This Fire Cider Health Tonic and Homeopathic Remedy recipe stands as one of the most popular on my blog.
I would like to take this opportunity to remind people who take issue with my use of the word homeopathic that I’ve addressed it below and simply will not put up nastiness. People.
It’s not the end of things if we disagree on semantics, but I’m going to insist we be nice here on Foodie with Famiy.
To anyone visiting for the purpose of discussing my use or perceived misuse of the word “homeopathic”:
I am using a casual definition of the word supported by google, WebMD, and Merriam Webster: “That is, if a substance causes a symptom in a healthy person, giving the person a very small amount of the same substance may cure the illness.
In theory, a homeopathic dose enhances the body’s normal healing and self-regulatory processes.” I will not be discussing this issue any further. Any new comments seeking to chastise me for the use of the word will not be published.
Important Note: I am NOT under any circumstances claiming this will cure anything. I’m laying out a recipe that is both delicious and nutritious. I am also explaining some of the purported health benefits of the ingredients that go INTO the recipe.
This post is no substitute for professional medical advice, but is a classic folk tonic/remedy. I trust you all to use your own best judgment in the manner.
Wait! Don’t run away screaming! I know I’m in serious danger of sounding like an irredeemable hippie, but I have something really, really FUN for you today.
What is fire cider?
I have a savoury, spicy, infused vinegar. Yes.
Two infused vinegars in a row! This one is only slightly more complicated than the Coconut Infused White Balsamic Vinegar in has it has a few more ingredients and requires a bit more chopping and grating, but beyond that, it’s every bit as easy, it just requires more patience.
Before I get to why, I want to get to the reason YOU SHOULD MAKE THIS! For starters, it tastes awesome.
I mean AWESOME. Oh, and did I mention it’s a health tonic?
I have a little true story to explain to you how a girl who makes Crispy Cheesy Barbecue Chicken and Bacon Egg Rolls also makes Fire Cider Health Tonic and Homeopathic Remedy.
It all began with me hopping in my car and driving eight and a half hours to Maine to spend four days with my friends.
We spent our days wandering Portland, Maine eating donuts, duck fat french fries, ice cream, bubble tea, cookies, more duck fat fries, fried cheese curds, fried chicken skin banh mi, bacon dusted french fries, and washing it down with beer. Have you noticed the theme? Rich food on rich food on richer food.
It was great stuff, but oy. We were overstuffed.
We wandered into the Cabot Cheese Shop where the clerk enthusiastically offered a sample of something called Fire Cider to us. Given that I have been known to drink pickle juice and/or a shot of raw apple cider vinegar each morning (more on the health benefits of that in a moment), it didn’t take much to convince me to try it.
It was a SHAZAAM moment. It was a savoury liquid infusion with an amazing balance of tangy raw apple cider vinegar, horseradish, garlic, onion, ginger, and citrus with just a hint of honey.
It was exactly what we all needed to de-sluggify all of us after our rich food benders. Brandy, Carrie, and Gina grabbed a bottle. I grabbed two.
When I got home, my husband looked at me sideways when I told him what it was, but he drank the sip I gave him and his eyes grew huge as he declared, “THIS IS GREAT! We’re going to need to keep this around!”
Fire Cider Controversy
I went online to order a larger quantity and discovered that the manufacturer had a bit of fire cider controversy surrounding them because fire cider was an old folk remedy and health tonic made by many herbalists and the company had trademarked the name. Okay, well, knowing me, you’ll probably have realized at this point that when I read I could make my own, that was a foregone conclusion.
Would I regularly buy a product from a company that had trademarked a word that was the herbal world’s equivalent of t-shirt and was enforcing that trademark or would I make my own? Well, um, duh?
UPDATE: The controversy has been settled and the courts have decided that the company can no longer own the trademark for Fire Cider!
Fire Cider Recipe
I wanted to make one as close in flavour to the one I had purchased, so I used my only superpower (identifying flavours in a dish) to figure out what I wanted to put in my Fire Cider Health Tonic and Homeopathic Remedy.
I added fresh horseradish and ginger roots, onion, garlic, lemon, orange, habanero pepper, powdered turmeric, and raw apple cider vinegar to our fire cider. All of these ingredients have the dual benefits of being health promoting AND delicious.
