This fire cider recipe is a potent blend of apple cider vinegar, raw honey, garlic, ginger, horseradish, turmeric, cayenne pepper, and lemon juice, all renowned for their health benefits in naturopathic medicine. Known for its immune-boosting and anti-inflammatory properties, fire cider is a natural remedy for cold and flu prevention. By combining these powerful ingredients, this tonic not only supports the immune system but also aids in digestion and existing detoxification pathways, providing a natural approach to wellness and a defense against seasonal illnesses.

As with anything related to immune system health, it’s important to have a healthy diet and exercise routine in place as well as stress-relief strategies and a sense of community. Please consult your doctor to make sure you don’t have any underlying diseases that would affect your immune health.

Ingredients

• 4 cups of raw, unfiltered apple cider vinegar (at least 5% acidity)
• 1/3 cup grated horseradish and/or ginger roots
• 1/4 cup grated turmeric root (or 2 TBSP powdered turmeric)
• 6 cloves of garlic, minced
• 1/2 cup peeled and diced onion
• 1 tsp black peppercorns 
• 1 or 2 habanero chiles, split in half (or 1-2 tsp cayenne pepper)
• Optional add-ins:
• 1 large lemon, sliced with rind
• 2 TBSP chopped fresh rosemary (or 1 tsp dried)
• 2 TBSP chopped fresh thyme (or 1 tsp dried)
• 1/2 cup chopped fresh parsley
• 1 cinnamon stick, a few allspice berries, and a few whole cloves

Notes:

• The degree of heat depends on how many hot peppers you add.
• It is important to use organically grown roots, herbs, and fruits to keep agricultural chemicals out of the mix.

Method:

1. Place the vegetables, fruits, herbs, and spices in a clean glass mason jar, at least a quart size. 
2. Fill the jar with apple cider vinegar, almost to overflowing, so that everything is fully sealed in by the vinegar. The vinegar should completely cover the solids with no air at the top. 
3. Seal your cap tightly. If you cap your jar with a lid containing metal parts, screw the lid on over a piece of cooking parchment or a small plastic bag to keep the lid from corroding.
4. Shake well.
5. Let sit in a cool place for a 3 weeks to soak. 
6. Shake daily but don’t panic if you miss a day here or there.
7. After 3 weeks, strain the vinegar into a clean glass mason jar. 
8. Mix in 1/4 cup of raw honey.
9. Refrigerate and use within a year.

How to Use Fire Cider:

• Add it to a cup of water, juice, or hot tea. Diluting apple cider vinegar is best because undiluted vinegar can erode dental enamel and irritate your esophagus, making it feel like you have bad heartburn.
• 1 TBSP once per day mixed with water, juice, or hot tea as a preventative during cold and flu season.
• 1 TBSP 3 times per day, mixed with water, juice, or hot tea when you feel a common cold coming on. 
• 1 TBSP honey + 1 TBSP fire cider = cough syrup (Don’t feed honey to children less than a year old due to concern for botulinum toxin poisoning)
• Use it as you would plain vinegar in salad dressings, marinades for meat or tofu, and vinegar-based sauces.
• Toss with steamed vegetables or sautéed greens
• Add to soups, stews, bone broth, chili, etc.

As with any herbal remedy, please consult your healthcare professional. Vinegar, and perhaps some of the herbal constituents, may interact with prescription medications or negatively affect some health conditions. Undiluted apple cider vinegar is not recommended for ulcer or acid reflux sufferers.