Medicinal Herbal Vinegars

Medicinal herbal vinegars have been made for hundreds of years. Vinegar is a wonderful medium for extracting the medicinal qualities of herbs. Vinegar is more acidic than alcohol or water, so it is the best way of extracting minerals from herbs. Minerals are important for  our health. They support the bones, heart and blood vessels as well as the hormonal, nervous, and immune systems. Lack of minerals can lead to chronic health problems. Introducing more minerals into our body can begin improving our health in just a few weeks.

                                                                                  

Making your own medicinal herbal vinegars is simple and gratifying.  Make them for yourself or as gifts for your family.  I keep an assortment of glass bottles around to store my herbal vinegars in. If you are new to herbal vinegars, here are a few herbs you may want to consider making your medicinal vinegars with

 

• Nettle Vinegar~ Benefits the kidneys and adrenals. It is loaded with iron, calcium, protein and magnesium. It is a very beneficial anti-inflammatory ( you can purchase dried nettle on our website click on the word nettle to go there)
• Dandelion Vinegar~ Has an anti-inflammatory effect on the intestines. It has traditionally been used for ailments of the pancreas and liver and is believed to ease jaundice and cirrhosis. Dandelion is also a diuretic and rich in potassium.
• Sage Vinegar~ Can be used as a mild tranquilizer for nervous conditions.
• Peppermint Vinegar ~ Helps settle the stomach and calms the digestive system. Place 2 teaspoons of peppermint vinegar to a cup of water to ease stomach cramps, diarrhea, or gas. If you add a teaspoon of honey you'll find that it's helps with indigestion. 
• Rosemary Vinegar ~ Will boost the memory and relieves tension, headaches, and dizziness.
• Lavender Vinegar ~ Is useful for fighting off anxiety attacks.
• Thyme Vinegar ~ Can be applied externally to the body to deter fungus growth.
• Clove Vinegar ~ Is great for stopping vomiting. This remedy dates to China over 2000 years. It is also considered to be an aphrodisiac.

                                         

How to make Medicinal Herbal Vinegar:

1. Tightly pack a jar full of fresh herbs or 1/3 full of dried herb

2. Fill the jar to the top with raw, organic apple cider vinegar.

3. Line the top with waxed paper or plastic wrap to prevent rust if your jar has a metal lid. Let it brew on your countertop, out of direct sun, and add vinegar as needed to keep the plants covered.

4. After 3 to 6 weeks, strain out the plant material and use on your salads and in marinades for an extra boost of minerals.

How to use your medicinal vinegars:

• Medicinally place 1 to 3 teaspoons in a glass of water and drink it daily
• Use them in salad dressings.           
• Add them to cooked greens
• Season stir-frys with them.          
• Look for soups that are vinegar friendly, like borscht.        
• Substitute herbal vinegar for plain vinegar in any recipe.     
• Put a big spoonful in a glass of water and drink it. Try it sweetened with blackstrap molasses for a mineral jolt. This is a great "coffee substitute" and helps prevents and eases arthritic pains.