The comments below reflect the personal experiences and opinions of readers and do not represent medical advice or the views of this website. The information shared has not been evaluated by the FDA and is not intended to diagnose, treat, or prevent any disease or health condition. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional for medical concerns.
Daisy (Portland, Dorset, England) on 08/31/2011:
i have a sore throat and think your cure is actually working well. It still aches and hurts but im feeling better by far.
I was skeptical at first, but got desparate in the middle of the night after 7 days' duration. I had tried all of the over the counter remedies but nothing helped my dry, painful sore throat caused by post-nasal drip. Since I had ACV on hand, I figured it couldn't hurt. My throat felt better almost immediately. The soreness didn't completely go away, but I would say it was 80% better. It continued to feel better until morning, when I gargled and sipped ACV in water again. I will keep using it throughout the day. The ACV also helped my nasal congestion and thinned the mucous so I could blow my nose. Definitely worth a try in my opinion.
I put 1 tablespoon of ACV in about 8oz of peppermint tea flavoured water, and after the first gargle, my sore throat started to feel better instantly! I can swallow now without my throat feeling raw.
It tastes like crap, even with the peppermint, but hey - nothing else has ever soothed a sore throat faster! It's worth it :)
I've used apple cider vinegar for years on sore throats. A tablespoon full in a half glass of water if you can handle it works for me as a gargle. The one time I didn't use it on a sore throat I ended up with Strep.
Also to the person that was really tired, I was falling asleep during the day while working and driving. The fatigue would come on really fast and I couldn't keep myself awake no matter what I did. I went for a sleep study and was diagnosed with Sleep Apnea. I didn't fit the profile. I'm a female, under 125lbs and don't snore. I was shocked when they came in and said that I stopped breathing as soon as I fell asleep. Go get tested, your life depends on it.
I was cracking up as my sore throat would not go away. I did several shots of vitamin C for two days, nothing, extra D3, nothing, did ACV gargles and now drinking it as hot tea with raw honey and lemon. It seems to be working. The first sigh of relieve in three days.
Yea - read the suggestions last night after 3 days of a sore throat that wouldn't quit. Did the 3 TBS of ACV and 8 oz of hot water. I'm on a diet so only did 1 TBS of honey. I sipped and gargled it as slowly as I could although I did feel pretty lousy after (no sugar no carb diet probably didn't help w/ACV in my stomach). BUT, I woke up this AM feeling a little better and now 24 hours later my sore throat is almost completely gone. I'm going to try ACV for seasonal allergies, which are starting here, just will make sure to have something more on my stomach. Thanks Earth Clinic - now off to find cures for wrinkles and gray hair :-).
Been battling the flu all week and nothing I've tried has relieved my throat. I went searching for home remedies. Cayenne seemed a bit extreme but I just downed about a tbl. of ACV and what a difference. Granted, it's a bit overwhelming going down, but, man, that feels good!
Cristina (Oakland Gardens, New York) on 02/13/2011:
I've had a really bad soar throat for a couple of days and it was getting worst. I got home and saw this remedy with apple cider vinegar, it was good for the moment, but I woke up with the same pain. So, I thought about yogurt having having good bacteria, which might fight the bad bacteria, (thinking I had a bacteria instead of a virus), and went straight to the fridge to eat some plain yogurt. It was amazing, it soothe my throat, and I felt way better, I can swallow without any pain at all.
I tried this. First I did 2 tblsp of this in a glass of water and drank it. That didnt work. Then I mixed the ACV in a mug of tea. That didnt work. Finally I just took the ACV straight to the head. This didnt work either. So now I have a disgusting taste in my mouth and still a sore throat. :/
THIS WORKS!! I don't believe much of anything I read on the internet about "magic" cures. My throat was really hurting so I decided I had nothing to loose. 3 tbs asv 3 tbs honey and 4 oz of warm water. All better. No Pain.
I've never used a home remedy as effective as this! I've had a sore throat for a couple of days as part of some bug I got. The effect was almost immediate (I used a 50-50 blend of ACV and honey, gargled and swallowed). I fully expected the effects to wear off, but several hours later and after the first real meal I've been able to eat, it still feels great. I've used a lot of over the counter lozenges and sprays over the years, but nothing comes close to this cure!
