Apple Cider Vinegar for Allergies

| Modified on Feb 28, 2024

Chronic allergy sufferers can attest that finding the right allergy remedy can be difficult. The over-the-counter medications and treatments often seem like an easy choice but they are riddled with associated side effects. In an attempt to find a better option, we began researching natural treatment options in 1999 and came across an old folk remedy for allergies, apple cider vinegar, and we're glad that we did.

The Problem with Common Allergy Medications

While there are a number of over-the-counter and even prescription allergy medication, it seems like they all have the same shortcomings. In a nutshell, one of the major problems with common allergy medications is their cause of chemical reliance ? the more you take them, the more you have to have. These medications also cause a number of potential side effects, including increased heart rate, seizures, headache, nervousness, fatigue, dry mouth.

Apple Cider Vinegar for Allergies

As soon as we found the apple cider vinegar treatment option, we were immediately intrigued. Apple cider vinegar is one of the most widely used natural remedies and is effective for a whole host of treatments.

How apple cider vinegar works:

Apple cider vinegar contains a number of beneficial compounds including acetic and malic acid, vitamin A, vitamin B6, vitamin C, and several others. These nutrients function to balance the body's natural pH to prevent ill-health and to remedy such issues as allergies and other seasonal disorders. The nutrients it contains also boost the immune system and functioning.

How to use apple cider vinegar:

The treatment is as simple as taking 1 to 2 teaspoons a day. If you are like us, though, you won't be able to handle the taste of the straight vinegar, so we make a bit of a tonic to make it easier to take. Mix 1 teaspoon apple cider vinegar and 1 teaspoon of honey in 8 ounces of warm water. Once combined, drink the tonic and repeat morning and evening.

Watch our short video on the subject!

30 Second Cure for Allergies

Which Apple Cider Vinegar is Best?

While the brand of vinegar may differ, you will want to get organic vinegar with the "mother" in it. If you notice a dark cloudy substance in the vinegar, then you have gotten the right stuff as the mother contains all the added nutrients. Braggs is a good brand to look for.

Apple cider vinegar is quite possibly the "cure-all" of the natural medicine world. Its effects are no different on allergies, as it completely eliminated our stuffy noses, itchy eyes, and scratchy throats. Continue reading below for over 70 positive User Reviews from Earth Clinic contributors around the world.

Let us know if you've tried this amazing remedy for allergies!

Related Links:

Apple Cider Vinegar: Uses, Health Benefits and FAQ
Find Relief from Sinus Infections Naturally
Natural Allergy Relief: Top 13 Home Remedies
Quick Sinus Relief: Natural Remedies for Congestion
Relief from Allergy-Induced Sinus Headaches: Natural Remedies




79 User Reviews

5 star (72) 
  91%
4 star (1) 
  1%
3 star (1) 
  1%
1 star (4) 
  5%
(1) 
  1%

Posted by Jay (Melbourne, Australia) on 03/07/2018
★★★★☆

I am trained as a scientist (PhD Psych.) and am skeptical and suspicious of the placebo effect, which is real and can be quite powerful.

Three days ago I was about to book in for my third nasal polyp surgery because I couldn't breathe through my nose for the last few months, due to polyps, chronic sinusitis, diagnosed allergies to dustmite and grasses, and severe adult onset asthma.

Oral steroids, steroid sprays, antihistamines, steroid inhalers and ventolin were all still not managing my infections and inflammation. I'm 37 and over the last two years felt like I was pretty much dying.

Two days ago I heard about research showing acetate (acetic acid in vinegar - any kind) treats asthma in rodents. And I learnt that there is a scientific explanation for this effect, which might prove true for humans too. High fibre diets are crucial for gut bacteria, which lead to 'short chain fatty acids', which in turn moderate inflammation. Vinegar is full of these acids and so it is potentially a medicine which can be clinically effective, not just anecdotally through history etc.

So two days ago I started having 2 tablespoons, three times per day. It seems like a miracle, but I have had a clear sinus, with airflow through both nostrils, for two whole days now. It's amazing how dynamic polyps can be. Furthermore, I have clear or very little infected discharge. And before that I was ready for surgery... I didn't even take my steroid spray today - I can't believe it. Asthma is now under control.

I hope that this effect will continue and become a long term treatment for me, and you too if you are reading this. I only give it 4 stars because it is early days. If this continues to work, I will reclaim my life. The only other thing I would ask for is to reclaim my sense of smell, which has been missing for over a decade.

All the best!

Replied by Lenny
(Dubai, UAE)
08/11/2020

Hi Jay, we have the same situation - allergy asthma, nasal polyps and feels like it is getting worse day by day. I am on asthma medication and taking supplements to help with my allergies like Vit C and Allermax. I am taking apple cider vinegar with honey 1 tbsp 2x a day for a week now but I feel it's not helping.

I was wondering if you are off with your medications now for your asthma and allergies and if your nasal polyps have reduced in size thru the use of ACV?

Thank you for your reply and I wish you well.

