Apple Cider Vinegar: Uses, Health Benefits and FAQ

Acid Reflux

Posted by Rick Anderson (USA)
★★★★★

I'm overweight and often have acid reflux problems. A high-protein/low carb diet definitely works for me in alleviating this acid.... but when I'm bad (eating too late at night or eating too much pastry) I have found that a small glass of apple cider vinegar and water, gulped down, momentarily makes the burning in my esophagus worse--- but then seems to completely get rid of the acid condition. I've tried this several times and each time the results were the same. Rolaids work by neutralizing acid; does vinegar really work by adding more? I don't know, but it does work! One more anecdote: I told someone at my job about it, and she said her grandmother used to swear by it, too: a swig of vinegar helped acid indigestion. She also told me that in the "old days" people would swig some vinegar to see if they had strep throat-- if it burned like hell when it hit the back of the throat, they had it! I would imagine that the acid in the vinegar helped treat the strep, too.

Acid Reflux

Posted by Bob (Princeton, NJ)

You need to get real apple cider vinegar. Heinz is not real. Go to a health food store - even GNC has apple cider vinegar (ACV) w/mother. (Mother is the sediment at the bottom).

Shake well. Add one teaspoon to a glass and add a little less than a mouthful of distilled water. I also add a few drops of cayenne to it. If you have RAW organic honey - a bit of that mixed in can make it taste better. Drink this 10 minutes before meals. Do not drink any more liquid until at least 30 minutes after eating.

Anyone I know who does this no longer has ANY need for Prevacid, etc.

Acid Reflux

Posted by Jessica (Escondido, CA)
★★★★★

just read your web site. I have had acid reflux for over a year, and I have refused to take meditation, just using Altoids to try to help it and Milk of Magnesia, but still it didn't go away. I began taking vinegar and honey twice a day for the last two days, and now food doesn't burn when it goes down, and the pain is gone.

Recipes

Posted by Lisa (West Plains, MO)
★★★★★

I like the benefits I'm having since I've started taking acv. But I did not like the taste and surely I'm not alone. I tried it with mango tea and one spoonful of the vinegar and an equal amount of honey. It tastes wonderful. I drink it at least four times a day. It's that good. Lipton tea has mango and I'm sure other brands will work. Now, go have yourself a cup 'o tea.

Dental Enamel Issues

Posted by Marco (Eindhoven, Netherlands)
★★★★★

I've read that eating a little bit of cheese afterwards will lower the acid level in your mouth. A high acid level is good for the ph balance of the body but not so good for your teeth.

Acid Reflux

Posted by Larry (Bellwood, Illinois)
★★★★★

Recently, I started taking a tablespoon of apple cider vinegar twice a day, to help with my life long acif reflux. I had heard that my medication was in fact stopping my natural production of stomach acid, and that the avc would supply me with the natural amounts need for proper digestion.

I have now been two weeks free without my pepcid or tums. I HAVE NEVER FELT BETTER, AND AM NOT AFRAID TO GO TO BED AT NIGHT WITHOUT A PEPCID. I know that some will not believe my comments, but as a licensed practicing attorney at law, I stand by what I experienced.

Allergies

Posted by Amy (Hartford, CT)
★★★★★

I was on prescribed allergy medicine for 17 years. I started the honey and ACV mixed with water 3 years ago and rarely even have to take an over the counter allergy pill. It takes about 4-6 days of taking it twice a day to build up in my system, and then I usually only have to take it once a day. I'm a massage therapist and I recommend it to all of my clients who come in with allergies, many of them have become faithful to the ACV too. So glad someone told me about it!!

Acne

Posted by Pjassal (Lake Forest Park, Wa) on 09/29/2012

try using 100% pure castor oil AFTER the ACV. Rub it in like a lotion on your face. Castor oil is a natural sunscreen and moisturizer.

Arthritis

Posted by Marcia (Fairforest, SC)
★★★★★

I am a huge proponent of RAW apple cider vinegar. My husband and I have been using it three times daily for about five weeks. He no longer has the joint stiffness and pain associated with arthritis. We did quit using all sugar and white processed flour as well.

Canker Sores

Posted by Sharon (Western New York) on 10/10/2013

I struggled with canker sores for years, no dentist or doctor could tell me why..... After researching on line I discovered that SLS ( sodium lauryl sulfate) could be the culprit.. Most toothpaste has SLS in it. I started making my own toothpaste with baking soda, coconut oil and peppermint drops and have NOT had a canker sore since.... I will not buy shampoo that has SLS in it.... hope this helps...

Depression

Posted by Connie (Portland, OR)
★★★★★

I suffered from depression and anxiety for many years. I tried at least six or seven medications over a five year period but nothing worked. They all were just expensive and had bad side effects. A naturopathic biologist told me to take ACV and after a couple of days I felt much better for the first time. I believe there are people who need the prescription medications -and counseling is a great help to most of us- but for those of us suffering from occasional recurrent depression/anxiety I believe it is a fantastic cure. I have only taken it when my depression pops up and found relief every time. After reading the benefits for weight loss though, I believe I will begin taking it daily - and brushing my teeth afterward!

