Honey and herbs are a deeply harmonious pairing.
In fact, honey has been used as a medium for delivering the medicinal properties of herbs for thousands of years; it was known in ancient Chinese and Ayurvedic medicine that herbs were more effectively transported into the body when mixed with raw honey, and it is a practice that continues to be used in herbal traditions across the world to this day. Even modern scientific studies continue to confirm the potency of this ancient pairing, showing that the blending of raw honey and herbs together serves to create a synergistic effect that amplifies the properties of the herbal compounds being used, allowing smaller amounts of herb to achieve a greater potency and treat imbalances in the body with greater effect. Cool, right?
In modern Western herbalism, the blending of raw honey together with herbs and vinegar constitutes a medicinal preparation known as an oxymel. Oxymels are particularly known for their effectiveness in addressing immune and respiratory issues such a coughs, colds and excessive mucus, and can be made using a wide variety of herbs depending upon the issue being addressed.
Besides their potency, another wonderful thing about oxymels and other herb-and-honey combinations is that they taste delicious, and when it comes to creating food-as-medicine recipes, they are wonderful allies to have around.
Today, we thought we would share one such recipe, which uses an oxymel as the base of a deliciously sweet and aromatic salad dressing, perfect for the late summer and early fall season. With the addition of thyme, which is a decongestant, antitussive and expectorant herb, as well as being a calming digestive aid, it is a wonderful ally for the fall allergy and respiratory cold season, and a tasty food-as-medicine topping for any salad.
Enjoy!
Honey-Thyme Oxymel Vinaigrette
Ingredients
1/4 cup raw honey
1/2 cup apple cider vinegar
2 tbsp. thyme leaves, fresh or dried
1 cup extra-virgin olive oil
+ a pinch of pink himalayan salt & freshly ground black pepper Combine honey, apple cider vinegar and thyme leaves in a small jar and stir or shake to combine. Add olive oil, as well as the salt and pepper, and stir to mix well before using.
@ beewellapiary
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