Not to put too fine a point on it, but I nailed it. And I had to wait 4 weeks to KNOW I nailed it because it takes that long for the flavours to infuse. Yeah. Um. Did I mention you need to be patient?
Fire Cider benefits
How is fire cider good for you? Let me count the ways:
-Fresh horseradish is known to be effective against the flu and common cold, tonsilitis, respiratory disorders, urinary tract infections, and pathenogenic fungus.
-Ginger is used to treat arthritis, muscle pain, upset stomach (motion and morning sickness and general nausea), gas, upper respiratory tract infections, and cough.
-Onions are used to boost cardiovascular health, bone and connective tissue benefits, and as an anti-inflammatory agent.
-Garlic is used to treat high blood pressure, high cholesterol, coronary heart disease, heart attack, atherosclerosis, asthma, building the immune system, help level blood sugar, and is used topically to treat fungal infections.
–Habanero peppers boost your metabolism, and offer headache, sinus, and arthritis relief as well as releasing endorphins.
-Oranges are great for heart health, as part of a best-case-scenario-anti-cancer-diet, fighting cholesterol, to help in weight loss, and to break up or prevent kidney stones.
–Lemons are known to aid in digestion, alleviate Meniere’s Disease, kidney stones, and ringing of the ears, cure scurvy (chronic lack of Vitamin C), treat colds and flu, improve the function of blood vessels, and reduce inflammation and retention of water.
–Turmeric is pretty much the be-all and end-all of health foods. It’s known to delay liver damage, reduce carcinogenic compounds in other foods, make cancer cells more vulnerable to chemo and radiation, inhibit the growth of malignant melanoma and breast cancer, alleviate arthritis symptoms and skin conditions.
Heck, maybe I should let the experts describe what the main compound in turmeric -cucurmin- does. Advanced Experimental Medical Biology in 2007 states:
“Curcumin has been shown to exhibit antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antiviral, antibacterial, antifungal, and anticancer activities and thus has a potential against various malignant diseases, diabetes, allergies, arthritis, Alzheimer’s disease and other chronic illnesses.”
–Raw apple cider vinegar (not plain old cider vinegar!) is known to be a good source of acetic and ascorbic acid (Vitamin C), mineral salts, amino acids, and other key components of good nutrition, but it is also a well-loved folk remedy thought to ease digestion, fight obesity and diabetes, wash toxins from the body, kill lice, and reverse aging.
Does it do all of that? I dunno. But it surely tastes good and it’s nutritional value is undisputed.
–Raw honey (locally produced) is a fantastic, all-natural fighter of seasonal allergies. Because bees collect pollen from flowers in your area and then convert it to honey to feed their hives, eating raw, local honey is like a tasty allergy shot.
It’s also full of vitamins and minerals, anti-fungal, anti-viral, and makes a great, non-narcotic cough suppressant and throat soother.
How much Fire Cider should I drink?
The beauty of this, beyond its all-star cast of healthy ingredients, is that it just plain tastes wonderful. We drink a tablespoon (or more!) every morning to maintain health. Well, okay, we MAINLY drink it because we like it, but the health benefits are nice.
When you feel ill, take a slightly larger dose of Fire Cider to help boost your immune system. Word has it on the street that it’s an extremely effective hangover cure. So, I want to know… are you curious enough to try it? What do you think?
Cook’s Notes
There’s not too much to this, just grate or chop everything up and put it in a jar. That’s where I’m going to caution you.
If you cannot or will not use a plastic lid, do lay a piece of parchment paper on the rim of the jar before fixing your lid in place. Raw apple cider vinegar is quite likely to motivate a canning jar lid to rust or discolour.
You’d hate to have all your waiting and work ruined by a rusted lid. Replace that parchment sheet every week or so.
I prefer to use Bragg’s Raw Apple Cider Vinegar for my Fire Cider. I always keep it on hand because I love the flavour and I also love the health benefits it offers.
Because it still has the ‘mother’ in it, it packs a higher nutritional punch. I understand that Trade Joe’s and Whole Foods also have in-house brand versions that are great.
I’d advise you to use organic produce if at all possible. This way you won’t be infusing your lovely health tonic with anything you wouldn’t want to have in it.
When you grate your horseradish, make sure you do it in a well-ventilated area or you will regret it. That stuff packs some serious oomph and will empty your sinuses in 30 seconds flat.
