Apple and Pear Elixirs from “The Garden Apothecary”

Did you know that the saying, An Apple a Day keeps The Doctor Away, is based on an old Welsh saying? According to a recent book, The Garden Apothecary by Christine Iverson, in the 19th Century people would say, “Eat an apple before going to bed and you’ll keep the doctor from earning his bread.”

She includes a recipe for what she calls Elixir No.9 to help boost immune health:

800ml organic apple cider vinegar

50g peeled and grated root ginger

50g peeled and grated fresh horseradish

50g peeled and grated turmeric root

4 large garlic gloves, peeled and grated

2 chillies, seeds included, chopped

2 lemons, zest and juice

½ tsp black peppercorns

She writes:

Pack all the ingredients, apart from the apple cider vinegar, into a clean jar. Slowly pour in the apple cider vinegar, making sure it completely covers the fresh ingredients. Shake well and store in a cool, dark place. Shake the jar weekly for at least four weeks. Strain the elixir through a piece of muslin, then bottle and label your liquid gold, which keeps for well over a year, in a cool, dark place. We take our elixir neat by the tablespoon as soon as we feel a cough or cold coming on.

She also offers an even easier pear recipe as a cold remedy.

Ginger and poached pear

1 pear, quartered and core removed

A large thumb-sized piece of ginger, sliced

200ml water

Cloves and cinnamon, to taste.

She says: “Put all the ingredients in a pan and simmer until the pear is cooked. Eat the poached pear while warm and drink the juice, sweetened with a little honey or maple syrup if needed.”

What I love about both these recipes is that all the ingredients are easily and cheaply available at a supermarket.   

Of course we’re not offering any medical advice here and you should seek advice from a medical doctor if you are not well.