Fire Cider

Oct 7

2 min read

Fire cider is a spicy immune tonic

Tonic: used to restore, tone, and invigorate systems in the body. A tonic promotes general health and well-being.

History of Fire Cider

In the 70s Rosemary Gladstar coined the term during a teaching at the California School of Herbal Studies, but versions have been used for centuries. Many herbal formulations echo throughout time.

Her goal was to make an immune tonic to counteract the dark, cold, damp winters. The remedy would include the brightest and spiciest ingredients to burn a fire into the cold stagnation of winter, dry up stubborn coughs and congestion, improve circulation, energize the body, and support the immune system.

Students gathered around chopping onions, garlic, horseradish, spicy peppers, and fresh herbs. They filled their jars with the simple but healing ingredients and topped with apple cider vinegar. This creation would sit for weeks. Extracting all the medicine from the garden harvest, after straining, honey was added to balance the tonic, adding a soothing and moistening effect to the end product.

Part of what made this remedy so perfect was that anyone could make a version and have access to this medicine. It was affordable, simple, customizable, and powerful. The knowledge could be passed on throughout the years and more people could have the ability to heal themselves and others. It's a wonderful introduction to herbal medicine making….

Until a small company saw the opportunity to make money, and trademarked the name (2012). This went against the very heart of herbal medicine. It shouldn't be a movement inspired by profits and gatekeeping. Many people were already selling their versions of fire cider and sharing with their local communities. This had started a massive controversy. The herbal community protested and through a huge legal battle, eventually won the case and the term is free to be used by anyone again.