When it’s time to strain your Fire Cider Health Tonic & Homeopathic Remedy, line a colander with butter muslin, a muslin tea towel, or a double layer of super fine cheesecloth, and set it over a large, stable pot.
Pour the contents of your jar into the lined colander and let it drain for 30 minutes. After the 30 minutes, pull the corners of the cloth together and twist to squeeze the contents until you cannot squeeze any more liquid from it.
You may reserve the solids for tossing in stir-fries or discard them. Either is fine!
You’ll notice there is not an actual quantity of honey listed in the recipe. You should add this to taste.
We tend to like ours less sweet, you may prefer yours more so. Start with 1/4 cup and whisk it well, then add 1 tablespoon at a time, whisking after each addition, until you reach your desired sweetness.
It’s best to choose raw, locally produced honey for the benefits listed above. The second choice is raw honey. The third choice would be pasteurized commercial honey.
Store your finished Fire Cider Health Tonic & Homeopathic Remedy in a sterilized wine bottle or canning jar. Store in a cool, dark cabinet for up to a year.
Oh! I’d be remiss if I didn’t tell you that the finished Fire Cider is fabulous as a dressing for cooked greens or in salad dressings. Boost your health while enjoying your dinner!
Guys. Gals. Friends, Romans, Countrymen… I HAVE PUT Fire Cider Health Tonic and Homeopathic Remedy IN A COCKTAIL. It was magical. Please experiment and report back.
How to make Fire Cider:
- A Food Processor with a Grating Disc is not strictly necessary but will make the process so much easier and keep your hands from smelling like horseradish!
- Easy Cap (reusable bottles) for storing your fire cider.
- a Funnel to help fill your bottles with fire cider
- a whisk to whisk in the honey
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Fire Cider
Scroll down for the complete printable recipe.
Grate the horseradish and ginger roots. Roughly chop the peeled onions and garlic, whole oranges, lemons, and habaneros.
Do not peel the oranges and lemons first! Sprinkle the turmeric in on top.
Pour the raw apple cider vinegar allowing it to settle in through the crevices and adding more so the contents are fully submerged. Lay a piece of parchment paper over the rim of the jar, then screw the lid tightly in place.
Let the mixture sit in a dark, cool place, allowing it to infuse, for 4 weeks, shaking once daily when you remember it.
After 4 weeks, pour the contents into a muslin or cheesecloth lined colander over a stable pot. Let it drain for 30 minutes, then gather the corners and twist to wring out as much goodness as possible.
Add raw honey to the liquid to taste and pour into a sterilized wine bottle or canning jar. Store in a cool, dark place for up to a year, shaking well before using.
Fire Cider: Health Tonic and Homeopathic Remedy
Rate RecipeIngredients
- 1 large horseradish root scrubbed very well, about 7 inches long
- 1 large ginger root about 7 inches long
- 1 large onion root and stem end removed and peeled
- 1 large orange do NOT peel. Use the whole fruit.
- 1 lemon do NOT peel. Use the whole fruit.
- 16 cloves of garlic peeled
- 2-4 habanero peppers stems removed
- 1 tablespoon ground turmeric
- raw apple cider vinegar
- raw honey
Instructions
- Grate the horseradish and ginger roots. Roughly chop the onions, orange, lemon, garlic, and habanero peppers. Stuff them into a half-gallon glass jar with a tight fitting lid or divide evenly between two quart sized canning jars. Sprinkle the turmeric in on top (dividing evenly between the two jars if using quart jars). Pour the raw apple cider vinegar in over the contents, allowing it to settle in through the crevices and adding more so that the contents are submerged. Lay a piece of parchment paper over the rim of the jar, then screw the lid tightly in place. Let the mixture sit in a dark, cool place, allowing it to marry and infuse for 4 weeks, shaking once daily.
- After 4 weeks, pour the contents into a muslin or cheesecloth lined colander positioned over a stable pot. Let it drain for 30 minutes, then gather the corners of the cloth, twisting and squeezing until you cannot release any more liquid. When it’s fully strained, add honey to the liquid to taste and pour into a sterilized wine bottle or canning jar. Store in a cool, dark place for up to a year, shaking well before using.
Nutritional information is an estimate and provided to you as a courtesy. You should calculate the nutritional information with the actual ingredients used in your recipe using your preferred nutrition calculator.
did you make this recipe?
