Fire cider is a spicy, medicinal herbal vinegar that is typically sweetened with honey and used by many cultures throughout the world.

Fire cider helps to wake up the circulatory system or boost the immune system. Fire cider can also be taken to ward off illness such as a cold or respiratory infection by lessening sinus congestion by thinning the mucus and stimulating its excretion. Taking fire cider daily throughout the Winter can improve blood circulation and increase warm energy internally. Of note, fire cider, with all it’s spicy ingredients, can aggravate heartburn, peptic ulcers and gastrointestinal inflammation. It can also be too heating on a long term basis for people with fiery constitutions.

I enjoy making fire cider at the first sign of Autumn. Usually, I will make my fire cider on the first new moon of the season or on the Autumn Equinox at the very latest. Fire Cider has to sit for 4-6 weeks, so making it in September assures me that I will have it available for the Winter.

Fire Cider is a big part of my wellness routine in late Autumn and throughout Winter. I take it every day for about 3-4 months (end of October through February) to help ward off illness and promote healthy circulation. I highly recommend this medicinal, herbal vinegar to anyone looking to stay well throughout Winter (and dare I mention “flu season”).

I make my fire cider using a recipe from the Herbal Medicine Making Course I took through the Chestnut School of Herbal Medicine. For a recipe and more information on fire cider please click here.