Spring Vinegar Tonic
This medicinal vinegar helps activate and stimulate your digestion, which in turn will effectively eliminate toxins and winter’s sluggishness. I enjoy preparing this vinegar in February so that I can start consuming at the start of the Spring Equinox.
This spring vinegar tonic supports your solar plexus to rise and glow powerfully ~ so perfect as your body prepares to enter spring, when you feel ready to bloom into the world.
Infused with the leaves of nettle, horsetail, dandelion and burdock root, this vinegar will flood you with nutrients and antioxidants, tone your internal organs, cleanse your urinary tract, stimulate and protect your liver, relieve sluggish bowels, give your lustrous hair, rebuild your life force, AND MORE.
Herbal Benefits
Nettles contains vitamins A, C and K, as well as several B vitamins, minerals: calcium, iron,
magnesium, phosphorus, potassium and sodium. Is rich in healthy fats, and has all the essential amino acids that support muscle growth, repair, and healthy neurotransmitter production. Very high in antioxidants and reduces inflammation, protects your liver from damage, sheds excess water and salt from your body. i.e. water bloat begone, and tones all your organs! - i.e. nettles nourishes and rebuilds the life force of the organ.
Burdock contains inulin, a natural dietary fiber, that feeds your good gut bacteria. Burdock root is one of the herbs for estrogen dominance that works as a diuretic, helping to get rid of any excess estrogen in your body via your body's natural elimination process. Burdock stimulates bile production, helping the liver flush away toxins with more speed and ease. And is deeply grounding and nourishing to your spirit and nervous system.
Dandelion Leaf supports the detoxification and cleansing of the digestive tract, especially from the effects of overconsumption of fatty foods, coffee and prescription medicines. As a “bitter tonic”, dandelion stimulates digestion and acts as a mild laxative by softening stools, thus aiding in constipation. Dandelion also restores hydration along with electrolyte balance.
Horsetail is a graceful aging herb! Rich in the mineral silica (which contains collagen), horsetail becomes beneficial for strong lustrous hair, glowing skin, strong nails, and healthy joints. Horsetail also protects against urinary tract infections, edema, joint diseases, hair loss, brittle nails, skin health, and diabetes.
SPRING TONIC VINEGAR
Ingredients
¼ cup dry organic nettle leaf
¼ cup dry organic horsetail
½ cup organic dandelion leaf
1/4 cup burdock root
Raw Apple Cider Vinegar (with the ‘mother’)
Quart Jar
Method
Call in the energies of your new plant allies.
Light some blessing smoke like sage or palo santo to clear the energy and invite the spirits of your medicinal herbs. Set an intention of what you would like to receive.
Add your herbs to your 32 oz quart jar. Fill the jar to the top with raw apple cider vinegar.
Place your hands over your medicinal concoction and thank them for their healing medicine.
Place a plastic cap on tightly OR place a sheet of parchment paper between the jar and the metal lid. Shake vigorously. Label your jar with your ingredients and the date. It's really easy to forget what's inside, so labeling is key. Place in a dark, dry place and shake daily. After a month, strain herbs through a muslin cloth into a clean quart jar or over a large bowl, squeeze out the herbs to get every last drop.
**I recommend using a plastic cap as it will be less reactive with the vinegar than the usual metal caps, which can cause them to rust. Parchment paper works great to avoid this!
References:
https://www.indigo-herbs.co.uk/natural-health-guide/benefits/dandelion
https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/stinging-nettle#TOC_TITLE_HDR_8
https://draxe.com/nutrition/dandelion-tea/