I cannot believe I did not know about this sooner. Leave it to TikTok to teach me new things about healing and detox. There is a plethora of great information on there pertaining to natural remedies. I've learned quite a bit since starting my own account.
Fire Cider has been used for medicinal purposes for hundreds of years. It is a powerful combination of herbs, roots, fruits, and vegetables topped with apple cider vinegar and honey. The nutrients are extracted from the components over a period of weeks. What you are left with is a wonderful medley of vitamins and minerals that can be used to flush out toxins and fight off illness and disease. The great thing about fire cider is that you can use whatever ingredients you prefer. I am going to go over how to make this, as well as a few items that I love to add to mine.
How I Make Fire Cider
First, you need to get started off by finding a large glass jar. It can either have a lock lid or twist top. If it has a metal top, you need to put something like cheesecloth or parchment paper in between the metal and jar as the ACV will corrode it. Next, start gathering all of your ingredients. When adding your ingredients, think in moderation. This is a powerful remedy with powerful ingredients that only needs to be ingested a little at a time.
When pouring my liquids overtop, I keep it at a ratio of 4-5 parts of ACV to 1 part honey. You will then store your cider in a cabinet or pantry for at least 8 weeks. Check your jar often to see if more ACV needs to be added. I also recommend shaking up lightly a few times a week to make sure things are incorporated. After those several weeks, you can either simply strain your tincture or blend and then strain for added nutrients. I, myself, will probably consider blending from now on. I keep my cider stored in the pantry and try to finish it up in about 2-4 months. ACV and honey act as natural preservatives. You can store in the fridge if you feel more comfortable doing so.
As I've stated, think in moderation when adding each ingredient as all of these together are extremely potent. For most of my dried herbs and roots, I add about a tablespoon. For powdered, I add a teaspoon. For fresh items still on the stems, I will add roughly 1/8 cup. I will add 2 whole types of citrus. I also like to add 2-3 garlic cloves and 1/4 cup sliced onion.
When ingesting, take a large spoonful (about 1/2 to 1 tablespoon) every couple of hours as needed to treat illness. During the winter months, many people like to take a spoonful once per day for overall immune support. This tincture would be a great addition to my one-week overall detox plan as it will help to cleanse your blood, regulate gut bacteria, and boost your organ function.
There's a process to the way the body works and responds to natural remedies. Once the process begins to align in your head, you, in turn, begin to map out a big picture of what it means to heal from within with the tools given to you from the earth. These types of recipes are about cleaning out all of your systems and ridding them of toxic materials from man-made ingredients. Those ingredients are what make you ill and cause disease. The less exposure to these things, the healthier you are and the stronger your immune system is. Simple as that.
Ingredients I Prefer And Their Benefits
When choosing your ingredients, concentrate on ones that are high in antioxidants, and have antiviral, antifungal, antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, and antimicrobial (meaning good for gut health) properties. Keep in mind that you can use any of these ingredients individually to treat different ailments. They can be ingested in teas, alcohol tinctures, placed in capsules, and added to your cooking.
Here are some of my favorite ingredients for healing:
Citrus
Citrus is high in antioxidants (meaning it cleans your blood). This is one of the most important attributes when trying to detox your body. It also helps to lower cholesterol (which helps to prevent a plethora of diseases). Vitamin C will help in the regeneration of collagen. So not only does it benefit your hair, skin, and nails, but it helps to reverse the aging process. If you suffer from joint pain, this will aid in strengthening cartilage. This will also aid in the prevention of kidney stones and is a great source of fiber.
Garlic
Garlic also aids in lowering cholesterol and regulating blood pressure. It is great for regulating blood sugar, as well. Being high in antioxidants and anti-inflammatory, this is great for autoimmune disorders. This also promotes gut health. Garlic is a staple for remedies as it has so many uses.
Onion
My friend from Romania told me about whenever she would get sick as a child, her mother would make her drink onion tea. Can't say I've gone that far (ha), but I know the benefits are great. They have been used as a remedy for a long time by many cultures. This will help to regulate hormones and can be used as a cough suppressant. It is high in minerals, which boosts organ health, and is antimicrobial and antifungal. Also another good source of fiber.
