It’s been 3 years since the “Fire Cider” controversy then movement began as a result of the copy write of that name by a company -Shire City Herbals. The recipe first used, taught, and shared by reknown herbalist Rosemary Gladstar in the early 1980s when she was teaching for the California School of Herbal Studies.
Thirty or more other herbalists and herb companies some having used the name “Fire Cider”for decades began getting letters from Shire City company and thier lawyers asking them to stop using the name.
Herbalists that had made, shared, and sold versions of this immune boosting formula (some for almost 40 years), could no longer legally call it by its traditional name. This began a battle to raise awareness of our plight as herbalists most of whom have the philosophy of open sharing – now need to to protect our traditional formulas and their common names from being coopted by any one person, entity, or trademarked, and commodified by greedy corporate interests. A petition created and signed by thousands of herbalists online sharing of recipes abounded and a lawsuit ensued to challenge the copywrite that will be going to court sometime in 2018.
A great program to listen to for more on this is on KPFA radio show The Herbal Highway hosted by herbalist Karyn Sanders episode from Feb 2nd 2017 -it will be available in the archives online. Karyn hosts Rosemary Gladstar and the 3 herbalists that are challenging the copy write law.
Episode link here
Interview about the Fire Cider Controversy – February 2, 2017
Every herbalist I know has a version of this recipe or many versions of this recipe- I have several myself that I have been making since 1999. I teach it and share it with whomever wants to make it as a wonderfully simple and tasty way to keep healthy.
It is an apple cider vinegar tonic infused with hot and spicy herbs that are easily available at your local grocery and it is great for keeping colds and flu from taking hold I have not had a single cold or flu in 12 years and attribute this to copious shots of fire cider downed whenever I feel the least bit of a scratchy throat or sniffly nose coming on. Please make it and share it and use it. After all herbal medicine is the medicine of the people.
Fire Cider Recipe 1
In a quart jar add
chopped onions
garlic cloves
fresh gradated or chopped ginger
fresh grated horseradish
1 fresh/dried whole cayenne pepper or a tsp powdered
fill jar up to near top and cover with raw apple cider vinegar
I add plastic wrap under my metal lid to keep it from rusting.
keep in a dark cupboard for 4-6 weeks (you can shake it periodically).
then strain with cheese cloth, and add honey to taste, and bottle
Recipe 2
the following into a glass quart jar
fresh ginger root chopped
onions chopped
garlic cloves
cinnamon sticks or powdered
dried black or blue elderberries
fresh dried cayenne pepper
cover with raw apple cider vinegar
a bit of plastic wrap under the lid to keep the lid from rusting
infuse in a dark cupboard for 4-6 weeks
shake occasionally
strain with cheesecloth, add local raw honey to taste, and bottle.
sip, drink, in a shot glass is good.
Can also be used as a tasty healthful vinaigrette salad dressing with added olive oil .
Enjoy!