Make sure to tag @foodiewithfam on Instagram and #hashtag it #foodiewithfamily so I can check it out!
Not Your Mama’s Canning Book: Modern Canned Goods and What to Make with Them is available to order through these fine retailers!
Originally published August 8, 2014. Updated August 2016 and January 2019.
Reader's Thoughts...
Elizabeth says
I am making this today! Am I correct in assuming that you add the honey at the end after it is strained? Thanks so much….keep up the awesome work!!
Rebecca says
You are absolutely, 100% correct! Thanks, Elizabeth! I hope you enjoy it!
Marjorie says
So, I mis-read the instructions and added the honey right away. Any idea if I’ll have to re-add later (because vinegar mother would consume it) or if I ruined it?
Also, I forgot the lemon and the orange when I shopped, so I used lemon and orange essential oils. Any predictions about that outcome?
Thanks, md
Rebecca says
Hi Marjorie! I’m glad you were willing to give this a shot. I think a few people have accidentally added the honey at the beginning and had okay results. You might want to flip up through the comments and see what they had to say…
As for the lemon and orange essential oils, I’m a little hesitant. I don’t think it’s going to hurt the overall product, but I don’t think it’ll do what you would get from the actual lemons and oranges. I would probably (if possible) add the lemons and oranges in now. I love essential oils, but I just feel like in order to get the same orange and lemon presence, you’d have to add enough essential oil to make it taste a little funny. That’s just my assumption, though, having used essential oils in other applications and having made a lot of fire cider in my time. 🙂
WalkbyFaith18 says
Do you cut up the whole orange and lemon including the peel?
Rebecca says
I sure do!
Jazzy says
The Ginger root I grated was 7 inches long but also had the spurs each of which were at least an inch long. Did I add too much ginger?
Rebecca says
You should be fine, Jazzy! Maybe it’ll just have a little extra ginger kick. It’s hard to really mess this up to the point of not being good. Every batch is slightly different and that should be lovely! 3 habanero sounds delicious to me! 😀
Jazzy says
By the way Thanks so so much for the lovely recipe mine is infusing as I type… I added 3 habanero hope its not too much
Joe LeSanche says
I don’t know if this thread is still active, but I love the recipe! I’m a huge practitioner of fermentation. I’m taking all the ingredients, initially, minus the cider vinegar and honey, and I’m fermenting them like I do my regular vegetables. After two weeks, I’ll add my homemade cider vinegar and local honey. I’m anxious to taste the outcome.
Thanks for the recipe.
Rebecca says
The comments sections are always open here, Joe! I look forward to hearing how your experiment goes.
Marjory @ Dinner-Mom says
I am totally intrigued and ready to try it…no matter what you call it!
Debbie says
Homeopathic remedies are made in pharmacies under FDA supervision because they are classified as a medicine and are listed in the US pharmacoepia of medicine along with pharmaceutical drugs. Herbs and oils are not regulated but homeopathic remedies are.
Rebecca says
Thanks for your input, Debbie, but the title will stand. If you google “homeopathy definition” you will get “the treatment of disease by minute doses of natural substances that in a healthy person would produce symptoms of disease.” by that standard, I’m comfortable with my usage.
Debbie says
Good because your post will catch the eye of homeopathic organizations who will review your claim according to their professional standards and not a dictionary’s definition.
Rebecca says
I am not selling a product, but rather offering a recipe. It’s all good. Have a great day.
Rebecca says
I do not mean to sound terse, but this is not a commercial product and has not gone through testing for market, it’s a free recipe and I trust people to differentiate between the two.
George says
Can’t understand why people go out of their way to pick apart things. I was brought up with a simple philosophy, “if you have nothing nice to say, keep it to yourself”. These negative people aren’t “helping”. They are miserable in their own skin. Don’t let the negativty get you down.
My father in law introduced me to this, he made me a batch and I’m going to make my own. He said its done wonders for him. I’m looking forward to it. Thanks for sharing.
Ken Howard says
I was wondering what do you call a female person that just likes to TROLL people in the comments, like yourself ??? A TROLLET !!! I myself don’t care what the proper meaning of Homeopathic is. But I think most people in this whacked-out world believe it means a natural medicine or cure. I myself am thinking of making some with one more ingredient, Colloidal Silver in it. I have been making it by the gallon for years and am running out of ways to use it. I told my doctor about and he told me to quit taking it but couldn’t come up with any reason to, which really pissed him off. LOL.
