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When someone you love is going through a difficult season, it’s not always easy to know how to help. Putting together a thoughtful DIY chemo kit cancer care package for women is one thoughtful way to show support.
This simple homemade drink is one of the first things I like to include — a small, comforting addition that feels personal and made with care.
Why a Chemo Kit Cancer Care Package is Important
A chemo kit cancer care package can include items that provide comfort and practical support during treatment.
Last year when I was going through a low dose trial of chemo meds for lupus, I found something that really helped with my nausea. Through time I adapted the recipe to where the moment anyone in our family is sick to their stomach, THIS is what they crave. My very special Chemo Moonshine. I have had friends use this for pregnancy nausea relief and it’s good for just everyday upset tummies too! Including it in your chemo kit cancer care package can truly be a lifesaver.
**First and foremost, this DOES NOT CONTAIN ALCOHOL! It was just a cute name I made up to make my friend laugh.
I am far from being a recipe blogger so please bear with me and know you can play with the amounts below to adjust to your taste. I like mine more cinnamony than gingery so I sometimes sprinkle in finely ground cinnamon.
Recipe for Chemo Moonshine: A Natural Nausea Remedy
Ingredients:
- Apple Cider- 1 gallon, non-concentrated *do NOT use vinegar!
- 1 cup Honey or Agave Nectar (I like to use Manuka honey for its healing properties)
- 5 Cinnamon Sticks
- Whole Cloves, about 2 tablespoons
- 1-2 inches Fresh Ginger Root (peeled and chopped or sliced thinly)
- 1 tablespoon Ground Ginger
- 2-3 Star Anise
Directions:
I make mine in a 32 qt stock pot. Pour the gallon of juice in the pot. Add the ground ginger, cinnamon sticks, star anise, whole cloves and fresh ginger in the pot with the stove turned to medium heat. Let it boil and then reduce the heat and let it steep covered for about 10 minutes. Turn off the heat and let it continue steeping while covered for another hour.
Add the honey (or agave) and let steep uncovered over low heat for another hour. Strain using the straining insert in the pot. Pour into mason jars using a wide mouth jelly strainer.
I use the 1/2 gallon jars because I think they look great as gifts.
This tastes great either heated just a little to sip warm like you would cider or tea OR over ice chips just a few sips at a time. You can freeze this into smaller jars but if you freeze it in glass make sure and leave a few inches of headroom and leave the tops off while it almost freezes. Place them on before it completely freezes.
For the label: I called it Chemo Moonshine because it was a fun way to present the gift. It brings a laugh and something fun into the something as serious as not being able to keep anything down.
Feel free to copy, save and print it. Or have AI make your own.
This particular friend, Lori, is fighting breast cancer and I hope this small comfort may make her journey just a little bit easier.
*Edit: sadly Lori has passed. May she rest in peace. In her memory I updated this post because I know she would want to share something that made her journey a little easier with others going through this. I made this several times for her through the years as she always asked for it.
Let me know if you try this, what changes you make, and more importantly any stories of it helping someone!