EC: Read more depression cures here.
Read more anxiety cures here.

Depression

Posted by Elizabeth (Fort Gibson, Oklahoma) on 07/15/2016

I started the Apple Cider Vinegar in hopes that I might get a better A1C score in the next 3 mo's.I'm also think'g of try'g cinnamon tablets from the health food store. Really the only way to turn this around is I got to loose weight. My thyroid is normal but my good cholesterol is not high enough w/in range and my bad cholesterol is too high, like the consistentcy of ketchup.I cook w/canola and olive oil I try to eat heart smart foods like honey nut cheerios and I like salads when I can but I like dressing on my raw vegetables.I try to cut back on soda pop, Coke, Ginger Ale and drink more water. When I was n school I weighed 134-150 and b4 I got out of high school, I slowly went up to 170 and slowly climbing.I was @ 235 lbs, now I'm @ 270.Its like I slowly gain and maintain the weight. My nutritionist doesn't reccommend that I try any of those as advertised on TV stuff like Cambodia Garcinia and all that other stuff. It might work but once u stop takg it, probably blow up like a tick on Dracula.I do like sweats but I'm sure I'm a modest Eater when it comes to food and sweats.I nvr eat till I get full and I have a hard x eatg bf by the x I do eat its like high noon.my nutritionists says that's part of the problem and that I must train myself to eat @ the same x everyday. I'm like who does that?

Anyhow, the point of writing is I think a good idea would b to brush your teeth and then take a swig of milk and then drink the vinegar water thru a straw.That's what I'm doing now.I might opt to get the vinegar tablets.

Ear Infections

Posted by MB (Belgium)
★★★★★

[Note: the following reader used white vinegar, not apple cider vinegar, to heal an ear infection. ACV might work just as well.]

My husband was suffering from an ear infection. He was confined in the hospital for almost 2 weeks still nothing happened, so we decided to check out of the hospital. And then I remembered when we were still small, whenever we had throat problems or ear infections, my mom always told us to apply vinegar on it & gargle for the throat. So I told my husband why don't we try it, true enough just after 1 day of applying white vinegar in a water on it, his ear was dry and we continue to apply it twice a day until it was completely healed, but sad enough he lost part of his ear bone because of the that infection before we found this "VINEGAR WONDER", but we are thankful to GOD, now his ear is totally healed.

EC: Read many more testimonials and cures here.

Fever

Posted by Siberianwolf (Omsk, Russia) on 05/24/2008
★☆☆☆☆

WARNING!

Whoa!Whoa! Whoa! FEVER is your FRIEND !!!! It is the indication that your body is FIGHTING the infection. Mess with it at your peril. Let your body do the work it was designed to do...heal itself. NO outside interference can do that.

Fever

Posted by Erica (Us) on 12/05/2015

Only if the fever doesn't get too high. 102 is ok but 105 degrees is not.

Food Poisoning

Posted by Teresa (Ventura, CA)
★★★★★

After eating at a local restaurant, I had the irregular bowel movement and the runs really bad. For 5 days it lasted until I started taking ACV. I started taking it religiously, 2Tbs. morning and evening. The next day I was amazingly cured! I became regular. I know this stuff works like VOODOO.

Gout

Posted by Mae (Maumelle,AR)
★★★★★

ACV is a miracle cure. The whole world should know about it! It's cured my family af allergies, my husband of gout, my dogs of skin ailments...we love it..its changed our lives.

Gout

Posted by Al (Big Lake, MN)
★★★★★

I was having the worst gout attack in years, the pain brought me to tears, as my left foot was swollen to the ankle. Ibuprofen did not work even in large doses. My wife gave me 2 tbsp of organic apple cider vinegar mixed with 2 tbspn of organic honey (2 times daily); within 3 hours I was walking around with minimal pain and 1 day later I was able to put on my shoes and walk with little pain on the third day it's almost all gone. Amazing, considering it usually lasts for at least 1 week, I am an absolute believer in this remedy.

EC: Click here for more testimonials about ACV curing gout!

Hair and Scalp

Posted by Brijette (Bettendorf, Iowa)
★★★★★

My Chiropractor told me to use vinegar on my baby girl's cradle cap. I applied it straight and let it sit for 10 minutes before her bath. I've done this only four times now and her cradle cap is almost gone already!!! Maybe this straight vinegar treatment could work for other scalp problems as well.

Indigestion

Posted by Brett (Milwaukee, WI)
★★★★★

ACV takes care of my indigestion. I just dilute about a teaspoon in some water and drink. Within 5 minutes, my indigestion is gone.

Indigestion

Posted by Chris (Dighton, Ma) on 07/22/2016
★★★★★

Yes, it cures indigestion in minutes.

Nail Fungus

Posted by Amy (Cincinnati, OH) on 05/21/2008

Hello - I'm a reporter looking for people in Greater Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky who are fans of apple cider vinegar's health benefits. If interested, please email me at [email protected]. Thanks!