Garlic Oxymel

Now that Autumn is upon us I thought I'd share a home remedy for those pesky colds, coughs, and flus. This recipe is for an oxymel syrup, which is basically just honey and vinegar. It's very tasty, easy to get the kiddos to take*, and very effective. The trick for max results with this remedy is timing. As soon as you feel like you are going to be sick, at that first sneeze, itchy throat, or achy evening take 2 tablespoons of oxymel every few hours. Mix one teaspoon into a shotglass of water and gargle it, too! You can continue to take it as and IF the cold persists. This honey syrup will keep for three months in the fridge and for a couple or a small family this should last the season.

I prepared and completed this recipe, from James Green’s The Herbal Medicine Maker’s Handbook in a total of about one hour and fifteen minutes.

Garlic Oxymel by the Late Dr. John Christopher

8 oz. apple cider vinegar
¼ oz. caraway seeds (Carum carvi), crushed
¼ oz. fennel seeds (Foeniculum vulgare), crushed
1 ½ oz. garlic (Allium sativum), fresh pressed
10 oz. honey

Measure apple cider vinegar into glass pot, add caraway and fennel seeds. Bring to a boil and let simmer for 15 minutes. Remove from heat, add garlic. Let sit until cool. Press and strain the liquid. Add honey. Place onto low heat and simmer to the consistency of syrup.

The beauty of a remedy like this one is that it is food-derived. A goal of Nu Era Botanicals' is to bridge the gap people feel between what they eat and what they use to heal. Garlic is a powerful antibacterial, and while many love the flavor in their spaghetti, the fresh juice is very pungent, spicy, and not so appealing. As such, it is a prime example of how food can be medicine, especially when paired with honey and vinegar. Both of which are expectorants--they help cough up all the mucous that causes congestion and runniness.

I encourage you to experiment with oxymels! A basic oxymel is simply honey and vinegar in a 5:1 ratio, though you can adjust to taste. Often water is added, too. If you're like many, you already have honey and vinegar, so make it as you need it. Just these two ingredients are enough to produce results, and they happen to be a great carrier for herbs like garlic and ginger because of their pleasant taste.

I am proud to announce that this remedy will be included in the Nu Era Cold/Flu Kit which will be available soon for purchase. Please check back soon under the Apothecary link for details!

*Remember, children under 1 year of age do not apply, as they can't digest bee enzymes. Babies are sweet enough without the honey!

Herbal Oils

Medicine Making

Solarly Infused Calendula Coconut Oil

The sun is getting strong enough, here in the Valley of the Sun, for some excellent solar infusions. In James Green's "Medicine Maker's Handbook," he recommends letting the oil stay outside, in a paper bag, for 7-10 days. Now, I am going to amend this to 2 days, out of caution. After all, it is May. I don't want to risk the oil going rancid. I will be checking it daily and giving it a little shake to see how it develops, so it is possible that I'll let it stay out longer. The idea is to not let the oil get above 115-120 degrees F. When you do this at home, keep in mind what that means to you, where you live. If you live in a sun-rich environment where it is likely to get to 120 degrees inside the paper bag, set it in the shade, or on a windowsill. Remember to shake it and monitor the temperature every day!

To prepare the oil for infusion:

• Grind the herb into a fine powder and place in a clean jar. I chose Calendula officinalis. This orange-petaled flower is commonly known as Marigold.

• Next, pour oil enough to cover the powder by a 1/2 inch. Stir this mixture then set it aside for several hours. If the oil has soaked into the powder, replace it with more. After 24 hours, measure to make sure that there is at least 1/4 inch of oil on the top or bottom of the mixture.

• Next, cap the jar tightly and place in a paper bag or cardboard box. Set outside and the warmth of the sun will soon warm the mixture. Do not allow light to hit the oil directly.

It is very important to shake or stir the mixture every day. Be aware of the weather and don't forget that the oil is out there!

This batch is heading outside for a few days and I will post again when it is finished with details about purchasing!

Marta Orozco, Herbalist