Natural Medicine Editorial: How to Make Herbal Oxymels (Beginner Friendly Recipe)

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###### This week, @walkerland writes about herbal oxymels, a perfect natural medicine for beginners. It's the sort of recipe that makes it easy to add more plant medicine into your life because oxymels are versatile and tasty!

Oxymels are infusions of herbs steeped in raw honey and apple cider vinegar. They are an easy and effective way to support the immune and respiratory systems. You'll find records of this traditional folk medicine dating back centuries, even Hippocrates was a fan. > You will find the drink, called oxymel, often very useful….for it promotes expectoration and freedom of breathing! ~ Hippocrates, 400 B.C.E. Using ingredients that you can find in a pantry, you can conveniently incorporate these healthy herbal tonics into everyday food and drink. I've got a shelf lined with oxmels, each containing seasonal ingredients including herbs, fruits, roots, and even edible flowers. We use them to make salad dressing, marinades, to flavor drinks and the first signs of a cold, I take them by the spoonful. > The most famous oxymel recipe in modern history is [Rosemary Gladstar's Fire Cider Recipe](http://freefirecider.com/rosemarys-story/).

## Key Oxymel Ingredients #### Raw apple cider vinegar Apple cider vinegar aids in digestion contains antioxidants and can help support immune function. It also draws out vitamins & minerals more effectively than alcohol making it the ideal base for a mineral-rich herbal ingredient. #### Raw Honey Raw honey is anti-bacterial, anti-oxidant, and anti-inflammatory, making it soothing to sore throats and respiratory irritations. It is also chock full of vitamins, and minerals. #### Herbs Common culinary herbs such as basil, thyme, and oregano are an excellent choice because they are often readily available. Garlic, ginger, and turmeric are great culinary/medicinal roots. There are also several common medicinal herbs that you can safely explore including: - Elderberry (Sambucus nigra, Adoxaceae) - Rose (Rosa spp., Rosaceae) - Common Blue Violet (Viola sororia, V. odorata, and select other species, Violaceae) - Brambleberries, Blackberries & Raspberries (Rubus spp., Rosaceae) - Chickweed (Stellaria media, Caryophyllaceae) - Dandelion (Taraxacum officinale, Asteraceae) - Nettles (Urtica dioica, Urticaceae)

# The Oxymel Recipe There really isn't any wrong or right way to make an oxymel which leaves a lot of room for creativity. You can adjust the quantities of herbs, honey, and vinegar to suit your tastes. ## Ingredients - Your choice of herbs - Raw apple cider vinegar - Raw, unprocessed honey ## Directions - In a clean, dry glass jar, place enough dried herb to fill 1/3 of the way full. - Fill the jar a bit less than halfway with vinegar and top up with honey. - Attach a plastic lid to the jar and shake well. You can also insert a paper liner between the lid and jar if using metal. Just be sure the lid is tight before shaking. - Store the jar in a cool, dark place and shake once per day. - Allow the mixture to infuse for 2-6 weeks (the longer, the stronger). - Strain the mixture and store it in a glass jar. Keep out of direct sunlight. Have fun and good health to you!

### About The Author @walkerland is co-founder and writer for [Walkerland](https://www.walkerland.ca/), a homesteading and self sufficiency website written to provide knowledge and inspiration to others who are interested in living a more self sufficient, healthy lifestyle. You can find her online: [Steemit](https://steempeak.com/@walkerland/) | [Homesteaders Co-op](https://homesteaderscoop.com/store/walkerland-mercantile/)| [Website](https://www.walkerland.ca/)

#### References Herbal Recipes for Vibrant Health: 175 Teas, Tonics, Oils, Salves, Tinctures, and Other Natural Remedies for the Entire Family https://chestnutherbs.com/best-wild-foods-for-beginning-foragers/ Hippocrates. (400 B.C.E.). On regimen in acute diseases. Retrieved from http://classics.mit.edu/Hippocrates/acutedis.html. https://theherbalacademy.com/how-to-make-an-oxymel/ ### Disclosure Information offered on the Natural Medicine Blog is for educational purposes only. We make neither medical claim, nor intends to diagnose or treat medical conditions. Links to external sites are for informational purposes only. Natural Medicine neither endorses them nor is in any way responsible for their content. Readers must do their own research concerning the safety and usage of any herbs or supplements.

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Originally posted here: https://steemit.com/naturalmedicine/@naturalmedicine/natural-medicine-editorial-how-to-make-herbal-oxymels-beginner-friendly-recipe