Rebecca says
I’m not sure it counts as trolling when it’s my own website. 😉
lida says
Debbie, of course you are concern, you probably will be loosing
money if more and more of us will do our own home made recipes
otherwise why you are against it?
Sorry, but our grandmothers did it all their lives. All ingredients
are healthy for you if you are not allergic to it.
I am very grateful for this recipe.
Thanks to this kind of recipes, I am not taking any medication
and last time I was in the doctors office 15 years ago for poison ivy.
I am 56 years old.
ATasteOfMadness says
This looks amazing! I would love to try this sometime!
Julie @ Willow Bird Baking says
Ooh, I really want to try this! Intrigued.
TiffH says
This sound great. Totally want to make it and give it a go! But the bottles you stored yours in…… I want those more. I’m sure it’s tastier being poured from petty bottles. Please let me, Where did you buy those?
Rebecca says
Those fancy pants bail-top bottles are from French lemonade I bought for my kids as a treat. These ones from Amazon are pretty similar, though! Bormioli Rocco Giara Clear Glass Swing Top Bottle
pamela says
Ikea also has them for decent prices if you’re lucky enough to be near one.
Paula - bell'alimento says
I can so see us needing this in the future!
Susan says
So like you I have no issues drinking pickle (or olive) juice. Been doing that since I was a kid and I know a shot of vinegar in the morning is really good for you but there is something stopping me. I’m intrigued though, very very intrigued.
Jana says
thanks for the recipe! I have been needing a good recipe for this! I am always looking for natural ways to keep the family healthy. Do the kids drink it? Not sure if I could get mine to.
Rebecca says
Funny you should mention that 🙂 I have TWO kids who willingly drink it and three for whom I believe it will be an effective gauge of whether they’re really ill. “Oh you don’t feel well? Try this. It will make your immune system stronger!” If they don’t drink it, I will know they’re faking 🙂
Pimmie says
This sounds very good! And what a good timing with the end of the summer rushing up on us. I am so going to make this!
Ashley @ Wishes & Dishes says
I always use Bragg’s apple cider vinegar, too! I love that stuff! You’re right – this was a fun post – infused vinegars?! So awesome!
Sarah says
Sounds very tasty but be careful about the health claims. Acetic acid is not vitamin C (that’s ascorbic acid). For any active ingredient you also need to consider the effective dose range. Paracetamol cures headaches. But you need to know how much to take. One tenth of a tablet won’t do anything. One hundred tablets will kill you. Turmeric has been show to have anti-carcinogenic effects in vitro but is very poorly absorbed form the human intestine. As stated above, homeopathy is something else entirely.
Rebecca says
Good catch on the acetic acid. There was SUPPOSED to be an ascorbic acid in there, too. I must’ve backspaced through it. AGAIN, I say (which I did say in the post) that these are claims of health benefits and linked to each of the sources I used to describe the purported (another word I used) health benefits.
PJ says
ascorbic acid is not even real C either. Its derived in a lab from gmo corn 🙁
Acerola cherry powder or rosehip powder are good choices. Though the rosehip can be rather stimulating!
Meagan says
L-ascorbic is what to look for real vit c. Naturally derived and non gmo. Thank you for pointing this out.
Rose hips always sound good!
valmg @ From Val's Kitchen says
I have never had anything like that. It certainly does sound flavorful!
Carrie says
So so so so pumped you figured out how to make it so now I can make my own. I have been taking it daily and my constant heartburn is gone… which is weird because I would have thought it’d cause heartburn because of the bit of heat and of course the acidity.
Also…. tastes flipping great in coleslaw 😉
Amanda @The Kitcheneer says
I am curious! And being a health nut myself, I WILL try this! Question: Do you need to have a shot f this every morning to enjoy the benefits? I know timing is everything with certain health foods 🙂
Rebecca says
Not being a full-on herbalist, I couldn’t tell you! I know I feel better taking it every morning, but maybe someone with deeper knowledge could weigh in on it?
