Discussing Fire Cider Health Benefits and Uses
By Jillian Boucek, LMT
History of Natural Remedies
When talking about working towards overall wellness and health, first we should talk about apple cider vinegar (ACV). The poor-man’s liquid gold, apple cider vinegar is one of the most prolific holistic health products in the world. Its ease of use, long shelf life, versatility, and taste make it the perfect base for all manner of cider vinegar recipes. ACV has been an effective remedy for gastrointestinal issues, heart-burn, mental clarity, energy, immune health, and a whole host of first-aid applications. Some ACV recipes have been around for centuries. For example, Four Thieves Vinegar and the Queen of Hungary’s Water have been popular health remedies since the 16th century. In the 1960s, Dr. John Christopher’s ACV and honey tonic, as well as his ACV and cayenne pepper tincture, became very popular in the alternative healing community. In the 1980s, Rosemary Gladstar introduced the world to fire cider. The rest was history.
Rosemary Gladstar founded the California School of Herbal Studies in 1978, which is currently the oldest running herb school in the US. Ten years later she moved to the Northeast and founded Sage Mountain Herbal Retreat Center and Botanical Sanctuary, currently a 501c3 non-profit organization called Sage Mountain Botanical Sanctuary. Gladstar is a master herbalist and a well known guest speaker at many herbal conferences. Currently, she is a faculty member of the Association for the Advancement of Restorative Medicine.
About Fire Cider Health Benefits and its Uses
So, what is fire cider and why should you have some in your home medicine cabinet or on your culinary shelf? Fire cider is a brew, a concoction if you will, consisting of ACV and a whole range of roots, herbs, tubers, fruits, berries, and so on. The original recipe consists of onion, garlic, ginger, horseradish, cayenne pepper, honey, and ACV. All of the additives for the original fire cider are clinically proven to contain antimicrobial, antibacterial, and antiviral compounds as well as anti-inflammatory and immune boosting functions. Taken as a daily tonic, fire cider health benefits include helping reduce the risk of getting sick from common viruses circulating in the community. Taken as a remedy, it has been shown to reduce down time and enhance recovery from those same common viruses.
That sounds amazing! So, why are there so many varieties and how do I choose?
This is where we can help you. Our in-house creator of fire cider has carefully curated a small variety of products with intentionally selected herbs, fruits, roots, and berries aimed at addressing the general needs for the season. At Mariposa Massage and Healing Center, you will always find the original fire cider.
Seasonal Fire Cider Recipes
Coming up for fall, our Sparrow fire cider features the addition of jalapeno, turmeric and black pepper, lemon, rosemary and thyme. These ingredients are helpful for joint pain, increases in antioxidant enzyme activity, supporting lung health, and fighting bacterial/fungal infections. The Sparrow arrives in October.
As the winter rolls in, you will find a sweetly spiced warm hug in a bottle with our Winter Fire. This fire cider features the addition of elderberries, citrus fruit, cinnamon, cloves, star anise, burdock root, and jalapeno, and delivers a boost to your immune system as well as your lungs. The properties and chemical compounds of these herbs, fruits, and berries have been shown to reduce cough, reduce fever, provide bioavailable sources of vitamin C, as well as antioxidants and flavonoids crucial to cellular repair and protection.
In the spring, we offer Pink Fire. The addition of jalapeno, citrus fruit, hibiscus flowers, hawthorne berries, turmeric, and black pepper is a lovely tonic for the blood, heart, and liver. Both the hawthorn berries and the hibiscus have properties that have been shown to lower blood pressure and promote heart health, while the turmeric and black pepper combo help fight inflammation. Finally, the citrus and jalapeno are packed with vitamin C and antioxidants that support your immune system and cellular health.
This summer we saw a slight pause in our fire cider sales, which is not surprising as outdoor activity, fresh air, and sunshine will do wonderful things for our overall health and wellbeing. We will be working on a blend that will enhance fire cider health benefits for summer wellness and provide a lovely boost of energy. Stay tuned for that!
As we all know, the past months have seen some pretty miserable AQI, and our lungs have taken a beating. Our Sparrow fire cider lands October 14th just in time to offer seasonal respiratory support.
It was briefly mentioned, fire cider is also a great addition to your culinary shelf. Not only is fire cider a healthy tonic, it’s also a fabulous marinade or salad dressing acid to add to your favorite oil.
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Jillian Boucek is a licensed massage therapist with 28+ years of experience with a wide range of training in many modalities. Jillian also holds a degree in food science and human nutrition from The University of Alabama. A valuable member of our Mariposa Massage team, Jillian is in her 3rd year with us.
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