Fire Cider: A Daily Tonic for Immune Support
When I first discovered Fire Cider, I was in herbal school at California School of Herbal Studies. I was only a few weeks into my 2-year program when this fantastic tonic entered my life. I quickly learned that this medicinal tonic is on the shelves of most Western Herbalists and used as frequently as Elderberry Syrup and Calendula Salves. It is a powerful medicine most commonly used for immune support and respiratory health. The fact that it is a tonic means it can be taken daily for a long period of time. At the time I first was learning how to make Fire Cider, all the way back in 2013, it was at risk of being lost to the herbal community and large. It’s not that any of the ingredients were being over-harvested or at risk of going extinct, but rather there was an herbal company based in Massachusetts trying to patent the name and claim the recipe for themselves. The history of Western Herbalism is heavily based on old, folk recipes being passed down from generation to generation and being tweaked along the way. The fact that this group of herbalists was trying to claim the rights to “Fire Cider” was considered bold and highly scandalous (imagine the implications of someone trying to patent the name “Brownie”, “Chocolate Chip Cookie”, or “Lasagna”).
Fire Cider is actually considered to have originated in the 1970s in the very kitchen I was studying herbalism in, by the grandmother of Western Herbalism, Rosemary Gladstar. Rosemary Gladstar is an herbal pioneer woman and made this powerful herbal tonic relevant again. Just as generations of herbalists had done before her, she tweaked an old recipe in her herbal school kitchen (she is also the founder of the school) with her students and named this glorious tonic: FIRE CIDER. She has happily shared the recipe with her students, the community, and in her recipe books for the last 45 years and I am happy to say that the name Fire Cider is free and available for use still today. That’s right, the Massachusetts company lost their lawsuit in 2019 and closed it’s doors as a result of losing the lawsuit. The US government decided that “Fire Cider” and the many recipes for it are not able to be patented.
There are hundreds of Fire Cider recipes on the internet and available today. I think what’s so great about this recipe is that you can use what you already have in your kitchen as well as what you can find at your local bio store or farmer’s market (or Costco for that matter)! Your herbs and spicy veggies are mixed with the all-powerful Raw, Organic, Unfiltered Apple Cider Vinegar, with the mother, and left to steep for one month. If you are into energetics than you can steep the herbs in the vinegar from New Moon to New Moon and enhance the medicine even more. The herbalist that taught me about Fire Cider even liked to bury it under the earth during that time. I’m never quite organized enough to make any of this happen but believe my love and positive attitude influences my medicine as well! Once you are ready to press your fiery tonic, you strain out the veggies and herbs and then add raw honey, another powerful medicine on it’s own that enhances this medicine even more.
Personally, I love knowing that these veggies, which seem so simple and commonplace at first glance, are such powerful medicine. In order to show how powerful Fire Cider is, here are a few of the known benefits of the most common ingredients used.
Apple Cider Vinegar: digestive support, helps regulate blood sugar levels
Garlic: Antimicrobial properties, immune system support, and supports cardiovascular health
Onion: Antioxidant properties, Anti-inflammatory effects, and supports respiratory health
Horseradish: Sinus and respiratory support, Antibacterial properties
Ginger: Anti-nausea properties, Anti-inflammatory effects, and digestive support
Cayenne Pepper: Pain relief, metabolism booster, and supports circulatory system
Turmeric: Anti-inflammatory effects, powerful antioxidant, and supports joint health
Lemon: Alkalinizing effects, immune system support, and digestive aid
Raw, Organic Honey: Antibacterial, Antimicrobial, and soothing properties
Lemongrass: Antibacterial properties and digestive aid
Now, I am apparently incapable of following a recipe, but if you are not like me, or need a recipe as a launching off point, here is a favorite from Mountain Rose Herbs (side note-MRH is an amazing and trusted herbal resource if you live in the states).
Classic Mountain Rose Herbs Fire Cider Recipe
Ingredients
1 medium organic onion, chopped
10 cloves of organic garlic, crushed or chopped
2 organic jalapeno peppers, chopped
Zest and juice from 1 organic lemon
1/2 cup fresh grated organic ginger root (or organic ginger root powder)
1/2 cup fresh grated organic horseradish root (or organic horseradish powder)
1 Tbsp. organic turmeric powder
1/4 tsp. organic cayenne powder
2 Tbsp. of dried rosemary leaves
1/4 cup of raw, local honey, or to taste
Directions
Prepare your roots, fruits, and herbs and place them in a quart-sized glass jar. If you've never grated fresh horseradish, be prepared for a powerful sinus-opening experience!
Pour the apple cider vinegar in the jar until all of the ingredients are covered and the vinegar reaches the jar's top.
Use a piece of natural parchment paper under the lid to keep the vinegar from touching the metal, or a plastic lid if you have one. Shake well.
Store in a dark, cool place for a month and remember to shake daily.
After one month, use cheesecloth to strain out the pulp, pouring the vinegar into a clean jar. Be sure to squeeze as much of the liquidy goodness as you can from the pulp while straining.
Next comes the honey. Add and stir until incorporated.
Taste your cider and add more honey until you reach the desired sweetness.