Category: Remedies

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Fire Cider: Cold & Flu Remedy

This tried and true remedy has been my favorite go-to over the past couple of years. This tonic is regarded by herbalists for its ability to help prevent cold and flu symptoms, or shorten their duration if they occur. It’s an apple cider vinegar infusion that contains powerful immune-boosting, anti-inflammatory, anti-bacterial and anti-viral ingredients. It tastes better than it smells, but you may have to get use to it at first.

Although I am currently traveling southeast Asia…and winter just does not happen here,  my friends and family back home are starting to get their fall and winter wardrobe out. And with cute sweaters and knee high boots, comes the inevitable cold and flu season. So if you are looking for some prevention or maybe a remedy to nip that already brewing cold in the bud, I recommend making this tonic early on, as it has to infuse for about a month before it’s ready. And trust me, you’re going to wish you had!

Ingredients

  • 1/2 cup fresh grated organic ginger root
  • 1/2 cup fresh grated organic horseradish root
  • 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
  • Several sprigs of fresh organic rosemary
  • 1 tbsp organic turmeric powder
  • 1/4 tsp organic cayenne powder
  • organic apple cider vinegar
  • raw local honey to taste

Equipment

Mason Jar

Plastic Lid or Wax Paper

Cheesecloth

Directions

  1. Prepare all of your roots, fruits, and herbs and place them in a quart-sized jar. (If you’ve never grated fresh horseradish before- be prepared for an intense sinus opening experience!)
  2. Pour the apple cider vinegar over all the herbs, until you get to just below the rim.
  3. 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 (plastic lids are much easier, in my opinion).
  4. Shake well. Store in a dark, cool place for a month and remember to shake daily!
  5. After one month, use a cheesecloth to strain out the pulp, pouring the vinegar into a clean jar. Be sure to squeeze as much of the cider goodness as you can from the pulp while straining. Next…comes the honey. Add 1/4 cup of honey and stir until incorporated. Taste your cider and add more honey until you reach your desired sweetness.

How to Use It

Fire Cider is very potent. You will want to take about a shot glass full a couple times a day. If you are fighting a cold or flu, or perhaps just feeling under the weather, take a shot glass full every couple of hours. It is also nice to add to your homemade salad dressings! It is very versatile- have fun with it.

If you would like to see it being made, then watch this tutorial by one of my favorite herbalists, Rosemary Gladstar.

 

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All Recipes Made with herbs Recipes Remedies

How to Make Elderberry Syrup

I love natural remedies that boost your immune system and help prevent colds and flu and relieve sinus congestion (Source). I especially love them when you can make them at home for way cheaper than you can buy them in stores! Double win. Elderberries are one of those go-to’s for me. They are naturally high in immune-boosting compounds that are specifically shown to help beat the cold and flu more quickly. They can be used to make a variety of remedies, like this simple elderberry syrup.

Elderberries contain high levels of vitamin A, B, and C and stimulate the immune system.

Unlike fire cider, which boosts immune performance through an infusion of pungent and spicy herbs, this elderberry syrup recipe uses a sweet and simple decoction of berries and honey- if you have kids, they will prefer this one!

Recipe

Ingredients

  • For the onset of a cold or flu add 4 tablespoons dried echinacea  for it’s antibactreial properties  (although don’t take echinacea daily. Any drug that tampers with the genetic material of a virus cell (as echinacea does) could also affect the genetic material of cells in the body or could cause viruses to change genetically and become more resistant and more virulent). So it’s great for quick responses but not ideal for long term use, when adding echinacea. 

Other equipment:

Instructions

  1. Pour the water into a medium saucepan
  2. Add the elderberries, echinacea, ginger, cinnamon and cloves (NOTE: do not add the honey yet!)
  3. Bring to a boil and then cover and reduce to a simmer for about 45 minutes or until the liquid has reduced by almost half. At that point, remove from heat and let it cool. Mash the berries carefully using a spoon or other flat utensil. Pour the berries and echinacea through a strainer into a glass jar or bowl.
  4. Discard the elderberries and echinacea (or compost them!) and let the liquid cool to lukewarm. When it is no longer hot, add 1 cup of honey and stir well.
  5. When honey is well mixed into the elderberry mixture, pour the syrup into a pint sized mason jar or 16 ounce glass bottle of some kind.
  6. Store in the fridge and take daily for its immune boosting properties. Should last about 2 months.
  7. Standard dose is ½ tsp to 1 tsp for kids and ½ Tbsp to 1 Tbsp for adults. If the flu does strike, take the normal dose every 2-3 hours instead of once a day until symptoms disappear.

And if you don’t want to make it, you can buy some here.

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All Recipes Made with herbs Recipes Remedies

Turmeric Balls- DIY Anti-Inflammatory Supplement

You’ve probably heard about the anti-inflammatory properties found in turmeric. I even mention it here in a recipe for turmeric milk. There are over 7,800 studies done on the benefits of turmeric! Reviewing these studies, Duke concluded that turmeric appears to outperform many pharmaceuticals in its effects against several chronic, debilitating diseases, and does so with virtually no adverse side effects (source).

