Hagar (Honey and Cider Vinegar)
Honey and cider vinegar combined with just boiled water is normally called ‘Honeygar’ and a mighty fine thing it is. This potion is not only a lovely brew (an acquired taste) it also has great health properties and cures many ailments. Both Hippocrates and the ancient Egyptians are said to have appreciated the healing properties of cider vinegar. It has also been used as an anti-aging elixir, which is always popular!
Good cider vinegar is a completely natural product and is normally made by allowing crushed apples to ferment in oak barrels. It has cleansing and disinfecting properties which self detoxify the body and it is a powerful cleansing agent and healing elixir with naturally occurring antibiotic and antiseptic that fights germs and bacteria. Honey (unprocessed) is normally added to make the drink more palatable.
Cider Vinegar also helps to keep the body nicely alkaline. Vinegar is obviously acid but when broken down in the stomach becomes alkaline. An alkaline body fights germs and disease better and helps to ward off ailments such as bladder and kidney conditions, osteoporosis, aching muscles, low energy and chronic fatigue, and slow digestion.
Raw fruits, leafy green vegetables, tea and legumes are examples of alkaline foods. Interestingly a foods actual pH is not a good indicator of a food that has acidic effects on the body, for example, lemons and limes when processed by the body actually have a very alkaline effect. All animal products are acid forming, even if they have a alkaline pH prior to digestion. The ideal ratio of alkaline to acid foods in a diet id 70/30. High stress levels can also effect the amount of acid produced in the body. For more on getting alkaline see here.
Cider vinegar is especially good at treating arthritis and with the British national health service restricting the access to arthritis treatments, many people are looking for alternative methods of treatment. There have been many articles recently in the press verifying these healing effects.
Lillies on the windowsill (nothing to do with Cider Vinegar, but lovely non-the-less)
Sir Ranulph Fiennes, the famous explorer and endurance chap, suffered with arthritis in his hand and hip and turned to drinking honeygar. He says “Without it I wouldn’t be able to have done all the things I have done…it has completely kept my arthritis at bay.”
Honeygar is best drank regularly and can take a while to kick in, so stick with it. It also must be combined with a low acid diet, that means no nasty foods high in sugar, nothing processed (factory food) and alcohol. If you have stiff muscles and joints, try taking regular hot baths with epsom salts.
I have a hip that clicks and a dodgy neck, which are probably old injures from when I was young and used to do terrible things to my body, all in the name of sports. I have started to drink honeygar and will keep you posted on the progress of my dodgy bits.
I think the message is, get off those awful painkillers and other drugs if you can and try something different. There is enough evidence out there to suggest that honeygar and a huge number of other alternative remedies actually work. This is not always backed up by medical tests, but who needs that when it works!
When buying cider vinegar, check that it contains the ‘mother’ and is organic. This ensures that it is completely natural, the good stuff, and has not been distilled. The distillation process kills of the powerful enzymes and minerals like potassium, phosphorus, sodium, magnesium, sulphur, iron copper, fluorine, silicon, pectin and natural malic and tartaric acids, which are important in fighting body toxins and inhibiting bacteria growth.
‘Hagar’ Recipe
Add 2 tbs cider vinegar and top up with freshly boiled water, add honey to taste (1 tbs is normally good for us)
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I’ve done the apple cider tonic a lot but mostly avoided the honey just because my body doesn’t do even natural sugars well quite often…but I think as a treat on occasion I will add honey…
I just bought a delightful raw honey that needs trying.
It does have an effect on my wellbeing. I feel great after a good Honeygar. The honey we get is always natural and local and I think raw. We are lucky to have great hives! Hope the honey goes well. Peace and Happiness, leex
I am passing this along to my mom, who has arthritis. I am excited at the potential power of this! Thank you, as always for finding the good stuff!
I hope it gives a little relief. Sometimes, you just have to think it will work and it works! It has helped many people all over the planet and I hope your Mom is one. Have good times, leex
I drink cider vinegar in cold water regularly and I can’t say enough goid things abiut it.
We’ll have to give cold a try. I love it with honey, it really perks me up. Happiness, lee
I have back pain from an old competitive dance-related injury, I’m intrigued! How does it taste out of curiosity? I already drink hot water with lemon in the morning, I wonder if I could add lemon to this and get it all in one go!
