In Honor of A Name 
On January 25th of 2014 the words "Fire Cider" was the start of eye's opening in the Herbal Community. Now, if your not an Herbalist or someone who just see's a Modern Doctor, you may not know of "Fire Cider" (a vinegar based tonic, digestive aid, something to just get things moving and generally used in winter seasons), but I hope I can share a little story about it and how crazy things are with it right now.
As you may know in my previous blogs, I am a "City Girl" and over the years I have adventured into knowledge about herbs, growing them, wildcrafting and even learning how to make "Traditional Medicine" with them. I'm not your typical Herbalist nor a purist at heart, but I do love to make things in the traditional way every now and then. Well, because of an individual has decided that a traditional recipe is theirs by Trademarking the name "Fire Cider", controlling it from the rest of the people. I have decided to join in with the Herbal Community, but it comes with my own humble opinion.
I don't know who started "Fire Cider", but in the Herbal Community, Rosemary Gladstar is the one who started it 20 or more years ago. She freely gave out this recipe so everyone could make it at home and/or add in what ever they wanted, to create their own recipe. She teaches us to add what we may need energetically, just like you would Chicken Noodle Soup. If you need more flavor..add more flavor. If you need less flavor...don't add to much of something. She had no intention of owning it nor Trademarking it either. Here is the link to a video she made with Learningherbs.com for everyone. Click Here
There are some things in this world that are for the people, by the people and may come from something beyond you or me to help us along the way of life. Those things are to be respected and never labeled as if we are the sole creator of it. They are like a gift to the people and its that gift that shall not be owned, but freely spread out like LOVE. Those things are like Chicken Noodle Soup, Ketchup, Mustard, Pizza, Pasta, Guns, Cars, Planes,..etc..and yes, Fire Cider.
There is a paper trail battle right this very minute of trying to get the trademark revoked so the people can once again have the rights to make "Fire Cider" like their family Chicken Noodle Soup. So, until then we stand, keep making it and spread the word until its FREE!
But, then... What happens if it doesn't get changed? What happens if the trademark remains and stays, does the "Herbalist Community" change, like life finds away?
There isn't an answer now, so time will tell....
The stand is we make our own "Fire Cider" recipe and give it out freely, Well, I don't have a family recipe nor have I ever made it, but this whole event has inspired me to look within to form a family recipe.
I was taught when making "Traditional Medicines" that my intention is very important part of making the medicine, like you are sprinkling with love. So, I am sharing the making of my recipe like a spell of opening my heart and sprinkling it with love.
My mother and I didn't get along at all, like...at all. We clashed like fire and wind fighting for existence. The very notion that I would get a family recipe from her was even more hopeless. The very thought of family anything has brought me to a place of remembering her and how things were. A place of a lot of tears and to a another place that gets me past a Dark-Vader mind to finding a place in my heart for her.
So, with that said I am making this recipe with a little bit of her and my respect of her as my mother. But, I also have some other people that mean so much to me, so I am putting a little bit of them in the recipe too. This is my way of sending out love to those who I clash with and let them know I may not always agree with you, but I do have the ability to "Love" in a special way. So, my "Fire Cider" is a tonic, but it also made with love and Japanese twist.
Indu's Fire Cider Recipe
Ingredients:
60oz Jar with plastic lid or 1 quart jar
(use plastic wrap to protect the metal lid, metal and vinegar don't like touching each other)
32oz or 1 quart of Apple Cider Vinegar (I use Bragg)
1 cup Horseradish root grated
1 cup Ginger root grated
2 heads of Garlic chopped finely
1 chopped red onion
1 chopped yellow onion
1 TBS Turmeric
1/4 tsp Cayenne
1/4 tsp Wasabi ( a little bit of my Mom)
Directions:
Place all the ingredients in the jar and cover with the Apple Cider Vinegar. Cover tightly and store for a month in a cool dark place. (I am storing mine in the refrigerator)
Once the vinegar is done extracting the goodies from the ingredients, use a cheese cloth to strain into a clean jar.
Store in the refrigerator
What To Do With It
You can make a salad dressing out of it, with a good olive oil or balsamic oil.
You can just take it like a shot.
If you would like to follow the "Fire Cider" event Click Here!
Namaste
Indu