Moringa
This is absolutely one of my favorite plants, and it should be yours as well. The health benefits of these leaves are incredible. Very high in minerals such as magnesium, iron, and potassium. It also has a high content of vitamin C (higher than citrus), calcium, vitamins A and B, phosphorus, and zinc. Great source of plant-based protein and fiber. This also possesses antifungal, antiviral, antidepressant, and anti-inflammatory properties. It is great for liver health and for regulating hormonal imbalance.
Thyme
Thyme absolutely needs to be in your healing arsenal. It is astonishingly potent all on its own. This is an antiseptic and antibacterial, which is great for wound care and preventing infection. It can also aid in the function of your muscles. This can treat hypertension and anxiety. Thyme will relieve those suffering from respiratory infections. This is also wonderful for the treatment of "cold and flu" and great for overall detox.
Bay Leaves
Nobody tends to think about these leaves when it comes to natural remedies, but I have used them in the past with great results. Being anti-inflammatory will help treat autoimmune disorders such as arthritis. It is also antiviral, antifungal, antibacterial, high in antioxidants, and antispasmodic. This has been shown to help those suffering from type 2 diabetes. It is also great for kidney and bladder health. It is also high in several minerals and fiber.
Very interesting fact, bay leaves are a type of evergreen which gives it an antimutagenic property. This means it has the potential to reduce and block harmful cellular mutations at the DNA level. I'll just leave that one right there. This also goes into the next ingredient I enjoy adding.
Evergreen
My neighborhood is surrounded by wild western hemlock (a type of evergreen), so I take the opportunity to harvest it. Pine is a type of evergreen. You should really take the time to research the benefits of pine needle tea. Again, this is antimutagenic. I cannot get into why this is important here for seemingly obvious reasons.
This is great for treating respiratory illness and helping to clear up mucus. It is used as another treatment for overall wellness. Lastly, this will aid sore muscles, boost circulation, and treat infection.
Oregano
Oregano is another one of my absolute favorites. It is one of the first herbs I started working with. In my personal experience, I have treated several UTI's and "viral" infections with oregano oil. It has not only lessened my symptoms but eradicated them. This is amazing for overall detox. It is antiviral, antibacterial, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, and high in antioxidants. This will help treat wounds, common illness, respiratory problems, digestive issues (such as leaky gut and IBS), skin issues, and helps to regulate hormones. I could go on and on for days about this herb, but I do not have that kind of time.
Peppers
Peppers (especially spicy ones) are powerful illness remedies. Cayenne and Serrano are the ones I happen to have on hand. These are great for clearing out mucus. They are also antifungal and anti-inflammatory. Peppers are great for detox as they stimulate the circulatory system. This also makes them great for blood clots. Wonderful for digestive health as they increase enzyme activity, which heightens metabolization of food and toxins. When aiding in detoxification, it can also lead to a lessening of food allergies.
Turmeric
This is certainly a powerhouse root that should be a part of your weekly supplemental plan. This is anti-inflammatory (again meaning great treatment for autoimmune diseases). It is great for gut health. It is wonderful for brain and memory health. Turmeric is wonderful for people with slow metabolisms and heart problems. It is also great for liver health and is one of the most powerful antioxidants.
Cinnamon
This helps with metabolization. It is great for uterine health. It is also used to promote heart health. High in multiple vitamins and minerals, overall this will benefit each and every system. Cinnamon is wonderful in strengthening brain cells. Obviously, this should always be a part of your fire cider.
Ginger Root
This is another great anti-inflammatory (especially for inflammation of the brain) and is extremely high in antioxidants. It will help with nausea and digestive issues, such as constipation, bloating, and other gastrointestinal diseases. This will also aid in uterine and menstrual issues. This is wonderful for diabetes and heart health. Hands down, one of your most important ingredients.