Replied by Lenny
(Dubai, Uae)
08/17/2020

Hi Jay, I do have the same condition as yours - allergy, asthma and nasal polyps. I suffer from their symtoms everyday. I am using an inhaler for my asthma and some supplements to help with my allergy. I am also taking apple cider vinegar but only 1 tbsp once per day with 1 tap honey. I am afraid to increase the dosage as it might hurt my stomach. I used to have gastritis several years ago.

How is your condition now? Did the apple cider vinegar completely healded you?

Thanks.

Lenny

Replied by Lynde
(South Africa)
10/03/2020

I am in the same situation with steroids, nasal polyps and asthma. I have recently found that I am also allergic to coconut oil which worsens my asthma. I use about a teaspoon of Apple Cider Vinegar in a bottle of water and have found so much relief for asthma and runny nose.

What I would also like to mention is that nattokinase made a dramatic difference to my polyps and may be worth a try for your polyps as well. The only problem is if you have old operation scars it might affect them which is why I stopped using it. I am now considering using lumbrokinase as it also breaks down fibrin but unlike nattokinase builds it up again where needed.


Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Rakesh (Singapore) on 08/31/2017
★★★★★

Brilliant.

Apple cider vinegar really works for allergies and raw and organic brand is the best by far. Helped me control Sugar and bad throat


Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Gena (Nebraska) on 12/11/2016
★★★★★

I decided to try apple cider vinegar for nasty allergies and sinus congestion I have been having since September. I started to feel better the next day. I am on week two of daily app cider and my allergies are gone plus I feel fantastic with lots of energy. I put about two teaspoons of organic acv in my sports water bottle and sip it throughout the day. I am pre-diabetic so honey is a big no no for me.


Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Marieca (Cambridge, Mn) on 11/21/2016
★★★★★

I have using the apple cider vinegar for my allergies after I stopped getting allergy shots. I no longer wake up with a sore throat from the post nasal drip, and my sinus infections have been less since I started using it.

Replied by Jen
(Los Angeles)
01/20/2017

Why did you stop getting your allergy shots? And how long were you getting them?


Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Mesem (France) on 08/08/2016
★★★★★

Silly I forgot to check out Earth clinic. I've been suffering from irritated eyes and inflammed sinuses for a while. I tried ACV last night and this morning and its true, the change was dramatic! Someone said perhaps my allergies were to do with pH so coming here it seemed obvious to try. I hope this is not a chance coincidence.


Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Wellspruce (Ak) on 08/07/2016
★★★★★

Hi, it's imperative I take a minute to encourage those with allergies~~APPLE CIDER VINEGAR WORKS. At age 65 I've never been allergic to anything to my knowledge. THEN I adopted a male kitten from the pound and oh boy, sneezing, sinus irritation, upper respiratory congestion that would go into infections, itching eyes so on fire and red I couldn't wear makeup. But, I wasn't about to give up my Moses. I was desperate and researched remedies and have used Flonase close to 9 mos and while the steriod worked, a side affect of exhaustion hits me so I rarely used it so I suffered with the cat allergy a lot. Yesterday out of desperation I researched on here and began sipping throughout the day ACV (1T in 2 cups water); I got a small bit of relief during the day but it was so small I was disappointed~~but TODAY, though I had light itching in sinuses and eyes this morning, it didn't accelerate into my usual reactions to the cat. I've continued to sip ACV today and I can say at 3:30 in the afternoon I am without ANY signs of allergy~no itching, no burning in sinuses, eyes, upper respiratory.

Here's hoping YOU are given the gift of being allergy free!


Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Kd (Mumbai, India) on 04/22/2016
★★★★★

Hi....

I really don't know where to begin...but here goes...I have had severe cold allergies for almost 3 to 4 years and nothing worked except allopathy (which I was not too keen on)...However I once stumbled on your site and from then on have treated it like my daily mantra. So my miracle has been APPLE CIDER VINEGAR (with the "mother)!!!

I started taking it about a month and half ago:

1 teaspoon of ACV with 1/4 cup boiled water ( I heat the water in the micro for 30 secs), and use 1 tsps of organic honey. I drink it like green tea, first thing in the morning and at night half hour before my dinner.

My allergies have disappeared!!! My skin is clearer, my indigestion is better and I've even used it (diluted) for a very very severe case of PINK EYE!! (1 drop in each eye every 2 or 3 hours)!!

Its nothing short of a miracle worker and I thank earth clinic for this information!! Now when I have any problem I first check earthclinic and only the consult a doctor!!!

THANK YOU EARTH CLINIC AND APPLE CIDER VINEGAR FOR BEING "MY" MIRACLE!!


Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Konica (New Zealand) on 05/01/2014
★★★★★

I use ACV alongside my traditional hayfever medication of cetirizine and steroidal nasal spray, and this works well, I did try to use it on its own, but I have suffered (and I do not use that term lightly) from hayfever since I was a child, and personally feel that apart from the itchy eyes, scratchy throat and sneezing, it is also responsible for my lethargy, occasional depression and moodiness. None of these remedies work adequately on their own, but the regular ingestion of ACV seems to be what keeps it all under control. I am so thankful for ACV, and recommend it all the time to friends and family.


Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Lovebucket (Florida) on 03/31/2014
★★★★★

I have been suffering from severe sinusitis due to allergies and a slight head cold. I had been on NyQuil, allergy meds, using a netti pot with salt and colloidal silver, and inhaling steam to try and alleviate the terrible sinus pressure for days with no relief. I finally came to this site because it has helped me in the past and read about apple cider vinegar, what a miracle. I drank one 8oz glass of ice cold water with 1 tbsp of organic Apple Cider Vinegar mixed in. Not even five minutes later my sinus passages started to open up and I could breathe with little pressure. As soon as my sinuses opened up I put a couple drops of colloidal up my nose to clean out. I can breath and I feel great, will keep this routine up this allergy season!


Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Mooshka (USA) on 06/26/2013
★★★★★

I get seasonal pollen allergies. It gets pretty bad. I sneeze ten times in a row and my eyes get really itchy. I found ACV as a remedy on earth clinic and I tried it one day when I sneezed a lot. Sure enough, a few hours later my sneezing and runny nose dissipated. Since it has worked so much better than OTC antihistimes, I will continue to use it every summer. ACV is definitely an item everyone should own, since it has so many uses!


Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Tommy (Minneapolis, Mn ,usa) on 03/18/2013
★★★★★

So over that last 5 years I've been dealing with very bad allergies and non stop sinus infections. I've tried Neti Potting everyday , taking allegra and Claritin with no success. I finally read that a large cause of chronic sinusitus is a fungus related issue. Which may explain my constant swimmers ear, which is also fungal related. I read alot about ACV with the "mother".

I decided to try 2 Tbsp of ACV with 1 Tbsp honey. I have done this every day now for about 2 weeks...

Guess what??? Allergies are way less extreme and sinus infection is gone. I wouldn't have believed it but it worked for me!! Thanks everybody on this site!! Life changing!!


Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Justcallmecole (Elkhart, In) on 11/01/2012
★★★★★

I started drinking ACV while at the tail end of a cold. I had gone through a box of heavy duty decongestant/expectorant and halfway through a second box and I wasn't really improving past a certain point. I was frustrated and searching the web for any alternative solutions when I discovered this site. I ran right out and bought a bottle of [organic] ACV. I started drinking it diluted in water AND I also started to rinse my nose with it. I do not use a nettie pot for my sinus rinsing. Ever since I had sinus surgery 15 years ago, I've used a baby nose aspirator as instructed by the surgeon and squirt the solution up into my nose while leaning over the sink. I use 1 tsp in 8oz of warm water for my nose rinse & 2 tbsp in 16oz water to drink. Sometimes, I'll just take a shot straight but I love the flavor of vinegar. I had heard the nose rinse might cause burning but never experienced that myself. WOW! Within a day I noticed a difference. I stopped taking the decongestant/expectorant pill and have continued to drink & rinse twice a day (morning and night). I am not kidding when I say I very rarely sneeze anymore!! I have such horrible year-round allergies. I've been on an Rx nose spray AND would take an OTC pill also. Since I have been rinsing my nose, I rarely use the spray let alone take the pill. I do notice a difference when I forget to rinse my nose. To me that is just proof it's the rinse w/ ACV that is helping me. I have recommended ACV to everyone!


Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Melanie (Johannesburg, South Africa) on 08/31/2012
★★★★★

We have a mug of vinegar tea every morning and it actually tastes delicious -I put 1 Tbs raw ACV in a mug, then half fill it with hot water. I add 1 teaspoon of raw honey and mix it up. Then I top it up with cold water and finally, the part that makes it taste delicious, I add a dash of ground cinnamon! It makes it taste like apple crumble in a mug! And we never have allergy issues because we start every day off with this drink. Highly recommend it to anyone!


Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Kat (Auburn, Alabama, Us) on 06/15/2012
★★★★★

My husband has had severe allerigies his entire life. Non-stop rumbling in his ears, his nose would drain if he leaned his head down, dizziness, etc, etc. Every year it became worse and every year he would take otc meds or prescriptions consisting of steroids and antibiotics. The relief from these was very minimal if noticeable at all. On the 3rd day of taking 1.5 tsps of ACV 3 times a day, he began to notice a difference. He's stayed with this for the past 3 months and the effects continue to grow. He has more energy, lost weight (also due to the acv), and is 99% allergy free. I have never seen anything work so wonderfully. Last year we also had issues with staph and within 3 days of applying acv, it would be gone. I am a complete believer in all-natural cures from here on. Thank you so much Earth Clinic for your site!!


Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Marcia (Provo, Ut) on 03/06/2012
★☆☆☆☆

I regularly take apple cider vinegar. It doesn't do a thing for my seasonal allergies. I have to take anti-histamines.



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