Holly says
I know it’s is an old thread but I am replying as it may help someone. I usually do not take it everyday….only if I feel a cold or some other illness coming on and on the rare occasion I get heartburn. It’s hard going down because it is so strong flavored but it is definitely a life saver. I suppose you could take it daily if you felt the need but my palate couldn’t take a daily dose! Haha haha maybe I use way too much horseradish and habaneros! 🙂
Rebecca says
It is an old thread for sure, but I still monitor it! I think if you added a wee bit of honey to it (which also never goes bad!) it might be easier for you to knock back. HAHAHAHA. 🙂
Nadine says
My friend just got over COVID19 and said she was able to drink lots of it easily until her taste and smell came back! My other friend raves about it in her coleslaw too!
Virginia says
Ooh! I want to make this!!!
(and so you know, your vinegars recipes are much loved by me, so no complaints on two in a row over here!)
wendy says
This sounds interesting! I might have to give it a try. I’m just wondering, does it takes very strongly of horseradish? My husband really doesn’t like horseradish, but I can get away with putting a very small amount in sauces – just enough to add a little flavor, but not enough that it is obviously an ingredient. Do you think I should cut back on the horseradish in this recipe for him? Or would that ruin the taste? What do you think? Thank you for your fun blog!
Rebecca says
Oooh. That’s a little tricky. I wouldn’t say horseradish defines the TASTE of this, because it’s in with a bunch of other strong things, but it does have the volatile oils in it that make horseradish so pungent when you sniff it… From what I understand of herbal remedies, you’re welcome to tinker around with proportions in order to get the effects and flavours you’d like. I’d say it’ll definitely change its flavour-profile, but I say go for it if that makes the difference between your hubby drinking it or not! Maybe make two batches (split in 2 quart jars)? One like this (as a control) and a second with a lower proportion of horseradish then you can test both!
pamela says
I had some of Rebecca’s brew today, and I couldn’t pick out the horseradish. I could pick out the citrus, the hot pepper, the ginger, and the honey. But not the horseradish. (And I’m pretty sensitive to it, too.)
Carolyn says
Very cool, girlfriend. I will definitely be making this! Portland is a fun city, isn’t it?
Lauren @ Healthy Delicious says
OK, I’m intrigued. I might give it a go. So, do you drink this stuff by the glass or just take it like a shot?
Rebecca says
I put a generous tablespoon of it in a shot glass and slug it back! It’s tasty enough to sip, though!
kate C. says
This sounds interesting and pretty good. However, I strongly urge you to not call this a homeopathic remedy! If you read about homeopathic medicine you will see that it is defined as diluting something many, many times. The theory is that a tiny bit of what ails you can actually make you better. Homeopathic remedies are so dilute that they are essentially water. This is clearly NOT what your recipe is! You could call it ‘natural’ or maybe a folk remedy, but it is thankfully not real homeopathy… though this scientist almost couldn’t click the link with that word in the title!
Rebecca says
Thanks for your input, Kate. I won’t quibble over the title (which will stand), but by that definition, raw, local honey does count as homeopathic since it contains the pollen of the plants that trouble you. You’re right that much of what is in there has a straight up, definable health benefit in pretty large quantities, though!
kate C. says
No, but see that’s my point! There actually is pollen in the honey, whereas true homeopathic remedies are so dilute that in order to contain an actual molecule of the substance they were diluting you would have to drink an entire ocean… or for some remedies: a container larger than the Earth. There is actual pollen in honey, just like there’s actual allergen in allergy shots, those things aren’t homeopathic. Homeopathic practitioners believe that the water retains a ‘memory’ of what it was shaken with during the dilution process so it doesn’t matter there aren’t any molecules of it. OK, I’ll stop now, it’s just a huge pet peeve of mine when things that aren’t homeopathic remedies are called that because it confuses people and gives these dishonest folks selling actual homeopathic remedies some legitimacy by association!
Jill Cartwright says
I am a Clinical Nutritionist and have been using remedies like these for myself and my clients. You are correct in using the term homeopathic. Anything found in nature to help the body heal itself IS considered homeopathic. I have been doing work in this field for over 25 years and wanted to let you know you ARE using the correct terminology.
Rebecca says
Thanks for weighing in, Jill!! 😀 I appreciate the support!
BG says
I see your Clinical Nutritionist for 25 years and raise you Registered Dietitian practicing for 31. Not that that means anything, because wrong is wrong whoever is doing the talking.
