This is from a book called Healing Tonics by Jeanine Pollak. I made it this fall because it says, "This is a variation on an old favorite among herbalists, serving both as a syrup and as a very interesting addition to soups, stews, salad dressings, an marinades. Once you make it, you might find you can't live without it;
it's a bold statement to any silly germs who thought they might invade you!
Truthfully -- it tastes
awful! but I think it does help keep colds at bay -- and it has to have some
anti-inflammatory properties based on these ingredients. Since an apple cider vinegar - honey - warm water mixture has been cited several times on the NSD forum, I thought I'd share this.
Cyclone Cider Deluxe
1/4 c. grated fresh gingerroot
1/4 c. chopped onion
1/4 c. fresh rosemary leaves
1/8 c. fresh sage leaves (I used rubbed sage out of a spice bottle because it was all I could find)
1/8 c. grated fresh horseradish
4 slices fresh organic lemon
4 slices fresh organic orange
4-6 cloves peeled fresh garlic cloves
2 - 4 cayenne peppers
apple cider vinegar
honey or maple syrup (I used organic, raw honey from my Dad who is a bee-keeper)
1. Place all herbs, fruits, and vegetables in a wide mouthed jar. Cover with 2 - 3 times as much apple cider vinegar.
2. Place plastic wrap over jar and then secure tightly with a lid. Shake daily for 2 - 4 weeks. Store at room temperature out of direct heat or light. (Okay, at this point, my family started joking that my "concoction" included bat wings, frog eyes, etc. . . . it was around Halloween when I was making this -- and it is a curious looking brew )
3. Strain, squeezing all liquid possible out of the herbs.
4. Discard herbs and rebottle vinegar. Add honey to taste -- enough to make a syrupy consistency -- roughly equal parts.
To use: Take 1 - 2 tablespoons as needed, or add to soups, sauces, marinades, and dressings (NOT!).
I usually take my tablespoon and swallow it as
quickly as I can!! I used a large bean sprouting jar for steeping the concoction -- and I probably have enough of this stuff to last the rest of my life. No one else in the family will touch it with a ten-foot pole!! It takes up half of the bottom shelf of my refrigerator!!
But, I haven't had any colds this year.
Paula
