Winter is here in earnest, several weeks early compared to its usual arrival here in Middle Tennessee, and the resulting wild weather swings can leave us vulnerable to picking up colds, flu and other bugs as we go about our daily lives, particularly when we travel.
One solution is to make this simple but highly effective immune boosting elixir, which combines raw, unfiltered organic local honey, organic unpasteurized apple cider vinegar, and raw organic garlic.
Once you have it on hand, use it daily or at the onset of symptoms to ward off colds, flu and other potential illnesses. It can also be used to lessen the severity and/or duration of many illnesses if you are already feeling ill.
All three ingredients have long been used on their own, by cultures all across the globe, for their antibiotic, antiviral and health-protecting properties. Combined, they seem to work synergistically, having even greater effectiveness combined than they do on their own.
Honey and apple cider vinegar have been combined by people for generations to improve health. I was introduced to the combination by a friend of my dad's in the 1970s, who used it during her frequent travels to Mexico, and she never became ill, despite drinking the local water regularly. She attributed her continued good heath, when those around her regularly became ill, to her habit of adding honey and apple cider vinegar to the water before she drank it.
With added garlic, the combination is likely to be even more effective, as garlic has long been known for its antiviral and antimicrobial effects.
Ingredients:
1 cup raw, local honey, preferably organic;
1 cup apple cider vinegar, organic and unpasteurized, with the Mother;
16 cloves of fresh organic garlic, peeled.
Place all ingredients into a blender, and process until the garlic is minced so finely as to almost be indiscernible. Pour into a glass bottle, cap tightly, and shake vigorously a few times a day for the next five days.
Once made, it is considered best to keep this in the refrigerator, although I have kept it successfully for months in my kitchen without refrigeration, as our house tends to be cool during the winter months.
Especially in the beginning, you can even keep it on the back of the stove, as the added warmth will help the ingredients to blend more fully, increasing their effectiveness.
In a pinch, especially if already feeling as though you may be getting ill, you can begin using it right away.
I strongly recommend placing two teaspoonsful into a small glass of water, and drink it all, swirling it in the glass or stirring it to make certain that you drink all the garlic. Some people find it too strong when undiluted, especially if it has had no time to age, and can even become nauseous if they are already ill and drink it undiluted.
Once it has aged for a minimum of five days, the flavors have had time to mellow, and it is much less harsh, not to mention far better tasting. Kept cool and tightly capped, this elixir can be kept on hand for months without spoiling, and is great to keep on hand year round.
If desired, add the juice of 1/2 an organic lemon for an even stronger immune boost, along with delicious taste, but it is not strictly necessary. The elixir is effective without the lemon. Some people prefer to add it to fruit or vegetable juice, rather than water, which works just as well. I personally enjoy adding it to my home-brewed kombucha.
This is a great way to start your digestive juices flowing first thing in the morning, and also makes a great nightcap shortly before bedtime, though remember to brush your teeth afterward, due to the vinegar and honey.
This elixir can also be added to vinaigrette salad dressings for a tasty boost, or can be added to soups or other dishes right before serving. Too hot a temperature will kill the beneficial bacteria and enzymes, and reduce its immune-boosting effectiveness, so allow the food to cool a bit first, and never add it to food that is still cooking.
WARNING: Although this elixir is perfectly fine for use with young children, including toddlers; because it contains honey, it is NOT appropriate for use in infants under 1 year in age.
Always err on the side of caution when it comes to the health of your children. Please contact your health practitioner if you have any questions.
Please note that this is an updated version of an article I wrote for Examiner.com a couple of years ago. Any red flags for plagiarism will undoubtedly be referring back to that article, also written by me.