The Master Tonic

By now, if you've been following my blog, you know I'm a sucker for cheap home remedies that you can make yourself. I finally got around to making a batch of Master Tonic. I took it when I felt a cold coming on and it stopped it that day! Another reason why I'm now hooked on Master Tonic is that it's safe during pregnancy and breastfeeding! You are so limited in what you can take for your immune system during those times, so this is a fantastic remedy to have on hand! It's just food!

It is quite simple to make Master Tonic, although it is stinky. I think it's well worth it. I made a small batch the first time, just to make sure it would work. Next time I'm going to make a quarts worth. Personally, I gargle and swallow a tablespoon or 2 a day. When I was feeling a sore throat/cold coming on, I took a 2 teaspoons and gargled it and swallowed every hour or so. Gargling helps kill the bacteria lingering in the throat and can also wash down any viruses hanging out there. Your stomach acid can kill viruses, so it's good to get them out of the throat!

You'll want to use equal parts of each ingredient. The only one that might be hard to find would be the horseradish.

1 part garlic cloves
1 part onion
1 part horseradish root
1 part Ginger root
1 part hot peppers like jalapeno
Raw Apple Cider Vinegar (Like Braggs)

Blend in your blender (if you have an awesome blender like a vitamix) or grate each ingredient and dump into a jar. You can't really grate peppers, so finely chop them. Pour apple cider vinegar in until it fully covers the ingredients. Put on the lid and shake. Shake every day as often as you think to for 3 weeks. Strain the mixture through an unbleached coffee filter. Take it as needed or once a day as preventative!
Garlic is anti-bacterial, anti-parasitic, anti-fungal and anti-viral. It also has a host of other benefits for the heart like lowering cholesterol and blood pressure.
Onion has very similar characteristics as garlic.
Horseradish is great for the sinuses, making this incredible for sinus infections!
Ginger is fantastic for circulation, nausea, digestion, inflammation and the list goes on.
Peppers help with circulation and also kill bacteria lingering in the throat when you gargle with them.

This tonic is also great for kids if they'll take it. You could leave the peppers out if you think they'd take it without the heat. My kids will take it as is. They think it's a game to get to gargle it.

Cheers to Master Tonic. Word of caution, don't kiss your spouse right after taking it:)