Remedy: Cold and Flu Tonic

This amazing tonic is known for its powerful ability to prevent and completely eliminate colds and flus.

Not only does it eliminate colds and flus but it boosts the immune system, helps ease the pain associated with arthritis, eases digestive issues, helps with respiratory problems, is an anti-allergy tonic, and fights off bacteria and fungus'.

Also known as "Fire cider" it definitely takes some getting used to. But I believe that the health benefits are worth it.

I love thinking about having jars of this tonic on our food storage shelves - not only because of what it can do but because I know one more thing I can do to prevent and treat illness within my family.

There are many of these health tonic recipes out there. I simply grouped together what I thought was the best of the best and because of the exceptional health benefits of oregano, I couldn't help but add it as an ingredient as well.

Here's the recipe:

Cold and Flu Tonic

1/4 cup ginger root, finely chopped or grated

1/4 cup onion, freshly chopped

1/4 cup rosemary, freshly chopped or 2 Tbsp dry rosemary

1/4 cup sage leaves, freshly chopped or 2 Tbsp dry sage

1/4 cup oregano leaves, freshly chopped or 2 Tbsp dry sage

1/4 cup horseradish freshly grated

4 - 6 cloves of garlic

2 Tbsp. cayenne

Organic apple cider vinegar to cover

1 quart glass jar

1. Combine all the ingredients in the glass jar.

(The horseradish doesn't need to be peeled and the garlic can be thrown in whole. For a stronger garlic punch - blend or chop the garlic before adding to the mixture. Fresh herbs and vegetables are best.)

2. Shake once a day for 2 or more weeks. Keep in a dark place.

3. Then strain and squeeze out all the liquids.

4. Heat 1/4 cup honey over low heat and stir in to dissolve.

5. Rebottle and use as needed to eliminate sickness.

(*Wearing gloves makes the grating easier.)

This tonic can either be kept in a dark cool place or refrigerated. It keeps well for 6-8 months but it's also known to keep indefinitely.

A quick remedy of this version can be made by blending all the ingredients together and letting it simmer in the Apple Cider vinegar for 30 - 60 minutes, allowing it to sit overnight. The potency isn't quite the same but it still gives a good kick to any on-coming or present illness.

Daily tonic:

for healthy children: 1 Tbsp (can be mixed in other liquids)

for sick children: 2 Tbsp

for healthy adult: 2 Tbsp

for sick adult: 1/4 cup (or more)

The power of this tonic is found in some pretty special ingredients.

Ginger - Relaxes and soothes the intestinal tract, is an antioxidant, contains inflammatory compounds, helps with motion sickness, dizziness, nausea and vomiting, is an immune booster, promotes healthy sweating - which is helpful during colds and flus, helps to detoxify, contains 80 nutrients.

Horseradish - Anti-bacterial, aids in digestion, helps with respiratory problems such as bronchitis, sinus infections, colds, congestion, and asthma, anti-inflammatory, improves immune function, supports liver, treats infections.

Garlic - Known as a "wonder drug" garlic is a powerful anti-oxidant, antibiotic (which the body doesn't build up a resistance to), helps with poor digestion, respiratory problems and circulatory problems, boosts the immune system, anti-viral, fights infections (and bacteria).

Cayenne - Antioxidant, fights inflammation, clears congestion and stuffiness, boosts immunity, anti-bacterial, helps circulatory system, stimulates digestion and aids in assimilation and elimination, heals the stomach (and ulcers), anti-fungal, detoxifies, eases sore throats and cough.

Sage - Anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory, good for bronchitis, memory enhancer, soothes upset stomach, antibacterial, antifungal, antiviral.

Rosemary - Therapeutic, anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidant, detoxifies, gives respiratory relief.

Oregano - Very high in anti-bacterial, anti-parasitic, and anti-fungal, anti-viral properties, anti-oxidant, nutrient dense, and detoxifies.

Apple Cider Vinegar - Used by Hippocrates as an energizing tonic and healing elixir, speeds up metabolism and detoxifies, decongestant, soothes sore throat, enhances digestive system, extracts and retains nutritional properties from herbs and vegetables.

This concoction warms the body which, in and of itself, keeps the immune system strong.

Photo credit: http://agoosa.com/?p=403