Echinacea
You can derive benefits from both the root and the flower. This is a pretty popular plant when it comes to treating common illnesses, but it has many other benefits as well. Echinacea is great for wound care, so it has those antibacterial attributes. It is also antimicrobial. It is good for treating a sore throat and swollen lymph nodes. This plant is used topically for numerous ailments such as eczema and psoriasis.
Milk Thistle
I love milk thistle. It is indigenous to where I live in Texas, so I can harvest wild for free. This is used quite often in boosting liver function and detox. It also helps to protect the gallbladder, kidneys, pancreas, and intestines. All of these organs are vital for healthy digestion. It is also another great remedy for heart health and regulated blood sugar. Lastly, milk thistle helps with mucus levels and treats inflammation of the respiratory tract, thus being a great remedy for allergic asthma.
Burdock Root
I will always have burdock root on hand. It is quite affordable and extremely powerful for overall detox. It is wonderful for the lymphatic system, which is crucial for healthy immune responses. This can treat gastrointestinal issues, gout, and other diseases that cause the body to attack itself. It can also treat hypertension and arteriosclerosis (hardening of the arterial walls). In some cultures, it has been used for reproductive health for both men and women. It contains a specific type of fiber that is a natural prebiotic. Burdock has also been found to contain anticarcinogenic and antimutagenic properties.
Lemongrass
Once again, lemongrass is another powerful antioxidant. It is greatly used to regulate thyroid issues. This is another one loaded with vitamins, minerals, and fiber. This can be used to treat gastrointestinal issues, as well as relieve stomach ulcers. It helps the liver by reducing uric acid levels. Apparently, lemongrass is not recommended for children and should not be consumed by pregnant or breastfeeding women.
Dandelion Root
Dandelion is a great antioxidant and rich in vitamins C, K, B2, and A. It can help reduce cholesterol and regulate blood sugar. It can also reduce inflammation, which helps with chronic pain, rheumatoid arthritis, Alzheimer's, autism, and heart disease (just to name a few). It can aid in weight loss and boost your immune system. This is also used to aid in liver detox and can help to lessen and reverse allergies.
Apple Cider Vinegar
The benefits of this fermented liquid go on for days. Fermentation has been used by many cultures for thousands of years for good health. "The mother" is a natural probiotic that aids in digestion and gut health. ACV increases the level of mineral absorption. It helps to release more bile into the intestines, which benefits the body by making foods easier to break down. It also helps to break down proteins. The body uses a lot of energy when processing protein. This is why it is important not to overconsume it. Your body will eventually pull calcium from your bones to aid in the breakdown of protein when there is an abundance. ACV will also regulate acid levels in the body. It is also used for weight loss.
Honey
Honey is quite a wonderous thing. One of the many signs of true symbiosis between man and nature. Obviously, it helps to reduce symptoms of allergies, but it doesn't end there. Honey lowers bad cholesterol and reduces the risk of heart problems and even stroke. It can help to promote good sleep. It is antibacterial and high in antioxidants. It has also been used to preserve food. Clearly, it's a great additive for your fire cider.
The benefits of these ingredients are truly endless. I am only scratching the surface here. Something to remember if suffering from any type of chronic illness, you need to understand the illness, how it affects your body, and what is truly causing it. Only then can you learn how to treat and eradicate it from your body. I cannot get into everything these remedies are used for. Just understand, if you clean your body, you can potentially ELIMINATE disease...
If you are currently taking any prescription medication, you need to do your own research on whether or not the ingredients you use will have a direct effect on what you are being prescribed. The point, though, of natural remedies is to take healing into your own hands and back away from the need for modern medicine. You also need to make sure you are not allergic to any of your ingredients. If you suffer from several health problems and are on multiple medications, I implore you to work with an internalist or homeopathic practitioner.
If you are currently pregnant or breastfeeding, you need to do your own due diligence when it comes to taking anything (not just natural remedies).
I am not a doctor, nor do I purport to be one. I am simply laying out what I do to stay healthy, what has worked for me in the past, and what has been used for hundreds (if not thousands) of years to keep well. I will stress this every time, but your ingredients must be organic, or at least just NON-GMO, for full benefits.
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