Homeopathic absolutely does NOT mean “found in nature to help the body heal itself.” I have no idea where you learned that, but this isn’t a term that is up for debate. It’s not an opinion. Homeopathy has a definition, and I urge you to read https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Homeopathy.
I hope you haven’t been teaching this sort of nonsense to your patients.
Aaron says
Is it not somewhat subjective, I dont get it? You sound like a snob.
Nic says
Just FYI to those above… Homeopathic, relating to homeopathy: “the treatment of disease by minute doses of natural substances that in a healthy person would produce symptoms of disease.”
Not that it matters in the slightest, everyone generally understands what is meant.
Great recipe! Absolutely can’t wait until mine is ready.
Krissy says
I am just trying to figure out how much apple cider vinegar, and how much honey to use??? Everything else has a measurement
Rebecca says
Hi Krissy- You use as much apple cider vinegar as you need to fill the jar AFTER all of the solids have been added. Because people cut and compact the veg matter to different sizes and degrees, there’s going to be a huge range here. Just fill ’til the vinegar is at the top of the jar. Likewise, there is no measurement for the honey because you’re adding it to taste AFTER straining it. Start low, and taste as you go. 🙂
Gene says
Kate C I had to stop reading you when you said water has a memory. Homeopathy is a practice that is based on the concept that disease can be treated with minute doses of drugs thought capable of producing in healthy people the same symptoms as those of the disease being treated. Like exposure to allergens for allergy therapy. By definition, Vaccines are Homeopathy, as we’re given the dead virus to trigger our bodies to make antibodies of that virus..
NONE of that has anything to do with water, diluting with water, oceans, or water having memory., which too absurd to even discuss.. Water is H2O, with NO capability of memory.
BG says
“NONE of that has anything to do with water, diluting with water, oceans, or water having memory., which too absurd to even discuss.. Water is H2O, with NO capability of memory. ”
You are right that this is absurd, because it is nonsense. That being said, Kate C is right that that is indeed what homeopathy is. Seriously, it is crazy stuff, as absurd as you say it is. Read the Wikipedia entry for homeopathy.
Naveteme says
Water does have a memory and that is what Homeopathic remedies are based on!!! There has been many scientific studies and reasearch that proves that. The advanced research has been going on since the 1980’s in Europe. Research at this level is dummed down in North America
Amber says
Indeed!
Julie says
I wouldn’t cut your nose off to spite your face. Lol
Jennifer W says
Well I’m about 6 years late to the discussion… But these comments are ridiculous. Trying to trash talk homeopathy, when in reality complementing it through this recipe.
So the first comment was, “The theory is that a tiny bit of what ails you can actually make you better. Homeopathic remedies are so dilute that they are essentially water. This is clearly NOT what your recipe is!” This recipe is definitely just that! 😆 So first off, if you ate a whole onion or horseradish root would you have a crazy bad runny nose and symptoms of a cold? Duh! Yes you would, most of these ingredients are those that if you eat a large amount it will “ail” you. Well I chopped the ingredients pretty well and added about 2 cups of ac vinegar. If you’re only taking 1 Tbsp a day (although I prefer to only use it when I’m sick or feeling run down and use 1 tsp a few times a day) that’s 32 servings. I’d say 1/32 of these ingredients is a TINY amount! Is this so diluted it’s essentially just vinegar? If so, why bother adding anything and just drink a shot of plain ac vinegar.
Honestly, when you think about how apple cider vinegar is made, it is also just a homeopathic fermented infusion that is essentially just apple water. 🤷 ALL it is, is apples and water (sometimes people add sugar or vinegar to speed up the process).
This is the same with homeopathic infusions in water or tinctures in alcohol. You only use a small amount at a time, are they essentially just water or alcohol? You say, “homeopathic remedies are so dilute that in order to contain an actual molecule of the substance they were diluting you would have to drink an entire ocean.” Homeopathic tinctures are made the same as baking extracts, like vanilla. Why don’t we have to add an ocean of vanilla extract to frosting? We hardly add any, but there is a big different when it’s forgotten.
bsh says
I would urge you to reconsider letting the title stand. Homeopathic remedy is not synonymous with home remedy.
Rebecca says
Thanks for your input but the title stands.
Tbootz says
This is a very good recipe! When I saw the title I almost skipped it though… glad I didn’t!
