Cold and flu season is here as we slow down into the coolness and stillness of Autumn, away from the fiery energetics of Summer. Which means it's time for medicine making! I love to kick off the season with a homemade fire cider. Grab your pantry tools and let's get crafting!

What is a Fire Cider?

Fire cider is a folk remedy for supporting the immune system and fighting colds and flus, using a variety of warming and stimulating herbs and spices infused in apple cider vinegar and honey for up to 4 weeks. Incorporating hot, sour, sweet, pungent and spicy flavours, fire ciders may help improve blood circulation, respiration, digestion, lymphatic stagnation, among other properties depending on what you are infusing in the fire cider.

You can take this preparation daily throughout Autumn and Winter to support your immunity, or a shot of fire cider once symptoms of cold or flu come up.

You can also incorporate fire cider into your food recipes, such as soups, salads and stir fried dishes.

Benefits of Fire Cider

• warms the body during cold and flu season
• improves blood circulation and lymphatic stagnation
• supports the immune system, digestive system and respiratory system

What's in a Fire Cider?

There is no rule to creating a fire cider. You can experiment with whatever you have available! Some ingredients (but not limiting to) include:

• horseradish
• garlic
• onion
• ginger
• lemon
• orange
• hot peppers
• turmeric
• cayenne pepper
• oregano
• thyme
• rosemary
• black pepper
• rosehips
• hawthorn berries
• calendula
• sage
• cleavers
• nettle
• pine needles