Warm chilled bones with fire honey

The Cultivating Wellness column explores natural health through the use of food and herbal healing. You can expect to find recipes that support full-body health from the inside out.

During the cold winter months on the Prairies, we know the power of a good cup of tea or bowl of soup, chili or stew to warm us down to the bones.

Traditionally, many of the ingredients and methods of cooking this time of year served exactly that purpose.

A recipe that I’ve come to love as a cold season support is “fire honey,” a sweeter spin on the more commonly known “fire cider,” which pairs apple cider vinegar with onions and other spices to make a heavy hitting dose of immune and circulatory support.

Fire honey takes the heat of fire cider and adds the benefits of honey to the mix. I’ve found this a really great remedy for the “I feel like I’m starting to come down with something” sensation that comes along with dips in temperature and the rotating seasonal colds and flus.

The spices in fire honey have long histories of being used to combat colds, flus, viruses and beyond. They are all known anti-inflammatories and immune system supports. They also stimulate healthy digestion while easing winter tension and joint aches.

Cayenne is renowned for supporting the cardiovascular system and healthy circulation on top of its benefits for inflammation, pain, stagnation, metabolism and digestion.

For those who struggle with cold extremities, ginger is known to bring warmth to the lower body and support the movement of energy and circulation throughout.

Cinnamon has similar properties, supporting circulation, stimulating metabolic health and energy.

Fire Honey

• 1 cup unpasteurized honey
• 1 tsp. ground cinnamon
• 1 tsp. ground ginger
• 1 tsp. ground black pepper
• 1 tsp. cayenne
• 1 tsp. turmeric

Mix spices and take daily or often with teas.

You can also add warm water with some lemon juice for an easy, digestive tea or enjoy on its own as a small spoonful to ease sore throats.

Store in the fridge for up to a few months.

All the herbs in fire honey are stimulating and warming which makes them a wonderful pairing to honey’s soothing nature.

Turmeric holds all the above properties and is also popular for its anti-inflammatory benefits. Likewise with black pepper, which is one of our most socially common digestive stimulants.

When adding regular use of spices such as these to your diet it is important to consult your health care practitioners, especially if you’re on medications that serve specific roles. For example, people on blood thinners, managing diabetes or cardiovascular complaints may need to monitor how larger doses of these spices affect them.

People in early pregnancy are advised to use caution and forgo this recipe.

This article does not constitute medical advice and is offered simply as inspiration for using your spice cabinet in the fall and winter.