Apple Cider Vinegar Remedy for Headaches

| Modified on Dec 24, 2023

Apple cider vinegar, a popular home remedy for many ailments, is also useful for headaches. Simply drink a glass of water that has a tablespoon of raw apple cider vinegar added to it! This natural remedy has helped many Earth Clinic readers with headaches stemming from a variety of problems.

Why Does Apple Cider Vinegar Help a Headache?

Headaches can be triggered by so many different health conditions. Apple cider vinegar isn't helping a headache in the same way that an over the counter pain reliever (like acetaminophen or ibuprofen) would, apple cider vinegar is actually fixing the cause of the headaches.

Headaches can be cause by high blood pressure, allergies, constipation, blood sugar problems, and sinus problems to name a few. Apple cider vinegar is a proven remedy for all of these health conditions. If you solve your root problem, you will solve your headache problem. Of course, not everyone knows the root problem, so this also makes apple cider vinegar a great remedy because it has such broad applications.

Dehydration is a common cause of headaches. The apple cider vinegar and water tonic solves the dehydration problem, and it does so better than a glass of water would, because apple cider vinegar contains minerals which a dehydrated person is often lacking.

Dosage of Apple Cider Vinegar

While a common amount of apple cider vinegar to use for a headache is 1 tablespoon, this may be not quite enough for some people and too much for others. Some of our readers began using just a teaspoon or two of vinegar a day for other health issues and found their chronic headaches disappeared. Others found that 2 tablespoons of apple cider vinegar in a glass of water were needed to cure a headache. Unless you are used to taking apple cider vinegar, it is best to not start out with the 2 tablespoon dose.

Read on to find the success stories of the apple cider vinegar cure for headaches. Have you tried apple cider vinegar for headaches? Let us know how it worked for you!




35 User Reviews


Posted by ItalianGirl (MN) on 07/25/2023
★★★★★

I used ACV for my headache brought on by dehydration. I felt it coming on and it started to get worse. Of course, I went to EC to check out remedies, as I always do. I had no idea that ACV was a remedy for headaches! I took 1 tablespoon of ACV in 1 cup of water. I felt results almost immediately. However, the first dose was not quite enough. I wanted my pain to be fully gone. I took another dose (1 T of ACV and 1 cup of water) about 10 minutes later, and now my headache is GONE! Try it!


Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Stephanie (Newark) on 09/04/2022
★★★★★

Apple Cider Vinegar for Headaches/Dizziness

I had a throbbing tension headache, along with dizziness, possibly from a bee sting a few hours prior. After reading the reviews, through blurry eyes, I drank 2 tbsps. of apple cider vinegar in 24 oz of water. Literally, within 10 minutes my headache, dizziness, tension was gone. Ibuprofen ain't got nothin on ACV! Definitely adding ACV to my daily routine.


Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Katy (New York) on 10/23/2018
★★★★★

Well as I work at computer all day I tend to deal with neck and shoulder/upper back tension. I'm working on that but in the meantime I often get tension headaches. I woke up with one this morning and was determined to not take anything. (I'd been getting 1 or 2 a month due to Menopause off and on also and just wasn't willing to take anything just yet).

So thinking I know everything lol I've been suffering through it all morning and now it's lunch time. I decided to come on Earth Clinic and look up headaches. Well! Since I keep a smaller bottle of ACV on my desk to keep UTI's away if needed I saw the high rating for ACV for headaches.

Nothing to lose so I took a cap-full in about 3oz of water and followed it with a bit more water. OH MY - honestly I don't think it was even 20 minutes. Headache GONE. I may take another dose in a bit just because.

Granted I still have back tension that I need to at least do some stretching for -but that nagging uncomfortable headache is gone. Thanks everyone here and mother nature for providing yet again! :) :)


Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Willow Raevynwood (Riverbank, Ca) on 04/17/2018
★★★★★

I woke up with a nagging headache this morning and ibuprofen didn't help. Over the past week, I have been drinking a tablespoon of apple cider vinegar with a glass of water first thing in the morning...but this morning, I forgot until I got out of the shower. I did it just before I left for work and lo and behold, my headache disappeared after the first gulp of the vinegar water mixture. I was amazed. I had totally forgot that apple cider vinegar could be used to help with headaches. I'm going to give it a try the next time a migraine shows up.


Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Frog513 (Nc) on 09/03/2016 13 posts
★★★★★

This worked wonders in minutes for me. I had a very severe headache [the kind that the pressure is so bad you think your head might explode] yesterday and nothing would even touch the pain. I had a hard time sleeping and woke up with the same aching head. Came to EC and decided to try ACV.

Here is my exact recipe:

4oz WARM water, 1 heaping tsp. raw honey, 1 tsp. ACV with mother, sprinkle of cayenne. Mix together and drink.

I went from not being able to walk with my head up to feeling the pain subside within minutes. I am about 80% better and will probably repeat the ACV mixture in a bit. Thanks EC!!


Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Ant17 (Pinole, Ca.) on 08/13/2016
★★★★★

Apple Cider Vinegar for Headache:

I took 2 TBS of ACV straight immediately followed by ice water, worked well.

This is how I prefer to use ACV, though it's definitely not for everyone. I drink a lot of water all day anyway.


Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Gaye (Hazlehurst Ga) on 05/25/2015
★★★★★

I didn't have apple juice to mix honey and ACV in so I peeled cut up and pureed a small apple. Then added ACV and honey to this and drank it. In about 20 mins headache was gone. Probably much better for your liver than Tylenol too. Thank you.


Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Sheila (Charlotte, North Carolina) on 05/29/2013
★★★★★

I tried your apple cider vinegar remedy for a pms headache and it worked. I took a tablespoon of vinegar in a large glass of water and drank it down slowly. 45 minutes later my headache pain was reduced by 50%. A few hours later I drank another glass and that did the trick. Thank you for this remedy!!


Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Dr Chandramouli (Bellary, Karnataka,india) on 01/17/2012
★★★★★

I am a allopathic doctor by profession doing family practice since 28 years, I suffered from abdominal koch's which got cured by treatment, later I devoloped left sided CONTINUOUS hemicrania. For this I consulted so many super specialists with no improvement at all, later I was put on anti-depressants, whitch I am taking since 25 years. Now I am totally dependant on it.

Luckily through search engine I came across your website, then started honey and cinnamon in hot water on empty stomach in the morning, along with plain vinegar diluted in water sipping it at regular intervals till 5PM, in the same day I am very much relieved of heavyness of the head, & feeling fresh &energetic..... Hoping to get required cure... Thanks a lot


Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Pc (La Costa, Ca) on 06/04/2011
★★★★★

ACV helped me tremendously. It stopped my acid reflux, allergy and flu symptoms... And it stopped the constant headaches I got for years. Nearly every day of my life, I take a TBSP of ACV and 1/2 tsp of vitamin C in a cup of water. I rarely get colds or the flu.


Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Joy (Solana Beach, Ca) on 11/27/2010
★★★★★

I am amazed at how many people I've told about apple cider vinegar... And what a huge difference it made in my life... And they just ignore the idea of using apple cider vinegar. What a shame. It is an amazing cure for all kinds of things. I used to get terrible headaches nearly daily, used to have acid reflux and allergy symptoms... All that is gone because of Apple cider vinegar (with the mother).

Replied by Al
(Lansing, Michigan)
04/14/2018

Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Polly (Edmonton, Alberta , Canada) on 10/18/2009
★★★★★

have only recently strated to get headaches at all -- but yesterday i got a doozie. I have been suffering for two days now and not feeling safe to leave the house as i somewhat dizzy. Came upon this site and look in the fridge for ACV (I know I used to have it -- must have thrown it out as it had been there so long. Anyhow low and behold I had a half a bottle of organic dry apple cider that I purchased on a wine tour on Vancouver Island. I had just opened it this week when I had a friend over for supper. I thought what the hell give it a try - low and behold I feel a significant releaf from the pain. It may not have to be the vinigar varity who knows Thanks!


Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Donna (Coconut Creek, Florida) on 08/30/2009
★★★★★

I am a 50 year old woman.I had suffered with headaches for most of my life. I used to get a headache almost everyday. I tried the Apple Cider Vinegar cure. I took 1 tablespoon twice a day in about 4 ounces of water.Within a few days the headaches ceased and I have not had a headache since. It is like a miracle. I am also into bodybuilding, and since I started taking the ACV I am getting much better results.ACV has really changed my life.

Replied by Heidi
(Seattle, Wa)
12/04/2011
★☆☆☆☆

I originally bought organic Apple Cider Vinegar for my skin because I keep getting cystic acne and there is literally nothing I can do externally to help because they never come to a head (gross I know) so, after using it everyday morning and night, it hasn't helped with anything! And my skin is now very dry and smells like vinegar... Which frankly is disgusting in my opinion. Now, I'm having a terrible headache and looked to earth clinic to find a solution and drank 1/4 cup of Apple Cider Vinegar straight, which is also pretty disgusting... And nothing. I don't understand why I don't see any results from this????


Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by DarleneCupid (Ontario, CA) on 07/24/2009
★★★★★

ACV DOES WORK!!!! Earlier this year, I was suffering from awful headaches! I finally went to the doctor to only get prescription medicine.....yuck! I tried the medicine and it only masked the problem....my migranes & headaches came back worse!!!!

I looked for a natural way to help headaches and came across ACV...I figured, "What the heck, why not, I've tried everything else". So, I tried it, and I can say that IT DOES WORK! Since I've been using it, I've only had a headache twice, and very, very mild ones. IT'S A MIRACLE i TELL YOU, TRY IT!

I take 8-12oz of Apple Juice, less than 1/4 of ACV, and less than 1/4 of organic honey. This is truly a gift from God and I thank him for a natural way to keep headaches away. What do you have to lose? =D

Replied by Gean
(Salina, KS)
07/24/2009

I would like to know exact measurements and how often you take this. Is this 1/4 cup of ACV and honey together with the apple juice? How often do you take it? Thank you very much.

Replied by Darlenecupid
(Ontario, Ca)
08/05/2010

Yes, you take the Apple Juice, ACV and Honey together. Add them together, mix it, then drink it. You will be a firm believer in this, trust me!

Replied by Sunshine
(Joplin, Mo)
11/10/2010

You give 1/4 as the measurements for the ACV and honey but 1/4 as in tablespoon or what measurement please. I am at the point where I will try just about anything to stop this constant pain. I want to get back to life again. Thank you so much.

Replied by Dag5232
(Greenwood, South Carolina)
12/08/2010

I would be interested in the dosage of this. I have had headaches for over 15 years and have not yet found anything to help. I've been doing 2 tablespoon vinegar and 2 tablespoon of honey in 8 oz of water, for a couple days and this has not helped me yet. How long does this take to be effective?

Replied by Darlenecupid
(Ontario, Ca)
06/18/2011

1/4 cup for both the honey & ACV.


Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Betsy (New Haven, CT) on 07/13/2009
★★★★★

I suffer from tension headaches that often turn into migraines if I don't treat them quickly. NSAIDS help but rarely fix the problem entirely, and I didn't like the idea of taking so much medicine - I often would have pain 10 days a month or so.

A friend of mine showed me this site when looking for grey hair remedies, and it quickly became obvious that ACV is a wonder food, so I went to the health food store and bought some raw ACV and started taking it 2x a day (1 tsp in a glass of water each time) before breakfast and dinner. I happened to be getting a headache at the time, and was shocked to find that it immediately subsided. It did start coming back, but again subsided with more ACV.

I continued taking it 2x a day like this (and sometimes some extra if i had a bad headache coming on) for a month or two before realizing that it was taking more and more to help my headaches. Now I don't take it unless I feel a headache coming on, and I am more sensitive again. I have only taken drugs for a headache once in the past few months - when I was on a trip and couldn't bring my ACV!

I know it sounds crazy. I honestly had no illusions that it would fix my headaches - I thought maybe it might help with menstrual cramps, or my Raynaud's syndrome, or give me energy or something. I read all these testimonials and thought, yeah, but they don't have my headaches. Well it did work and I am a convert! Thanks so much!



NEXT 
1 2 3