Winter is a time we need extra TLC, and supporting ourselves with the right tonic or two can help. But they can also be helpful at other times of the year.
Citrus Tonic
This is very beneficial in the winter months. It’s important to use organic produce for this, as you will be extracting all the properties of the citrus skins into your tonic. That would include any pesticides, which you want to avoid.
If you use these fruits regularly, you can store the skins in the freezer till you have enough to make a batch. Or you can buy fresh when you want to make it, and use the flesh and juice for other things.
- Take the rinds only (not the pith or flesh) of 2-3 organic grapefruit and 2-3 organic lemons
- Chop them roughly into pieces and put into a medium sized pot, one that has a lid
- Cover with about 3 inches of water, cover the pan and simmer for 3 hours
- Let cool completely before taking the lid off. This is because a lot of the aromatic extracts are in the steam, and we want to wait till they have settled back into the liquid.
- Store in a glass bottle in the fridge. Or freeze in ice cube trays or half cup container.
- Take a couple of teaspoons twice a day, or up to 2 Tablespoons if you’re sick.
- You can also dehydrate the mixture to make therapeutic fruit leathers.
- Optional extra – if you’re using fruit bought fresh, and will be refrigerating or freezing, you can juice the flesh and add it the mix, for some extra vitamin C. Adjust the dose to allow for that. Don’t dehydrate this mix as you will lose a lot of the vitamin C.
Ginger Shots
Most of you will be familiar with the idea of a hot lemon & honey, or ginger, lemon & honey tea, as a comforting and soothing drink when you feel a cold or sore throat coming on. These are generally made by steeping ginger to make a tisane (tea) before adding honey and lemon juice. See our Hot Alternatives to Tea & Coffee post for more information about tisanes, and other warming winter drinks.
Ginger shots are a more concentrated tonic. They are made from blended up ginger, so more of a juice. Typically they might be taken in small amounts, once a day, on an empty stomach. Shots are not for everyone, so please read this article first. It lists the potential benefits, but at the bottom of the post, also lists the potential risks. These shots are not something to take all the time – just when you feel the need.
One more important note, since you are juicing / blending, and concentrating the nutrients, use organic produce if you possibly can.
- Basic ginger shot – just ginger and lemon, though some options included. (Same article as above)
- Another fairly simple ginger shot recipe – this includes just ginger, lemon, honey and black pepper
- Dr Axe’s ginger shots – with ginger, lemon, turmeric, cayenne, apple cider vinegar, and coconut water
- Ginger, lemon and apple shot – blitz them up and squeeze out the juice.
- Three variations of lemon ginger shots – with carrot / or spinach / or apple. (If you go for the spinach, remember that spinach contains oxalates, so only have occasionally.)
More tonics
Some of the below tonics might also be more suitable for occasionla use than every day.
- Gut healthy morning tonic – Coconut water, lemon juice, honey or maple Syrup, grated or ground ginger, ground turmeric & black pepper. Sounds more dilute than a ginger shot.
- Apple cider vinegar (ACV) tonic – for improved digestion
- Immune Boosting tonic – aka Fire Cider – with onion, garlic, ginger, lemon and orange.
- Fire Cider – horseradish, ginger, garlic, onions, turmeric root, and hot peppers soaked in apple cider vinegar for 3 to 4 weeks, then finished with honey
- Bieler’s Vegetable Broth – a therapeutic soup for detoxing, healing and restoring acid-alkali balance(vegan)
- 17 Anti-Inflammatory Drinks
Recipe posts compiled by Deb.
For more recipes, go to the Recipe Index page
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