The Winter Herbal Medicine Cabinet — Milk & Honey Herbs

Ingredients:1 Quart Organic Apple Cider Vinegar¼ cup Fresh Horseradish grated½ cup Fresh Onion, chopped1/8 cup-1 head Fresh Garlic (to taste) chopped½ cup Fresh Ginger grated1 small cayenne pepper (or about 1 tsp)Raw Honey to taste (optional)WARNING! Do not touch your eyes or any other mucous membrane after making this unless you wore gloves!Directions:  Chop-up all the ingredients and combine with the apple cider vinegar in a jar.  Cover the top with wax paper (since the vinegar will corrode metal) and then put the lid on over that.  Let sit 4-8 weeks, shaking often.  Strain and store out of direct light, will last at least a year.   Other nice additions include burdock root, orange and/or lemon peel, hibiscus flowers, rose hips, oregano, thyme, sage, rosemary, cumin, coriander, and fennel!Uses:  An herbal classic created by herbalist Rosemary Gladstar. Antiviral, antibacterial, anti-fungal, expectorant, immune-stimulant, decongestant, liniment, cardiovascular tonic. Nearly every ingredient is antibacterial, and garlic and ginger additionally are antiviral, making this mixture a natural antibiotic!   Fire Cider increases your white blood cell count and stimulates immune response.  It is also a respiratory aid and will help break-up congestion in the lungs.  To help soothe a painful, drier cough or sore throat, add honey and about 1 tsp fire cider to a cup of warm water and drink as a tea, 2-3 cups/day while symptoms persist.   Also very helpful for sinusitis and allergies to relieve sinus congestion, sinus headaches and copious mucous discharge.  Also a circulatory stimulant, both internally and topically as a liniment for bruises, strains and injuries.  Fire Cider is also a cardiovascular tonic for high cholesterol and to prevent arteriosclerosis, and for heart health in general.   As a general tonic to prevent cold and flu as well as its many other uses, take about 1 tsp 1-2 x/day mixed in water or straight.  If you are coming down with a cold or flu or already sick, increase dosage to 1/2-1 shotglass of Fire Cider anywhere from 1-5x/day, diluted or straight.  Since this formula is so hot and spicy in nature precaution should be taken for those with chronic heartburn, acid reflux, gastric ulcers, IBS, Crohn’s Disease, sensitive stomach.  Stop taking 2 weeks before and after surgery because of blood-thinning effects.