I love to add turmeric to soups and other dishes but I don’t add it as often as I would like and I don’t use a large enough amount to reap all of its benefits. I had a little issue with a back spasm this week and my chiropractor reminded me to increase my anti-inflammatory foods. In need of acute inflammation help, I was very close to gulping down a spoonful of turmeric but quickly changed my mind after gagging at the thought of it. That’s when I created these turmeric balls- they are quick, convenient and delicious! I mean not as delicious as raw cacao brownies, but I definitely licked the bowl when I was done 🙂 I am also really glad I made these balls because they contain ingredients that  work synergistically with the anti-inflammatory properties of turmeric.

I was introduced to the concept of herbal pills when reading Rosemary Gladstar’s book Medicinal Herbs. She wrote about homemade vitamin C pills, which I’m going to try soon! But I thought homemade anti-inflammatory pills couldn’t be that much harder. And I was right, it’s super easy and practical. You can formulate your own blends and make them taste good enough that even children will eat them. They are great for a sore throat, you can formulate them with herbs that fight infection or simply to enhance your vitamin intake. It’s up to you!

Up the Turmeric Ante With:

  • Quercetin, a bioflavenoid which inhibits the production of inflammatory proteins also known as cytokines.
  • Black pepper contains the potent alkaloid piperine, which has been shown to increase the bio-availability of curcumin up to 150%.
  • Fatty acids have been shown to increase the bioavailability of turmeric (source).

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Ingredients:

Instructions

  • Line a plate or baking sheet with unbleached parchment paper. And make some room in your freezer. 🙂
  • Put on your cutest apron because turmeric-will-stain-your-clothes.
  • If your honey and coconut oil are solid, heat them up a bit to liquefy them.
  • In a bowl, stir together the turmeric, quercetin, black pepper, honey and coconut oil.
  • Take a small amount of the mixture and roll between the palms of your hands in order to roll into a ball. You may want to stick the bowl in the freezer for 10 minutes to make this part easier. If you can form the mixture into small balls, great…keep going 🙂
  • Once you have many little turmeric balls on your parchment paper, place in your freezer for about a hour.
  • Transfer the balls into a storage container and keep it in your freezer.
  • Take the balls as needed!

 

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Beverages Dairy Free Recipes Remedies Vegan

New Night Time Ritual: The Healing Golden Milk Recipe

Golden milk aka turmeric milk is one of my favorite night time drinks, other than hot tea. It is comforting and soothing at night and very nutritious. Nothing compares to the smell of turmeric milk warming up on the stove. Turmeric contains antioxidants and anti-inflammatory compounds.  Warm beverages, both in the evening and in the morning, provide soothing effects to the digestive system.

Turmeric, The Golden Healing Spice

Turmeric has been around for hundreds of years and is known as the “healing” spice to the Eastern cultures. It is known to help with sore throats, colds, flus, stomach aches, wounds, skin problems and abrasions. Just like coconut oil, turmeric provides antibacterial and antimicrobial properties. The combination of turmeric and peppercorn enhances the absorption of curcumin, the main ingredient found in turmeric. Turmeric isn’t the only healing ingredient in this delicious, warming beverage; cinnamon, raw honey, coconut milk, and ginger are all incredibly beneficial too.

Other benefits:

1.) Turmeric is cancer fighting.

2.) Turmeric relieves arthritis.

3.) Turmeric is a natural antibacterial agent.

4.) Turmeric can protect against Alzheimers.

5.) Turmeric can help maintain weight and promote weight loss.

6.) Turmeric is antioxidant/immune-boosting.

Ingredients

2 Cups milk (whole fat dairy, almond, coconut, hemp, whatever you’d like…but I prefer coconut)

1 tbsp local, raw honey (can substitute with stevia for less sugar)

1 tbsp coconut oil

1 tsp ground turmeric

1 tsp ground cinnamon

¼ tsp black pepper and grated ginger

Instructions

Pour all ingredients (except for the honey) into a small saucepan and whisk into a light boil. Reduce the heat to low for 5 minutes. Remove from heat and strain the milk (if you have large pieces of ginger or peppercorn). Then add the honey (you don’t want to cook the honey) and an extra dash of cinnamon and enjoy! It is best served warm.

*Be careful not to cook the honey because raw honey is anti-viral, anti-bacterial, and anti-fungal. It contains significant amounts of: B1, B2, B3, B5, B6, Vitamin C, magnesium, potassium, calcium, sodium chlorine, sulfur, and phosphate. Honey in its proper form, not heated, is one of nature’s most healing substances.

If you don’t have all the ingredients on hand, or don’t want to measure everything out, you can get a premade golden milk powder here.

Benefits of ingredients:

Cinnamon  is known for its ability to control blood sugar as well as its antibacterial and antimicrobial properties.

Honey (especially raw, local, + organic) helps to eliminate allergies and contains trace amounts of many vitamins and minerals.

Coconut milk may aid in weight loss and boosting metabolism, improve immune function, and even reduce heart disease risk.

Ginger has been known to reduce inflammation and is perhaps best known for its ability to soothe stomach problems.

Black pepper plays a very important roll in this beverage. Introducing black pepper into a dish with turmeric in it boosts the bio-availability of curcumin, the active compound in the herb, by up to 2000% (source). Without black pepper, our bodies simply don’t absorb all of the curcumin from turmeric.

Enjoy! 🙂