It’s hot and sunny, the birds are singing, campfires are roaring and smores are toasted. It’s so hard to think about winter and it’s accompanying ailments this time of year, but this is exactly when you need to start building your own herbal apothecary for the impending cold and flu season.
I was never taught about oxymels in school. My teacher was fairly tincture biased and while they are still my go-to for my clients, I love exploring new ways of preserving and enjoying herbs. I honestly cannot believe I’ve never made an oxymel up until this point but it will be a regular occurrence in my herbal medicine cabinet for sure.
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So What Is An Oxymel?
I’m so very glad you asked! Beneficial for respiratory conditions, oxymels are one of the oldest form of herbal remedies used. The term oxymel comes from the Latin word oxymeli which means “acid and honey”. Traditionally this method of herbal preparation was often used for herbs that were not palatable by themselves as both honey and apple cider vinegar are quite delicious (especially combined).
The use of an acid (my preferred is apple cider vinegar) and honey makes this a very easy remedy to take as well; you can use it as a salad dressing, take it on its own, or add it to hot water to make warm beverage. In fact when you are feeling under the weather, hot tea/water is perfect for soothing an irritated throat and loosening mucus.
Why Hyssop?
There is an endless list of herbs that can be used in oxymels:
- elderberries
- elecampane
- garlic
- hyssop
- mullein
- sage
- thyme
- oregano
- rosemary
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Each of these herbs would be excellent for a cold/flu herbal remedy but today we will focus on hyssop.
Hyssopus officinalis is an excellent expectorant helping to both thin and loosen mucus, as well as cough it up out of the lungs (expectorate). It’s a respiratory antispasmodic making it perfect for folks with asthma or spasmodic cough conditions (like bronchitis, pneumonia etc.). It’s also an antiviral and a febrifuge (which means it helps lower fevers). Hyssop’s stimulating and warming nature combined with it’s anticatarrhal properties also make it a great remedy for congestion in the sinuses as well (including sinus infections).
There are no contraindications for hyssop except pregnancy which makes it a good remedy for the entire family. Combine this herb with the stimulating actions of apple cider vinegar and the soothing effects of honey, I predict it will become a regular member of my winter herbal medicine kit.
Originally from the Mediterranean regions of the planet, hyssop has naturalized here and is very easy to grow. I highly recommend adding a few plants to your gardens! If not you can find dried Hyssopus at Mountain Rose Herbs.
How to Make an Oxymel
What You’ll Need
- Hyssop – either freshly harvested or dried
- Honey – preferably local and raw
- Apple cider vinegar – preferably organic and with the mother if you can get it
- Jar with lid
- Either a plastic lid or use a sheet of waxed paper in between the lid and the jar
Instructions
- If you are using fresh herbs roughly chop them using a good knife or a mezzaluna
- Fill your jar with your Hyssop
- Almost full if you are using fresh and 1/2 full if you are using dried
- Pour honey into your jar filling about 1/3 full
- Top off with apple cider vinegar
- Seal and label in a cool and dark location
- If all you have is a metal lid you will want to line it with wax or parchment paper because the acid will cause the metal lid to corrode.
This remedy will be ready in about 2-3 weeks. When you are ready to use it simple strain out the herbs and enjoy. Your hyssop oxymel will keep for 9-12 months in the fridge. Once you find yourself ill you will want to take small doses frequently. An example would be 1-2 tsp every few hours.
Check Out the Video!
Enjoy and until next time!
P.S. Please pin for future reference and to share the herbal love 😉
This is the right web site for anyone who really
wants to find out about this topic. You know so much its almost hard to argue with you (not
that I really will need to…HaHa). You certainly put a new spin on a subject
that has been discussed for decades. Excellent stuff, just excellent!
Your words are far too kind! Although I have been studying herbs for a long time I still feel I have so much more to learn. But thank you for your kindness 🙂
Thank you so much for this video!! I didn’t even know that it was hyssop I had growing all along my creek until I just watched this. I’m still not sure if it is try hyssop or anise hyssop, but would both have the same sort of benefits? Also, a completely amateur question here, as I am just now hoping to get into incorporating natural remedies into my cabinet, but what do you do with it after it’s all mixed? Just let it sit until you are ready to use? And then how, and how much and how often would you use it? Just trying to figure out how much I should make for my family of 6. Thank you so much for sharing your knowledge so freely with the rest of us 🙂 You have definitely inspired me to branch out and use the land more for the health of my family. Blessings to you!! (your old “neighbor”)
Hi Niki!!
There is less medicinal information on Anise Hyssop, but I’ve made both (in oxymel form) and found them both useful and helpful. The Anise Hyssop would have a strong anise (black licorice) flavour/smell. That will help you figure out which you have!
You want to let it sit ideally for 4 weeks. Then strain out the herbs and store in the fridge. Take by the tsp full as needed (coughs, chest congestion etc) up to 5 times daily.
I would probably make a couple of litres personally, but that would depend on how often you get sick! We make one litre for our family each year.
Good luck!!