Master Tonic Recipe, a Miracle for the Winter Cold and Cough

Master Tonic (now commonly known as Fire Cider) is an age-old remedy for fighting winter colds. Not only can it kick a cold fast, it can also help with strep, and be used as a preventative measure and immune booster with daily use. The reason is because its ingredients are known to be antiviral, antibacterial, and great for immune health. It’s so simple to make in your own kitchen, and you will want to have it on hand all year round!

This web site is provided for educational and informational purposes only and does not constitute providing medical advice or professional services.

Ingredients

There are many different recipes available on the internet for Master Tonic, and any combination of these ingredients is sure to be efficacious. The basic remedy is as follows:

Garlic

Onion

Hot peppers (jalapeño, serrano, or whatever you can find)

Ginger

Horseradish

Citrus (orange, lemon, lime)

Apple cider vinegar

Additionally, some people will add herbs such as oregano or rosemary, as well as another immune-boosting root: turmeric.

The Process

It’s really quite simple to make Master Tonic. Give all the fresh ingredients a rough chop and place them in a jar. A rough chop means the final product won’t be as spicy as if you finely dice the ingredients. I typically will fill two half gallon mason jars per batch. Then cover them with apple cider vinegar and give the jar a shake. Be sure to label the lid with the name of the product, the date you made it, and the date you need to strain it. Place the jar in a cool, dark place for at least two weeks (or a month or more if you’d like), remembering to come shake it once a day. At the end of two weeks, strain the liquid through a cheesecloth, paper towel, or coffee filter. This liquid then can be bottled and used just as is. Alternatively, some people will add raw honey to this tincture to improve the flavor. It is advised to keep it in a dark bottle, such as the amber or cobalt bottles you can get at a health store. I like to recycle amber bottles that I buy from a store that contained Fire Cider, Vanilla Extract, or a number of other products, that way I don’t have to purchase them when I need them.

How to Use Master Tonic

Master Tonic can be taken once daily for immune health. There is no absolute dose amount you should take; typically we say “a shot,” but that can vary. I typically take a lesser amount through the spring and summer (maybe about a Tablespoon), and a larger amount in the winter (maybe 2 Tablespoons). If we feel an illness coming on, we take the larger amount 3 times daily. This is really just eyeballing it in a shot glass, so don’t overthink it.

How Does it Taste?

A note on the heat level: it’s spicy for sure, but it does get better! The first time can be very hard, but you get used to it the more you take it. Anecdotally, we had two children who tolerated it quite well from the beginning, admitting that it was hot but that it didn’t seem nearly as bad the more they took it. Then we had a child who almost gagged on it, eyes burning and coughing after. He was very sick so he needed it badly, but didn’t want to take it. After some convincing, he took it, and the first couple times were bad, but after that he was able to tolerate it without hardly a grimace. By the next day he was significantly better and wished he hadn’t waited so long to take it. The taste of Master Tonic was worth it to not be sick as a dog!