ACV definitely works. My Nana had me drink and gargle with it years ago when I was visiting Florida for my sister's wedding. I had been sick all week and finally it was the night before the wedding, overnight after using ACV I was all better.
Now I have this bothersome post nasal drip that has given me a sore throat 4 times in the past 12 months, everytime I feel the slightly pain in my throat I can nearly guarantee it will turn to strep within 2 days because of the extra irritation in my throat due to allergies.
Basically, when you use ACV it's going to taste 100% worse when you're already sick than it does if you start taking it at the onset of your cold. First sign of any issues and i'm a huge advocate for starting ACV. My tonsils right now are swollen, they have the strep spots but I have zero pain and no fever, I caught it just in time to show signs but feel no pain and it will be gone by tonight. Definitely better than penicilin every 3 - 4 months. I think I just need to get my tonsils removed.
As for the recipe I find there is no right way. They all work but the more diluted the longer it will take. I don't even measure I just pour about a 1/2 shot into a large glass and fill it with warm water. If I don't catch it before my sore throat is full blown then i'll drink 1 tsp straight a couple of times to get it a great jump start.
I found myself looking for some feedback on this remedy, was having a lot of discomfort with the sore throat. I used the 3 tsp of apple cider vinegar, 3 tsp of honey, with about 8 oz of warm cinnamon tea, and then added just the tip of the tsp, less than1/4 of cayenne peper and gargle then drank the tea. It actually tasted good, I sipped it for about 10 min, now I can swallow my saliva and can go back to sleep! I will try again in the morning if it's not all completely gone, this stuff works!!! Thank you!
Bakersfieldmom (Bakersfield, Ca. Usa) on 03/13/2010:
I couldn't sleep because of a sore throat, and tried salt water gargle. No help so came to computer and got recipe for acv and honey and water. sipping it now as a warm tea and already find it helps. I had to cancel a luncheon and now wish I had tried this yesterday; I could have gone to the luncheon. Thanks everyone for your feedback. Not sick for years and now this. Good to find a home remedy that works. Back to basics..:)
When ever I start feeling a sore throat coming on I take a teaspoon of ACV and again in about 30 minutes. Soon after my symtoms are gone. Also if you mix a teaspoon of ACV with a teaspoon of honey in a cup of tea, heat and drink, it will not only give you more energy but also help your sore throat feel much better.
ACV is awesome. im on day two of a sore throat. My voice sounded like a cartoon character. Found this site, hit the ACV, and no joke, it's only been 10 minutes, but, my voice is back to normal. Guess what i'm drinking all nite :)
Feeling Better Already (Northland, New Zealand) on 11/13/2009:
I have to say that ACV diluted with warm water worked for me. The usual story, woke with an awful sore throat & couldn't swallow without feeling like I had sandpaper at the back of my throat. I remembered someone else mentioning ages ago that ACV helps. I hunted out a bottle that's probably been in the pantry since the beginning of time and I tried it. And you know what...? It works! First dose I knocked back 'straight'! (ugh..!) Wow - needed a warm water chaser then. Am now sipping it with diluted warm water & will continue throughout the day. Sore throat has not completely gone as yet, but definitely feeling so much better. I can actually swallow without cringing. It almost seems to have an anaesthetic effect too. I smell like a pickled onion, but more importantly, I can breathe & swallow & actually function almost normally. Great stuff I say! No more pharmacies & docs for me when I get a sore throat. Cheers!
the acv is amazing!!! it was instant relief! thanks for the tips everybody! I'm gonna keep taking it for a few days cause I have a really bad cold and sore throat but tonight I took it for the first time and I already feel much better.
I just started with sore throat I had forgotten about apple cider vinegar I just gargled with it then drank it and followed it with a small glass of fresh lemon juice in water and my throat is way better already!
Mariella (Palma De Mallorca, Spain) on 10/16/2009:
ACV For Sore Throat
A glass of water, 2 teaspoons of honey, 2 soups spoons ACV, splash of some old throat comfort tea I had by my bed side.