Rebecca says
HA! No doubt. I mean, it’s kind of hard to come up with an attractive name for it… The other option, as I saw it, was horseradish, onion, habanero, orange, lemon infused raw vinegar with honey. That just plain doesn’t sound good. 😀
April D. says
Great recipe! And good for you, sticking by your title. That’s actually one of the reasons I clicked over, because though I’ve read many recipes for fire cider, I’ve never heard it described as homeopathic remedy before. So, my curiosity was spurred. Hearing the way you describe honey, now I understand the association, since homeopathy follows the principle of “like cures like”.. Very interesting. And I think I like your recipe a little better than the one I’m using now, so I’m going to give it a try. So glad I clicked over and found your site!
Michael Kell says
I haven’t made it yet… But the name SHOULD stand and you should stand up to the snobs!
Rebecca says
Thanks so much, Michael! It stands in perpetuity. 🙂
rj says
Hi! How much turmeric root would you use as opposed to powdet and did you use the skin of the roots? I’m thinking of just throwing mine in the blender.
Rebecca says
I haven’t tested it with fresh turmeric root because I really don’t have access to it regularly. If I gave you a quantity, I’m afraid it would be guessing at this point. 😀 I did use the skin on the horseradish, though, after scrubbing within an inch of its life.
Yovanki says
I use 3 inches per batch of the turmeric root
Debbie says
She wouldn’t listen to me either.
Rebecca says
Actually, I AM here listening to both of you. I respect your opinion enough to let it stand here in the comments where I’m pretty much the law (since it’s my site and I hold the ability to delete anything and everything) but -simply put- I disagree that my use of ‘homeopathy’ is far enough off of an accepted definition to change it.
Again, I see enough value in this health tonic that I hope you can put your differences aside and try it. Have a great day!
Bayard Bastedo says
Rebecca, I have to weigh in with those who says your elixir is not homeopathic. Homeopathy asserts that disease can be cured by a substance that in a well person causes the complaints of the sick person. “Like cures like” is homeopathy’s motto.
Your tonic sounds marvelous. May it cure many!
ANTHONY J. HAMBOYAN says
To Rebecca
No matter what you do and say, you cannot and will not appease 10 people out of 10.
People assimilate things differently.
Don’t waste your time answering people whether or or not your product is so called Homeopthy or not.
I am living proof of using Apple Cider Vinegar.
It literally (with minimal exercise & controlling my diet) saved my life. A 890 blood count to almost 2/1oth of a percent being Diabetic free.
However, the use of such a product dates back to 500 BC for medicinal purposes.
Yours, I was told by one of my clients actually surpasses plane old Organic Apple Cider Vinegar.
Let them say what they want, maybe they ought to try it first, then shoot their mouths off to no avail.
Sincerely
Anthony
PS: I represent no one, but a living proof.
Marielle says
Rebecca,
you are awesome, stand with your beliefs and your rights. There will always be this kind of people that feel the need to criticize, a way or another. They just need attention. I know the time and research you put in your blog. Please keep sharing your findings and recipes for those who enjoy them.
Healthy leaving is on the rise, and America needs it!
Rebecca says
Thank you so much, Marielle! It is so kind of you to weigh in on this. 😀
Tammy says
I agree Marielle. It’s a name. Rebecca could call it yellow sludge! She came up with the recipe, it’s her site and I’m going to use her recipe. I have been in alternative health for over 40 years and have never cared what anything is called. My only concern, does it work?!
brian says
does it really matter what the name of it is
Angela Romero says
I am making it now and a holistic health coach. I like the name and f those who don’t. It truly doesn’t matter. If it works it works if not then move on.
Madison D says
Reading this thread gave me diabetes
Madison D says
I can’t believe that there are this many people who waste so much of their precious seconds in life to argue over the word “homeopathy.” I was looking for reviews, not politics people. Let the author stand. Ignorant was once a word that only meant “lacking knowledge” until a number of ignorant people used the word to describe someone who is rude and the was added to every dictionary definition for informal use. Bottom line is get over yourselves, it’s a name of a recipe that is meant for good health. I guarantee all of the people who don’t care what the actual definition of homeopathy means STILL learned something to benefit their health despite whether or not the title is, by definition, correct.
Great recipe!
Rebecca says
HA! Thanks, Madison.