When the weather turns cold, we all start to seek ways to boost our immune systems. No one likes to deal with colds and cases of flu, and most of us will do or take anything to keep our body’s strong and healthy—including home remedies like fire cider.
If you aren’t familiar with fire cider benefits, this tonic includes many foods that strengthen immunity and help soothe winter illness symptoms. Often when people first hear of fire cider, they think it sounds a little…strong (and yes, even unpleasant), but this home remedy has been around for a long time, and the fire cider benefits far outweigh the drawbacks.
Fortunately, with my tasty hibiscus fire cider recipe, the taste is much more palatable, and you’ll still reap all those excellent fire cider benefits. So if you’re ready to give this tonic a try, here’s what you should know about fire cider.
Home Remedies for Cold and Flu Season
Whenever we explore home remedies for cold, flu, and other illnesses, we shouldn’t forget about the power of food as medicine. Our diets and nutrition play a powerful role in our health and wellbeing. From foods that help stabilize our blood sugar to plant-rich diets that help boost our overall sense of wellness, we are what we eat.
If you’re worried that your diet lacks vitamins and minerals, I strongly recommend starting with a vitamin supplement. Melaleuca is my preferred brand for supplements, and their Vitality Immune Health Bundle is a great way to begin fortifying your immune system during the winter months.
In addition to supplements, though, many of us like to explore the powerful foods available right in our kitchen. For general health, I love hibiscus fire cider. Yes, it’s a potent blend of vinegar, onions, and other intense flavors, but many of the ingredients offer proven immune-boosting benefits. When I drink it regularly, I rarely get sick, and with my hibiscus fire cider recipe, it’s actually quite delicious.
In the past, pharmaceutical medicines weren’t available (or even explored yet). Home remedies were quite common, and everyone had herbs and tinctures they would rely on to keep their families healthy. Households would grow plants in their gardens to make concoctions, syrups, poultices, herbal infusions, and ointments.
Nowadays, with easy access to pharmaceutical treatments, medicines, and drugs, these old recipes are forgotten, especially in western culture. But many of the old plant-based recipes addressed several ailments at once, without a plethora of side effects (which is rare with modern medicines). Fire cider is one of those mind-blowing forgotten recipes. This ethnomedical tonic has been used globally for centuries to ward off the cold and flu during cold winter months.
What is Fire Cider?
If you’re intrigued by the idea of fire cider, it’s certainly worth trying. There are many fire cider benefits and few concerns with taking the beverage regularly.
The simplest explanation is that fire cider is a vinegar infusion. This elixir contains many plant-based ingredients that offer immune system boosting benefits. Fire cider ingredients help protect the body from cold, flu, and other health problems that can arise in chilly weather. People have commonly used the drink in homeopathy for many years. It’s a favorite remedy in folklore, and it has recently regained popularity—especially as people seek natural home remedies for cold and flu symptoms.
You can easily make fire cider at home with local ingredients, and you can use it in many different ways. You could drink it as a tea, try it as a salad dressing, or swallow it quickly from a shot glass. Truth be told, it’s not bad tasting at all, and when you use my hibiscus fire cider recipe, it’s a nice balance of spicy, savory, sweet, and herbal flavors.
Exploring the Fire Cider Benefits
The ingredients used in fire cider have some benefits that are backed by recent scientific research. Although there haven’t been studies on the drink as a whole, scientists have identified benefits for many fire cider components.
Apple Cider Vinegar
Apple cider vinegar contains healthy probiotics. Some research has shown that it can help with digestion troubles, including acid reflux. Apple cider vinegar has also shown some promising benefits assisting with weight loss. It’s used in many detox recipes and helps soothe the digestive system. Vinegar is an excellent source of vitamin C too.
I prefer using Bragg organic raw apple cider vinegar, which includes “the mother.” This 100-year-old recipe is all-natural and offers many significant benefits.
Ginger
Ginger has antioxidative and anti-inflammatory properties. It’s been a popular treatment for colds due to the soothing effect it has on the throat. In some cultures, ginger is used to fight infection, and it helps soothe the digestive system and prevents nausea.
Ginger is also spicy and helps clear blocked sinuses. The gentle warmth of ginger makes it extra comforting in the cold weather months too.
Garlic
In some studies, garlic has been a proven remedy and preventative for the common cold. For many centuries, people have used garlic to flavor foods and to boost their health. It’s an anti-inflammatory supplement, immune system booster, and it holds antibiotic properties.
Cayenne Pepper & Horseradish
If you want to clear your sinuses, you can rely on spicy foods like cayenne pepper and horseradish. These two ingredients bring the “fire” to the hibiscus fire cider recipe, but they’re warming and comforting in this tonic. The spices are great for clearing your respiratory tract and can help alleviate sinus pain and headaches. Cayenne is well-known as a home remedy for arthritis pain as well.
Orange
Sweet, delicious, and in-season during the winter months, oranges are a rich, natural source of Vitamin C. Vitamin C is high in antioxidants, ideal for detoxing and easing oxidative stress on the body (linked to cancer). Vitamin C is also linked to weight loss and improved cardiovascular flow. Oranges contain natural anti-inflammatory properties as well. Of course, they also impart a yummy, sweet and tangy flavor that offsets some of the more robust flavors in the hibiscus fire cider.
