Oxymels are classic, but often overlooked, sweet tasting liquid medicines used to improve the flavour of pungent herbs, especially garlic and cayenne, with the added bonus of having a soothing effect on the mucous membranes. Oxymels contain honey and vinegar which have antimicrobial and expectorant actions respectively. This makes these sweet and sour preparations specific for the treatment of respiratory symptoms. They are an ancient form of medicine dating back as far as the Greek physician Hippocrates (460-370 BC). In his, On Regimen in Acute Diseases, Hippocrates said: “You will find the drink, called oxymel, often very useful… for it promotes expectoration and freedom of breathing”.
Perhaps the most famous oxymel is fire cider, a fortifying spicy tonic most popularly championed by esteemed herbalist Rosemary Gladstar, who coined the phrase in the 1970s. Her recipe included fresh horseradish, onion, garlic, ginger and cayenne. Fire cider gained notoriety when it was recently the subject of an American federal court case over the right to keep traditional remedies trademark-free. In 2019, after a five year battle, it was found that “fire cider” is free from trademark restrictions and is officially considered a generic term, which means no one can own it. This was a landmark victory, supported by Gladstar, setting a precedent so that other herbal products and terms with a history of being commonly shared, and community owned, will be far less likely to be trademarked in the future.
Preparing fire cider at home is a common gateway into herbalism and for many practitioners this herbal staple is their favourite wintertime remedy because it is immune building and sinus clearing. While it’s not for the faint hearted (the cayenne can pack a potent punch) it’s a good brew to have on hand when the cold and flu season approaches to give the immune system a powerful kick. It can be used as a preventative (taken from mid-autumn and throughout the winter months) or taken for acute immune support at the first sign of cold symptoms. It can also stimulate digestion and circulation, which can be warming on cold winter days. The warming herbs are what put the fire in the cider and honey is added to mellow the hot flavours.
Now is the season to make fire cider. The original fire cider can take a month or more to brew because it uses fresh plant material, so we have solved this problem by concocting a timesaving recipe for instant fire cider using liquid herbal extracts – brown bottle herbalists rejoice. Somewhat like chicken soup, there is a lot of flexibility in making fire cider. Every herbalist has their own recipe which can be adjusted according to taste or the kind of wellness support needed. Other herbs often included are turmeric (Curcuma longa), elderberry (Sambucus nigra), cinnamon (Cinnamomum verum), echinacea (Echinacea spp.), astragalus (Astragalus membranaceus), rose hips (Rosa canina), rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis) and lavender (Lavandula angustifolia). Fire cider is also a tasty condiment and can be combined with olive oil to make a zesty salad dressing.
Fire cider is easy to make, convenient to dose and a delight to the tastebuds. Below is a base recipe:
Ingredients:
¾ cup organic raw apple cider vinegar
¾ cup organic raw honey
90mL Herbal Extract Company Garlic (Allium sativum)
60mL Herbal Extract Company Horseradish (Armoracia rusticana)
40mL Herbal Extract Company Thyme (Thymus vulgaris)
10mL Herbal Extract Company Ginger (Zingiber officinale)
2mL Herbal Extract Company Cayenne (Capsicum frutescens) (Can be adjusted according to taste, e.g. 1mL for those who prefer less heat.)
Instructions:
Combine the apple cider vinegar and honey in a pot and gently warm to the consistency of a syrup.
Remove from the heat and add the herbal extracts.
Stir well to combine.
Pour into a 500mL amber glass bottle and label.
Store in a cool, dark place (for up to a year) or in the fridge to extend the shelf life. Gently shake before using. Enjoy.
Yield: 500mL
Maintenance Dose: 10mL shot once or twice a day.
Acute immune support: 10mL every 3-4 hours during an active infection.
It can be diluted with a small amount of water if desired or added to hot water with fresh lemon as a tea. Fire cider is best for cold and damp tissue states. Do not give to children under 12 months old.
References
De la Foret R. Alchemy of Herbs. Hay House:California. 2017 p.173
Adams J, Tan E. Herbal Manufacturing. Preston:Northern Melbourne Institute of Tafe. 2006. p. 60
Zargaran A, Zarshenas MM, Mehdizadeh A, Mohagheghzadeh A. Oxymel in medieval Persia. Pharm Hist (Lond). 2012 Mar;42(1):11-3. PMID: 22530314.
Hippocrates. ON REGIMEN IN ACUTE DISEASES. Western Standard c1999-2023 (updated 400BC; accessed 20 Apr 2023). Available from https://www.originalsources.com/Document.aspx?DocID=JR36KUK3RJ5RNWA
Bauman H. Free Fire Cider: Traditional Remedy Remains Generic after Landmark Case. Herbalgram. Spring 2020;125:58-65.
Gladstar R. Tradition Not Trademark: Fire Cider Goes to Court. c2023 Storey Publishing (accessed 17 April 2023). Available from https://www.storey.com/article/tradition-not-trademark-fire-cider-court/
Ngozi A. How To Make Homemade Fire Cider (With Video!). The Herbal Academy. (updated 21 Dec 2016: accessed 14 Apr 2023). Available from https://theherbalacademy.com/homemade-fire-cider/
Troubleshooting Fire Cider: Answering Your Questions. The Herbal Academy. (updated 7 Oct 2022: accessed 20 Apr 2023). Available from https://theherbalacademy.com/troubleshooting-fire-cider/?awt_a=5cXw&awt_l=FXTqr&awt_m=3ex5.dYToNG43Xw
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