Haven't been able to sleep properly all night because my throat is killing. Burning pain when I swallow is so bad, I couldn't get anything down there. Also pregnant so worried about taking anything at all at 5:00 am in the morning. Looking up solution for relief, found the site and started with the cayenne pepper tip. I have used natural remedies before for throat. Salt water gargles, which I did before I went to sleep, honey and lemon which is good and tastes great, but no lemon at home. I have done fasts with cayenne so I know what its like, it has all my respect. Can't say was so impressed about the effect after several gargles but the ACV, waoo not bad at all.... I have been sipping on special brew for past half hour and have been able to drink water with out a grimace. Surprisingly feels food on my stomach too. Will keep in mind as acne skin tonic. Thank You!
WOW YOU HAVE NO IDEA HOW MUCH THIS HELPED! MY THROAT WAS KILLING ME LIKE NEVER BEFORE AND THE PAIN WENT TO MY EARS, FELT LIKE FIRE IN THEM! MY FRIEND IS A PROFESSIONAL SINGER AND I REMEMBER WHEN WE WERE YOUNGER SHE MADE ME TAKE THIS EXCEPT WE ADDED HAVE A LIME. I JUST TOOK IT RIGHT NOW AND AFTER THE THE 3RD SPOONFUL IT WORKED~!! SO HERE IS WHAT I TOOK: WARM WATER IN A MUG, 1/2 A LIME, 1 TBSP OF HONEY, 1 TBSP OF APPLE CIDER VINEGAR...LOVELY:)
I could not sleep tonight due to a major sore throat so I got on here for proven cures. I used 4 oz of tea temp. water mixed with 3 tsp honey and 3 tsp apple cider vinegar. I also put in 1/4 tsp of cayanne pepper. Mixed up that beautiful concoction and took a drink, gargled, then swallowed. MIRACLE! on first drink! My throat could swallow without screaming at me! The taste was actually quite nice, even though it sounds horrible. My Dad swears by ACV and drinks it every day-good for what ails you! Thanks for this soothing tip.
When a sore throat is coming on take a few zinc tablets right away then I agree on the ACV mixed with honey. It works on contact. If you're at work or out, almost any full service restaurant can provide it for you so the sore throat doesn't take a solid hold before you get home. Apple Cider Vinegar can be difficult to stomach when you are ill so add some ginger to help your stomach accept it. When I'm well, I drink a shot of ACV straight each day and I eat blueberries to quickly remove the taste from my mouth. Its a morning ritual.
I just tried a 3tsp acv, 3tsp honey with about 4 oz of water and it worked with the first sip. I decided on the 4 oz of water from some previous posts where people didn't experience immediate relief and it was suggested they not dillute as much. Any how, I sipped the stuff with a spoon and for the first time this week I have been able to swallow without tears. I have been taking amoxicillin for not quite two days, as I am lucky enough to have developed strep throat for the first time in over ten years during my summer vacation, but nothing I have tried would get rid of the burn in my throat. I wish I had found this site a few days ago and had a much better vacation!!
Wow - my sore throat was slowly getting worse during the day despite lots of tea and water. It got so bad my ears were starting to burn and I could feel a distinct lump on my throat on the side where it hurt most. I was miserable and then found this site. I love ACV, using it as a salad dressing often - so I eagerly tried it and was amazed. I sipped about 4 ounces of the 9 ounces, slowly with a spoon and within a half hour I have had incredible relief. Not cured, but I can swallow without tears now. Will continue throughout the evening and hope it will go away before a big meeting tomorrow. thanks everyone for their posts!
I used Apple Cider Vinegar straight and my sore throat faded immediately. When you swallow, tilt your head back and coat as much of your throat as possible. Although the taste is not nice, the results are really good, and really eased my throat as well as unblocked my nose. Leave it to sit for 30 minutes at least so it can do it's job, just bear the taste if you can.
I'm in a band and will be doing a very big show in two weeks. I don't want to get the other band memebers sick during practice and was woken up in the middle of the night with a terrible sore throat. It was really burning! I tried the acv and honey with hot water and it already feels much better than it did. I'm going to keep drinking this and see if I can get myself better by tomorrow. This is a great home remody!
I have had a terrible sore throat for several days now. The pain has been terrible and taking advil or tylenol has been like drinking water. neither was any help at all. after coming here to see what home remedies were out there, i tried 3 tsp of acv 3 tsp honey, and 8oz very warm water and sipped it like tea. it did'nt cure me but i did get some relief on the first glass. I've drank 3 glasses since yesterday and although the pain is still there it's not as intense
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