.
I love Fire Cider because it is simple to make, and uses ingredients that you may already have in your house or garden. There are hundreds of variations out there, and there really is no right or wrong. Here is my recipe: (This is a recipe that you should try to use all organic ingredients)
1/2 Cup grated organic ginger root
1/2 cup grated organic horseradish root
1/2 cup dice organic turmeric root
10 cloves organic garlic, crushed or chopped
1/4 tsp. cayenne powder
2 jalapeno peppers, chopped
I medium organic onion chopped
Sprig of fresh rosemary plus 2 Tbsp fresh rosemary leaves
2 Tbsp fresh thyme, chopped
2 Tbsp fresh parsley chopped
1 orange, halved and sliced
1 lemon, halved and sliced
Zest of one lemon
1 Tbsp black peppercorns
1/4 raw local honey, or to taste
Raw organic unfiltered Apple Cider Vinegar.
Prepare all your ingredients and place them in a quart or 1.5 quart size jar. Fill with Apple Cider Vinegar. If using a mason jar, place a piece of wax paper between the jar and the lid to prevent the vinegar from corroding the metal lid. Place in a cool dark area (cabinet) for 4 weeks and shake daily. After weeks, strain ingredients through a cheesecloth into a clean jar, squeezing every last drop out. Add more honey if desired.
You will want to immediately start your next batch, as you will see, this won't last very long!
Cheers to making food into medicine and staying healthy during cold and flu season!
Cold and Flu Season: When to see a doctor
This flu season has proven to one of the worst we have seen in quite some time. Hospitals have set up tent triage units just to accommodate the number of people affected by the virus this year. Almost every single one of my patents has come in and been affected by sickness this season. Whether it be cold and sinus or the flu.
I usually pride myself on being able to stay healthy. I have a everything at my fingertips to fight sickness when it strikes me. But then it happened to me. I got sick this season. Shortly after Christmas I caught the cold. I never had a cough, but it attacked my sinuses. I could not breathe for days. Everything under my power, which normally works for me, did not seem to help me this time around. I took my Wellness Formula, which is my #1 one go to when feeling sick, did not work. I made Elderberry syrup, did not help. I drank my homemade Fire Cider like water, did not help. The neti pot only gave me temporary relief. I sprayed colloidal silver in my sinuses, only temporary relief.
After a few days, I began to feel better. I started to notice that I could not stop blowing my nose. After a few more days and started waking with sinus pain and pressure on my left side. I finally called my doctor. Then got me in that same day and I was given antibiotics for a sinus infection. I have never had a sinus infection in my life! I am happy to say, I am finally out of the woods, but all in all I was not 100% for about two weeks.
As much as we try to stay healthy and use natural remedies to fight off sickness and stay well, we must also be aware of when it is time to go to the doctor or even the ER. We have to remind ourselves that it is ok. It is ok to seek medical attention when your holistic ways just are not enough. It is ok to take antibiotics or prescription medications when needed. In these instances, don't stop taking your herbs. Don't stop doing whatever natural healing it is that you choose for yourself. In these instances, your holistic approach becomes complimentary to western medicine. Your results will be that much quicker.
Elderberry Syrup
Elderberries are a great general immune booster. These berries contain anthocyadins, a chemical compound know to have immunostimulant effects. Elderberries have been proven to be be effective for cold and flu season. Take at the first sign of sniffles to help lessen the duration of illness. This is a simple recipe that you can make at home and have on hand if the chance that you or someone in your family gets sick. This is also great for children because it tastes sweet and not like medicine.
4 cups cold water
2 cups organic dried Elderberries
1 organic Cinnamon Stick
1 tsp fresh grated organic ginger root or organic dried Ginger Root
raw local honey
To make the syrup, combine the berries and herbs with cold water in a pot and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and allow herbs to simmer for 30 to 40 minutes. Remove from heat and mash the berries in the liquid mixture. Strain the berries and herbs through cheesecloth and squeeze out the juice. Measure the liquid and add an equal amount of honey. Gently heat the honey and juice for a few minutes until well combined. Do not boil! Bottle in sterilized glass