I was looking for creative ways to take cinnamon. I heard it lowers blood sugar. Along with fenugreek. (I thought I heard some place sage does too. Maybe not, or maybe not as well I now think.) But about month ago I found a recipe for switchel. It's basically an infusion of ginger and vinegar in water, usually sweetened. Some say it originated in New England. Anyways, none of that is important. My version, which I've been having daily now since I found the recipe, is about ⅓ cup of hot tap water in a glass mug with a handle (which I now use for health-related drinks). Then I steep in a teaspoon of cinnamon, fenugreek, turmeric, ginger and (now less often, like I said) sage. Then I add the same amount, usually a ⅓ cup, of apple cider vinegar. And fill up the mug with warm tap water. It tastes pretty good. I don't know about the health benefits anymore. Most my doctors say it's a good idea. But one recently told me it has never been proven those herbs or spices have any medical benefit. At least not really, or for sure. He also told me he only heard of vinegar being applied directly to the feet for fungal infections. I've simplified my making of it a lot too. I no longer use raw apple cider vinegar. That is expensive sometimes, and probably unnecessary. And I make a big jug of those herbs infused in water. Then I wait a day and start using it, added to the vinegar. A ⅓ cup of vinegar comes up to the part of the glass mug where the handle is attached at the bottom. So I don't have to measure anymore. And I read online that an infusion of spices in water like that should keep pretty well. I usually drink it all up in a couple of days. And like I said, I like the way it tastes too. Also, I usually add a pinch of salt. I've heard that brings out the chemicals and essential oils in the spices. And, I heard turmeric and ginger are good for joints and for neuropathy. But I'll have to look that up.