It taste like hot vinegar! But with a little honey, well, I like it…. I am in no way qualified to dish out health advice, but I think it will help your back. Especially if you think it will help. Happiness, lee
At the risk of asking an icky question….when you call it a “powerful cleanser” is it something I should not start on before going away for the day tomorrow? Thanks
It should be fine, but I’m no expert on these matters. Maybe just start with one teaspoon per cup and build up from there, we wouldn’t want any accidents! Happy days, lee
Ha ha. Thanks!
I have harped on the benefits of this potion for years. When I was pregnant I came down with a dreadful flue. While everyone around me were hitting the pills I stuck with the hot water, vinegar and honey but I also add a little lemon juice. I got over it faster and was able to stay on my feet. All hail the mighty Apple Cider ! Plus it also helps with phlem build up in the system, sore throats, blocked sinus, chest congestion. The list is endless. Thanks for this post it is terrific.
Hooray for cider vinegar! It really works, that’s the thing. Ive read some negative reports from doctors writing it off as another ‘alternative’ placebo thing, but that’s nonsense. So many people find it helps with ailments. The science may not be there, but the effects are! Happy days, lee
In my experience I have come to the conclusion that Doctors tend to be pill pushers for the drug industry. ho hum. So of course they wouldn’t like it. I go to the old “granny” remedies when I can.
Hey here’s another “not so known” use for vinegar: High temps can be dropped by at least 10 degrees within 5 -15 mins by applying brown vinegar in tepid water via a face cloth to the skin. Start at the soles of the feet and work up. Concentrate it behind the knees, under arms, back of neck. Most temp is lost at these points – especially the feet. I’ve brought babies back from convulsions using this method. Doctors and nurses do not recognise it of course, it’s an old granny trick. It works because the vinegar evaporates on the skin which in turn reduces its temperature. Cheers Lorelle
This is all brilliant stuff, thank you very much for sharing. I hope never to have to use this info, but it could be priceless! There are so many ‘old school’ remedies that actually work, we just lost sight of them or opt for buying something, normally to make life a little easier (we got lazy along the way). Brilliant to have your energy here. Peace and light, leex
Apple cider vinegar story:
I was trying to clear up a UTI that got out of hand during a holiday. Going to the doctor wasn’t really an option for a few days, so I started taking 2 teaspoons of the vinegar twice a day. This continued for about 4 days, at which point the UTI was gone, and so was my very, very entrenched smoking habit. On day 4, I woke up, did my usual groggy morning stumble around and then went outside for a cigarette. It tasted absolutely disgusting and I have not smoked since. It was like I just forgot I smoked. No word of a lie.
In short…this stuff is, in my opinion, amazing. Thanks for the honey idea. I was just drinking the stuff straight. 8-/
This is a really heartening story. This vinedar stuff is magic! So many people are feeling the effects. Have fine times, lee
I came to Honegar via a weight loss site, which advocated a 30ml dose of apple cider vinegar twice a day to help calories burn OFF instead of being laid down as fat.
I found Honegar to be much more palatable than straight vinegar, but i’m not certain about the effect of the honey—after all it IS sugar, and high in calories (I’m trying to stick below 1200 a day).
I’d be pleased to hear any comments about its use in weight loss.
Thanks, Abigail, Age 72, London, UK
Hello Abigail, I’m not sure about the weight loss elements of this drink, but there are many other health benefits. Honey is full of good sugar, but we all need a little sweetness in our lives! All the best, lee
My grandmother used to swear by honeygar and lived to 91.. I came across some cider vinegar in a health shop and thought I would give it a try. But What do you mean by ‘mother’ – and say something about distillation process inhibiting various healthgiving properties – but surely all vinegar is distilled. I am a bit confused – please explain.
Distillation tends to kill some bad things and some good things, like flavour and in this case the essential mother. I don’t know the exact science, that is definitely not my strong point, but trust me that it only works with the mother. You should be able to find some of the good stuff in a health food shop et al. Great to hear your Grandmother lived a long life and used honeygar. Hope this helps, lee and janex
Native Americans use honey and vinegar for healing. 1/3 white vinegar to 2/3 honey will take away pain and swelling. Wrapped with white cloth. I like your recipe. It would work. Vinegar and honey are powerful medicine for the body.
Thanks John, great to know that native americans are using this remedy. Happy days!
Hello! I’ve been circling around cider vinegar as a tonic ever since making an orange/apricot chutney with it. And I now have some organic bee honey from my daughter’s hives. The bees are on my “prayer” list…what would we do without their work? Great way to keep them in mind. Thanks for the encouragement and for following my blog!