Fire Cider

¼ c horseradish root, grated

1/8 c garlic, chopped

½ onion, chopped

¼ c ginger, grated

1 tsp cayenne

Mix well, place in jar and cover with apple cider vinegar.

Leave jar in a handy place for 14 days and shake it every time you have a mind to.

Strain, and you have your fire cider.

Fire cider keeps a long time without refrigeration. It’s one of the few liniments that may be taken internally. Liniments ae classed as medicines for external use only, since they are often made using isopropyl alcohol, which is poisonous when ingested. However, this recipe for fire cider has apple cider vinegar as the solvating medium, making it entirely safe to drink.

As a liniment it can be rubbed on the chest to reduce congestion and placed around the sinus areas to ease breathing, as well as on sore muscles and arthritic joints.

To take internally, add a teaspoon of the mixture to half a cup of boiling water. You might want to add a little sweetener such as honey, which happens to be soothing for a cold and sore throat.

Nothing is cheaper, easier or finer for breaking up congestion and easing the symptoms of a cold or flu. Try just a little at first to see how strong you can take it. If you find one teaspoon too weak, just double up.

All the ingredients are medicinal foods:

• Ginger will fight the microbes and get heavy mucous moving. It is a good anti-inflammatory and very beneficial for colds and congestion as well as for settling the stomach.

• Garlic supports the immune function and opens the pores of the skin to lower a fever.

• Horseradish will act as an antibiotic against certain strains of bacteria and is an excellent herb for clearing the sinuses.

• Cayenne stimulates blood flow and heats up the body, diminishing mucous buildup.

A recipe from Kahlee Keane.