Vinegars + Oxymels

Herbal vinegars and oxymels are vinegar-based herbal preparations with a variety of uses!

What are Herbal Vinegars?

Herbal Vinegars are herbal preparations using vinegar as the solvent to extract plant constituents. Vinegar is less potent than alcohol, but particularly excellent for extracting minerals from plants. Apple cider vinegar (ACV) is typically used for it’s many health qualities (more on this later), but other vinegars can be used depending on the intended use. Dried herbs are best to prevent dilution of the acetic acid in the vinegar. They can be combined with alcohol extraction to increase extraction of plant constituents & increase the shelf life, which is approximately six months (refrigeration will preserve vinegars for about one year).

Herbal vinegars are typically used as culinary additives to salads, marinades, soups, etc., but they can also be used for body care like skin toners and hair rinses. I have never made an herbal vinegar for body care usage, but it does sound like a neat way to use the preparation! The book, Herbal Vinegar, is an excellent resource to help you think creatively about ways to use herbal vinegars if you are looking for some inspiration! Culinary herbs that enhance flavor are great ones to consider for herbal vinegars – garlic, rosemary, dill, basil, chives, etc.

Types of Vinegar

For my personal use, Apple Cider Vinegar (with the mother) is my preferred choice for herbal vinegars (and oxymels). It is a powerful wellness ally because it is antibacterial, antiseptic, and antimicrobial. It also is a great immune system booster. ACV helps balance blood sugar, increases satiety, aids in weight loss, reduces belly fat, as well as lowers BMI, visceral fat, waist circumference, and triglycerides (with daily consumption of 1-2 tbsp). Diluted in water, ACV can help to relieve heartburn (use cautiously as it can exacerbate heartburn or GERD in some and should not be used in people with stomach ulcers). It can even relieve the pain of sunburn (mix equal parts ACV and water in spray bottle).

Note that ACV should be diluted in water if consuming it alone, as it can erode tooth enamel and burn the esophagus.

I do not have experience with other types of vinegar, but ones to consider are rice vinegar, champagne vinegar, red wine vinegar, or white vinegar.

Preparing Herbal Vinegars

Making herbal vinegars using the folk method is super simple because it requires no measurements. I like to use a quart jar to give myself some room to work.

• Fill a quart jar with about 1 cup of dried herbal material
• Cover with approximately 2 cups of your choice of vinegar
• Stir to make sure all herbal material is coated and there are no air bubbles
• Cap with a plastic cover (I really like these leak-proof tops)
• Sit to steep in a cool dark place for up to a month (aim for 2-4 weeks, with longer producing a stronger flavor)
• Strain using cheese cloth and/or a coffee filter to make sure all herbal material is removed
• Bottle and label, then refrigerate and use as needed

What are Herbal Oxymels?

Oxymels are an herbal vinegar with the added ingredient of raw honey! Not only are they delicious, they have the added health benefit of raw honey. I love using raw honey with herbs because they pair so well together. Oxymels are an herbal preparation I really enjoy making and using (especially in the fall) because there are so many options. The shelf life for refrigerated herbal oxymels is about 6 months for fresh herb/veggie material, and about one year for dried herbs.

Preparing Herbal Oxymels

Preparing herbal oxymels is fairly similar to making vinegars. Using the folk method again makes oxymels easy and forgiving. A larger jar gives more space to work, which I prefer.

• Fill a quart jar with approximately 1 cup of herb material (I use dried or fresh, depending on what I’m making)
• Add about 1.5 cups of vinegar and 1.5 cups of raw honey (you are looking for a 1:3 ratio of herbal material to vinegar/honey)
• Mix to combine, making sure all herbal material is coated and there are no air bubbles
• Cap with a plastic cover (I really like these leak-proof tops)
• Sit to steep in a cool dark place for 2-4 weeks
• Strain using cheese cloth and/or a coffee filter to make sure all herbal material is removed
• Bottle and label, then refrigerate and use as needed

Fire Ciders as Oxymels

Made popular by the well-known herbalist, Rosemary Gladstar, Fire Cider is a spicy herbal oxymel made from ACV, garlic, onions, peppers, and other various pungent herbs, vegetables, or fruits, mixed with raw honey to make it more palatable. A daily “shot” of fire cider is an herbal tonic known to support immunity, healthy digestion, and overall wellness. As with herbal vinegars and oxymels, herbs, vegetables, and fruits are steeped in ACV for 2-4 weeks, then strained, with raw honey added to taste afterward. There are many fire cider recipes – I highly suggest using Rosemary Gladstar’s book,, Fire Cider, as a resource. I really like the Sparrow Farm Fire Cider recipe from her book, which I am linking below.

Usage, Dosage, Safety

Herbal Vinegars are amazing culinary additives that can be used in culinary doses.

Oxymels are often taken as a daily “shot” tonic at approximately one tablespoon per day for adults, although it can certainly be mixed into drinks and sipped on throughout the day. For acute illness support, take multiple times throughout the day, up to three tablespoons daily.

Safety: Children older than 12 months can take oxymels and fire cider, but dosaging should be based on Clark’s or Young’s Rule. It also may make sense to dilute it with water or juice. Safety in pregnancy and nursing is debated, so proceed with caution.

References

Herbal Academy. (2022, October 7). Troubleshooting fire cider: Answering your questions. https://theherbalacademy.com/blog/troubleshooting-fire-cider/

Onacki, D. (2014b, October 6). Making herbal vinegars. Herbal Academy. https://theherbalacademy.com/blog/making-herbal-vinegars/

Saba, H. (2018, September 28). How to make an Oxymel. Herbal Academy. https://theherbalacademy.com/blog/how-to-make-an-oxymel/