Herbal Vinegars
Herbal vinegars are an unstoppable combination: they marry the healing properties of
apple cider vinegar with the nutritional genius of plants—the mineral and antioxidantrich, health-protective green herbs and wild roots. The best vinegar to use is Raw
apple cider vinegar, it must be unpasteurised as pasteurisation destroys the health
benefits.
Apple cider vinegar has been used as a health-giving agent for
centuries. Hippocrates, father of medicine, is said to have used only two remedies:
honey and apple cider vinegar. Some of the many benefits of apple cider vinegar
include: better digestion, reduction of cholesterol, improvements in blood pressure,
prevention/care of osteoporosis, normalization of thyroid/metabolic functioning,
possible reduction of cancer risk, and lessening of wrinkles and grey hair.
Raw Cider Vinegar is unique in its ability to draw minerals out of plants. The
addition of vinegar to cooked greens magnifies the minerals available to our bodies.
And the addition of mineral-rich medicinal vinegar to our diet magnifies health by
making high-quality minerals available.
Vinegars Seek Minerals
Minerals are important for the health and proper functioning of our bones, our heart
and blood vessels, our nerves, our brain (especially memory), our immune system,
and our hormonal glands. One of the best ways to get more minerals—besides
drinking nourishing herbal infusions and eating well-cooked leafy greens—is to use
herbal vinegars.
Vinegar and Your Bones
Adding vinegar to your food helps build bones because it frees up minerals from the
vegetables you eat and increases the ability of the stomach to digest minerals. Adding
a splash of vinegar to cooked greens is a classic trick of old ladies who want to be
spry and flexible when they're ancient old ladies In fact, a spoonful of vinegar on
your broccoli or kale or dandelion greens increases the calcium you get by one-third.
All by itself, apple cider vinegar is said to help build bones; when enriched with
minerals from herbs, it is probably better than calcium pills.
Minerals in Some Herbs Used As Medicinal Vinegars

Peppermint: calcium (1620 mg), manganese (6.1), magnesium (661 mg),
phosphorus (772 mg), potassium (2260 mg), and selenium (1.1 mg)

Garden thyme: calcium (1350 mg), chromium (2.0 mg), iron (147 mg),
magnesium (436 mg), manganese (6.4 mg), selenium (1.6 mg), silicon (20.2
mg), and zinc (1.5 mg)

Yellow dock root: calcium (1000 mg), magnesium (320 mg), phosphorus
(757), potassium (1220 mg), selenium (2.5), and silicon (1.3 mg)

Garden sage: calcium (1080 mg), chromium (0.3 mg), magnesium (285 mg),
manganese (3.0), potassium (2470 mg), silicon (3.1 mg), and zinc (5.9 mg)

Burdock root: calcium (733 mg), chromium (2.0 mg), iron (147 mg),
magnesium (537 mg), manganese (537), phosphorus (437 mg), potassium
(1680 mg), selenium (1.4 mg), silicon (22.5 mg), and zinc (2.2 mg)

Dandelion root: calcium (614 mg), chromium (0.9 mg), iron (96 mg),
magnesium (157 mg), manganese (6.8), phosphorus ( 362), potassium (1200
mg), selenium (0.86 mg), silicon (4.7 mg), and zinc (1.3 mg)
Ref – Susan Weed (http://www.susunweed.com/herbal_ezine.htm)
T0 make a Herbal Vinegar
Whichever herb you choose, the procedure for making it is similar. Fresh or dried
herbs can be used.
1. Remove large stems and woody bits from the herbs and pack into a glass jar
with a plastic lid.
2. Cover with cider vinegar
3. Leave for 2 to 6 weeks in a warm dark place, shake as often as possible
4. Strain into clean sterilised bottles
USES
Vinegars made with culinary herbs such as basil, oregano, rosemary, dill, garlic,
thyme, and sage add flavour to salad dressings, soups, and sauces.
Hair rinses – Rosemary (to condition and strengthen the hair), sage (darkens the
hair), parsley (for dandruff) chamomile (lightens the hair), lavender (smells lovely) ,
birch leaves (strengthen the hair), nettle (shine and condition especially for dry hair)
and many others all add shine in the final rinse and no need to use conditioner.
Skin toner- Chamomile or lavender herbal vinegar makes a time-honored, antiseptic
toner dabbed on, useful for acne, open pores etc.
Hot Flushes Vinegar
Sage and Motherwort leaves. Take a few drops on the tongue at the onset of a flush.
Gargle for sore throat
275ml of cider vinegar
100g honey
25g sage leaves
15g Self Heal - grows in lawns and has a purple flower spike)
Head and Sinus Mix - (you don’t have to swallow just gargle!)
20g Sage (Salvia officinalis)
20g Parsley (Petroselinum crispum)
20g elderflowers (Sambucus nigra)
20g Plantain (Plantago lanceolata) leaves
1 tbsp Cayenne pepper
½ tsp nutmeg
10 cloves
400ml vinegar
Anti Plague Mix
Legend has it that in France during the Great Plague, four thieves (or prisoners
burying the plague dead depending on your story) created a herbal vinegar to protect
themselves from the disease. Used today, it is a powerful antiviral and bacteria mix
great to take during the winter to ward of colds and flu.
1 litre cider vinegar
2 tsps crushed garlic
1 tsp each of cloves, nutmeg and cinnamon
2 tsp dried rosemary, peppermint and sage
You can also use this as a general disinfectant in the home, as it is safe for children
and pets.
Athletes foot vinegar – Fresh crushed garlic and marigold flowers
Thyme vinegar internally for bladder or chest infections
Rosemary vinegar externally on tired fatigued or swollen muscles, internally for a
stimulating effect
Raspberry fruit vinegar for sore throats
Healthy Bone Vinegar
Nettle (Urtica dioica) and Comfrey (Symphytum officinale) to cider vinegar plus a
crushed clean egg shell. Take a dessert spoonful every evening (as bone growth
happens overnight).
The following herbs will also be full of minerals. Parsley, plantain, raspberry, red
clover, kale, dandelion, mugwort, chickweed, burdock root
Cleaning and as an household disinfectant. For cleaning you can use white vinegar.
Vinegar (herbal or straight) makes a good antiseptic or disinfectant that will kill
nearly all bacteria and most molds and viruses.
Thyme vinegar, cleans and disinfects you can add a few drops of essential oil of
Thyme to increase its power