Healing Tonic

About a month ago...

I got super sick and just could not figure out how to get better. I was ready to try anything! I have also been struggling with my allergies so I constantly have a tickle in my throat and a stuffed up nose. I found this recipe that suggested turmeric. I had never consciously eaten turmeric. I didn't even know where to buy it. Oddly, my husband had just bought some powdered turmeric to make chili or curry or something. I found a recipe for a healing tonic and decided to give it a try. The ingredient combination made me very confused but again, I was desperate. I tried it and it actually was delicious and so soothing. I have since updated the recipe to add some health benefits and I LOVE it.

Turmeric 

Turmeric is a natural anti-inflammatory It also has the potential to prevent heart disease, Alzheimer’s and cancer.

Black Pepper

It is hard for your body to absorb the benefits of turmeric (or curcumin, the main benefit of turmeric). Black pepper enhances the absorption of curcumin and has a myriad of other health benefits you can read about here.

Ginger

Ginger is my favorite natural anti-nausea remedy but it also has benefits for your muscles and can reduce soreness. This is super important when you have the flu and feel like you've been hit by a train.It can help with menstrual pain, indigestion and may even help prevent cancer and Alzheimer's.

Lemon

I've heard for years that drinking lemon water is good for you but honestly I don't like the taste and acidity.

Apple Cider Vinegar (ACV)

I LOVE apple cider vinegar. I use it for cleaning and a variety of health recipes. A camp favorite is the ACV gargle. ACV kills bacteria which makes it great for your sore throat and its SO soothing. It also has a variety of digestion benefits and can help with weight loss.

Honey

Local honey can be amazing for your allergies as it gives you small doses of the nearby pollen. It can also work as a cough suppressant.

So, here is the recipe to my favorite tonic. I have been drinking loads of this stuff recently as a preventative measure and also as a soothing drink when I had a cold. This is the suggested recipe but change things around based on your taste and needs. Tell me what you think and what edits you make in the comments.

Ingredients

4 cups water
1 tablespoon fresh grated ginger (you can also use freeze dried or frozen as long as there are no additives)
1 tablespoon fresh grated turmeric (you can also use it in powder form but I would cut to 2 tsp)
Juice from 1/3 of a lemon
1/4 teaspoon black peppercorns
1 tablespoon raw, unfiltered apple cider vinegar
Honey (to taste)

This recipe is perfect for a tall widemouth Mason Jar (24 oz) but you can adjust to your needs. Add all ingredients to a pot of water and bring to a boil. Let simmer for 5 minutes. Then strain out the ingredients from the liquid. Play around with it until you find a taste you like. You can split it up into smaller jars and keep in the fridge. This recipe lasts me about 4 days. I really love it and drink it most days of the week. I definitely won't take the credit for this. I actually adapted the recipe from a great baking blog, The Minimalist Baker.