Support Your Immune System with a Homemade Naturopathic Oxymel
Have you heard of an oxymel? ⠀ ⠀
An oxymel is something you can make in your own home which can help strengthen your immunity 😃⠀ ⠀
Oxymel’s are a very traditional naturopathic way of extracting and preserving immune strengthening qualities of herbs and spices with the use of vinegar and/or honey. The ingredients for this one are really easy to collect or you might already have them in your kitchen.
In this one I’ve used the vinegar as the preservative which makes it more adaptable in cooking and dishes. Ie. I’ve been using it as a base for salad dressing and in stir fries. It is best to let it mature (macerate) in the fridge for at least two weeks (or 4 weeks with no heat applied). But if you’re like me and starts using it straight away maybe make two batches 😂 One batch for now and one batch for a couple of weeks time 👌🏼
And the good news is with so many people in self isolation now we won’t smell the 🧄 on your breath!
Ingredients:⠀
1 whole bulb of garlic ⠀
about double the amount of fresh ginger⠀
2 teaspoons of fennel seeds⠀
1 teaspoon of cayenne powder⠀
1 cup of Apple cider vinegar (or any vinegar with the mother fermentation in it)⠀
honey (organic is best). ⠀
a slice of lemon 🍋 ⠀ ⠀
Why are these ingredients so good together?
Garlic. Does it really need an introduction? There are so many good actions to garlic! Probably the most renowned is it’s ability to support immunity. It does this by releasing a compound called allinin when crushed which helps the immune system to fight off bacteria and other microbes in our gut. Once it passes into our blood stream we detox it out through our lungs which gives the allinin a chance to exert their bacteria killing ways on our airways as we exhale. Hence garlic breath, but also why it’s so good for respiratory illnesses like coughs, colds & flu, and now hopefully covid-19. Plus garlic is also an astringent to our sinuses, in other words it’s a snot blocker. Yep, it stops the production of mucous, or at least cuts it down.
Ginger. In the herbal world ginger is known to be warming increasing circulation and also what we call a carminative, which essentially helps to relax muscles along the digestive tract and aids digestion. This also helps to relieve and/or calm down the tendency that many guts have to make increase flatulence after garlic. In other words it will help relieve a case of the farts!
Fennel. Fennel much like ginger is a carminative, helps combat microbes alongside the garlic, has anti-inflammatory actions along the GI tract as well and helps stimulate appetite via the hormone grehlin. Often when we have contracted a virus our appetite reduces and digestion slows down, which means less nutrients getting in and digestion properly so the body can fight off whatever has attacked it. Plus fennel gives a nice flavour.
Cayenne pepper. Cayenne is part of the pepper family and has a heating effect like chilli but doesn’t burn through the digestive tract. Often when we’re coming down with a virus and getting a fever it is beneficial to help the body in increasing circulation and maintaining warmth. Cayenne does this really well. Cayenne also does exert actions to support and stimulate digestion too.
Apple Cider Vinegar. This is a type of acid that when ingested helps the stomachs acidity level to increase which is imperative for digestion food. Often when we have a virus or aren’t feeling well the stomach acid isn’t producing as effectively, thus reducing the nutrient availability to our immune system to utilise properly.
Honey. Especially lovely organic fresh honey has been shown to have many immune supportive compounds, plus it’s syrupy nature is nice and soothing to balance the acidity of the apple cider vinegar on a sore throat. And it’s yummy.
Lemon. Yes there is some vitamin C in lemon, however when applied to heat there’s not much left. But the sour flavour activates the vagus nerve from our mouth which tells our digestive organs that there’s food coming and to prepare ie. make stomach acid and other digestive juices, so they’re ready and waiting to break down food for us.
Method:⠀
Peel and chop garlic cloves. Place into a mixer.⠀
Peel the ginger root and chop doesn’t to size of garlic cloves and place into the mixer with the garlic.⠀
Add the Apple cider vinegar and mix to it’s all minced together. ⠀
Add the cayenne and the fennel seeds and mix in.⠀
Some honey can be added here, but you can also add it at the end when serving as a drink.
Place in small saucepan and heat in very low temperature until it’s at a very low simmer for 2-3 minutes and then take off to cool. ⠀
Place in a jar and keep in the fridge.⠀ ⠀
You can also add other ingredients: for example previously I’ve added two whole mandarins and minced them up, I recommend to add them after heating to preserve the vitamin C. If you have access to elderberries or elderberry syrup that would be yummy and can also help against viruses such as colds and flus. Or fresh tumeric is a great addition too.
How to have as a daily immune boosting drink:⠀
Boil water.⠀
Add a teaspoon of your oxymel mix to a glass. ⠀
Add a good teaspoon of honey.
Add some boiled water and mix.⠀
Can also add a squeeze of lemon juice to taste.⠀
Sip 😊⠀ ⠀
To help strengthen your immune system having this twice a day before breakfast and dinner is great 👍🏼 If you’re feeling like you have any symptoms of cold, flu or even covid-19 you can have this 3-4 x daily or as often as you like 😉
Take control of your immune health today, make an appointment with me for an online naturopathic consult and kinesiology balance.
Daily Immune Support Drink you can make in your own kitchen
Sip as tea, use as salad dressings or add to cooking.