Turmeric
Turmeric is considered a miracle plant in many cultures. It’s a primary ingredient in curries and quite common in many eastern dishes. In addition, this herb has been used as an antiseptic agent for centuries. It helps to destroy bacteria in food, has anti-cancer and anti-inflammatory properties, and it’s an excellent digestive aid. Turmeric can also be applied to the skin as a treatment for acne, hyperpigmentation, and inflammation. A relative of ginger, turmeric eases joint pain and has shown the potential to alleviate depression too!
Onions
Onions also have anti-inflammatory properties. These powerful plants are used in many folk remedies and recipes. They have shown promise in improving blood flow and easing digestive issues. In addition, onions have antibacterial properties, preventing the growth of E-coli, staphylococcus, and even MRSA. Although they usually have a strong flavor, in the fire cider recipe, they impart sweetness as well.
Honey
Honey is yet another miracle food. I’ve discussed the many benefits of honey extensively in my post 10 Types of Honey and How to Use Them Every Day. Raw, pure, local honey has natural antibacterial and antifungal properties. It aids in weight loss and boosts the immune system.
My favorite raw honey is Eisele’s Raw Honey. I use this delicious sweetener all the time for immune-boosting properties and an allergen cure. It’s made very simply with a process that’s as close to natural apiculture (beekeeping) as possible. I highly recommend it.
Hibiscus (My Secret Fire Cider Ingredient)
When I make fire cider, I use hibiscus to flavor my drink, making a huge difference. Hibiscus is a beautiful red, flowering plant that natively grows in warm, tropical climates. You can plant hibiscus at home near a window with lots of sunlight or in a greenhouse with a warm, humid atmosphere.
The red sepals are used in edible preparations like herbal tea, jam, vinegar, and syrup. Hibiscus is full of antioxidants and anti-inflammatory agents. It can help your body manage cholesterol and reduce water retention. Hibiscus is good for heart health and has natural antibiotic properties. Best of all, the rich, sweet, tart, slightly citrus flavor of hibiscus is delicious. Not only will it boost your fire cider benefits, but it adds a beautiful red color too.
Hibiscus Fire Cider Recipe
When you combine the powerful ingredients into hibiscus fire cider, you have an excellent recipe for boosting your immune system, reducing inflammation caused by a cold, clearing the sinuses, and even aiding in digestion.
You can likely find fire cider through local farmer’s markets, homeopathic makers, or naturopathic clinics, but it’s rare to find hibiscus fire cider brew on the market. Besides, you can find the ingredients at your local grocery store and easily brew your own at home.
Below is the step-by-step hibiscus fire cider recipe.
Hibiscus Fire Cider Ingredients
- Apple cider vinegar (I recommend Bragg Raw Apple Cider Vinegar) – 64 ounces
- Onions – 2 medium-sized
- Garlic – 2 bulbs
- Ginger – 4 ounces of fresh roots
- Horseradish – 5 ounces of fresh roots
- Turmeric – 2 ounces of fresh roots
- Oranges – 2 medium oranges
- Cayenne pepper – 1 tablespoon of powder or a quarter cup of whole peppers
- Hibiscus – a quarter cup of dried flowers
- Honey (I recommend Eisele’s Raw Honey)–to taste
Hibiscus Fire Cider Recipe
- Peel the bulbs of garlic and add them to a blender with cayenne pepper and coarsely chopped turmeric, ginger, onions, and horseradish. Add enough apple cider vinegar to make a fine paste. I recommend using vinegar with the “mother” in it for more healthful probiotic cultures.
Note: Use caution when handling these ingredients, as they can release hot fumes during the grinding process.
- Peel and mash the oranges.
- Add all the ingredients along with the remaining apple cider vinegar into one or more jars. I recommend using jars with plastic lids as apple cider vinegar fumes can degrade metal and hinder the infusion of the ingredients.
- Let your jars sit for four weeks (the traditional moon cycle). Then, give them a shake every day for the best results.
- After four weeks, filter your hibiscus fire cider mixture by passing it through a colander first, followed by a muslin cloth or cheesecloth to remove the smaller particles. After the liquid has completely drained from the mixture, squeeze the cloth to get any remaining fire cider out.
- Taste the fire cider and add as much honey as you require. It’s best to use raw and locally sourced honey for even more immune-boosting and allergy preventative benefits.
- Pour the hibiscus fire cider into sterile glass bottles or jars.
- Store your fire cider in a cool, dry place for up to a year.
Warming and Healthy Hibiscus Fire Cider
Keep warm and healthy all winter long with a daily sip of hibiscus fire cider. You’ll enjoy all the excellent fire cider benefits of this delicious drink.
Although this hibiscus fire cider recipe is very simple, it requires patience to create the perfect batch of fire cider. I suggest starting early in the winter season, so you can have it ready when cold and flu season hit full swing in February and March. Consume about a tablespoon of the cider every day during the winter months for the most effective results.
Fire cider is a blend of the goodness of nature. It reminds us of the power of plants in homeopathic and herbal medications. When you use locally produced, organic ingredients, you’ll ensure your drink has fewer preservatives and the highest amounts of nutrients. You’ll also get the benefits of local pollen to prevent seasonal allergies, and better still, you’ll support your local farmers and suppliers.
What are your favorite tinctures, tonics, and home remedies for cold and flu season? Do you have a preferred way you stay healthy in the winter? Tell us about it in the comments below!
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