ACV Chasers
(Michelbach-le-bas, Alsace, France)
04/22/2010
I believe that we often crave things that our body needs. When my oldest daughter was small she kept eating lemons, a while ago I was craving sourkrout the whole time, a friend of mine recently had a huge crave for avocados and avocado oil. We also keep away from stuff our body doesn't need or want and that is one of the reasons one should be careful when one finds a child should eat some food they really don't want to. I have no problem drinking diluted ACV at all but I wouldn't drink it undiluted because I am afraid it would damage my teeth. I always flush my teeth with water afterwards. If I were you I wouldn't drink too much, like anything too much of a good thing can be bad for you. With the sourkrout I know where to stop because I get diarrhea if I eat too much. Your body gives you a lot of signs.... Another thing which doesn't bother me is drinking diluted cayenne pepper, most people hate it. I suppose that we are all different........
ACV Chasers
(Toronto, Ontario, Canada)
12/13/2010
★☆☆☆☆
WARNING!
ACV should not be taken straight. Dilute in a glass of water. ACV cuts the protective mouth mucus and will burn your esophagus and back of throat. (People who drink 40% alcohol straight get infections and cancer much more frequently than beer drinkers)
ACV Rash

(Somewhere, Europe)
12/03/2010
Take less and more diluted.
(St. Louis, Mo)
12/03/2010

I have experienced the same rash you are talking about while taking ACV. Then, I tried to apply it to the rash, which made it worse! :v( Thinking it may be an allergy to ACV? Not planning to take ACV anymore - despite the benefits.
(Nashville, Tn)
12/03/2010

Hi Carol,
The same thing happened to me after about 6 months of ACV. I originally thought it was a scrape from moving tree branches, but when it did not heal I thought ringworm. Tried everything and it got worse and I noticed new small patches(20-25)forming on my body. Turns out to be Pityriasis rosea. Look this up.
I also wondered if the detox process of ACV may have triggered this. If yes, so be it. I will always have ACV in my life and have lost 15 lbs without even trying! As far as the Pityriasis rosea, all you can do is stay clean, cool, and dry. (G--- Bond Powder seems to help) It will eventually start SLOWLY fading away.
(Lansdowne, Pa)
12/03/2010

I have been taking ACV for acid reflux and I also noticed a small rash on my upper back near my arm. It does not hurt. It is there until it goes away then another one comes up nearby. I also believe that it is toxins coming out of my body.
(Binghamton, New York)
04/03/2011

I am absolutely shocked to read this post! Years ago in college I came down with the Pityriasis Rosea rash. I was told that this condition rarely reoccurs. However, when taking apple cider vinegar for about a month, again I had the unsightly, very uncomfortable Pityriasis Rosea condition again! I am thinking that this might be some sort of healing crisis.
(Philadelphia, Pa, Usa)
09/03/2011
I am currently taking ACV with tap water and I noticed I have a rash on my left thigh. It's like a light spot about the size of a quarter. When I was little I used to get those spots, but smaller on my cheek from time to time. My mother said they were yeast spots. I guess from eating too much bread of starch. So maybe ACV is detoxing our body from too much yeast in our body and that's why we get those spots. They go away in about a week or two.
(Binghamton, New York)
07/28/2013
Hey Earth Clinic Friends! It's back! I posted on this site back on 4/03/2011 about taking ACV and a resulting Pityriasis Rosea rash. I discontinued the ACV at that time, and waited about 3 months for this condition to clear up. Just recently, I started to take the ACV 3x a day before meals 2 tsps diluted in water for about 2 weeks and I have Pityriasis Rosea AGAIN! This is the third time I have had this rash and when I first got it, my doctor and numerous websites have noted that it is usually something you get once in a lifetime; rarely twice. But this is the third time! At this point, I don't care. I am going to continue to take the ACV because it has done wonders for my energy levels, even though I haven't seen any weight loss yet.
(Fairfax, Va)
07/28/2013
Your skin rashes may have been caused by excessive amount of toxins released into the body when the ACV may have inadvertently too quickly killed-off a large amount of bacteria or fungus; this is known as the Herxheimer reaction. I have had this type of thing happen to me recently.
(Somewhere, Europe)
07/29/2013
Misha, how about lowering your dosage?
(Anon)
10/11/2017
For the rash maybe do more to help your liver? B vitamins, dandelion tea, activated charcoal, garlic, psyllium husk perhaps.
Allergies
★★★★★
Yesterday my eye started feeling really itchy, not sure if it's allergies or a stye but immediately after it started swelling up I took 2 tbs of ACV with a little water in a shotglass and 30 minutes later the swelling went down tremendously. I woke up today and my eye is 90% better already!! Usually when I have allergies it takes a few days for the swelling to calm down but ACV sped up the process. Will definitely keep taking ACV :)
EC: Danae, Another option for even more energy is to add a dash of cayenne to your shot of ACV (or ACV tonic). Whew!
Allergies
★★★★★
Allergies
★★★★★
Allergies
★★★★★
(Myrtle Beach, Sc, Usa)
08/16/2011
★★★★★
I've had the exact same results!
Allergies
★★★★★
'
EC: Read many more testimonials and cures here.
Apple Cider Vinegar and Honey
(New York)
03/02/2013
I realize that this is a little late in coming, but I must stress: Do not EVER take ACV straight. It will damage your esophagus and could cause esophageal cancer if taken straight for prolonged periods of time. Always dilute it in a glass of water, don't put yourself at risk. I'm a medical student. Our GI pathology lecturer showed us pictures of this and it is horrible and incurable. It's not a guarantee to cause cancer, but you're definitely at increased risk. The esophagus is not meant to be exposed to acid like that.
Apple Cider Vinegar and Honey
(Brisbane, Australia)
11/04/2010
Hello slidefoot, Yes you can add some honey to the apple cider vinegar, you can also put the Apple Cider Vinegar in some apple juice which disguises the taste quite well. Lily.
(Las Vegas, Nv)
11/04/2010
When I drink Apple cider vinegar I usually add it to 1 cup of hot tea, anykind, I add honey and 1/8 tsp of baking soda the baking soda takes away the really strong vinegar taste. If I don't want a hot drink I use room temp water with sugar or splenda and baking soda.
(Tacoma, Wa, Usa)
11/13/2010
Hi, Slidefoot. I am 70 years old too and I have reduced my high blood pressure, my cholesterol and my blood sugar all in the last 3 months by using the many ideas on this website. So I do not know if using just one healthy remedy will do the trick. I treat my body as a whole system and not just isolated parts. I started eating a larger variety of vegetables especially green leafy ones, breakfast lunch and supper. I cut my carbs down to about 120 a day. I cut my fruit down to just a small slice of fresh fruit for 2 morning snacks; 2 afternoon snacks; 2 evening snacks; and I eat cucumber slices or celery or cauliflower with a little sea salt and nutritional yeast sprinkled on it (yum yum! )if I get hungry when reading before bed. I make a tonic for myself and my friends once every couple of days which I sip on throughout the day. The tonic tastes pretty good (to me anyway ) and all the ingredients are very good for all your body parts.
The Tonic Recipe is:
Put 1/4 cup organic raw apple cider vinegar and 1/8 c organic raw local honey
Or real maple syrup (not fake maple flavored syrup) into a food processor or blender. Blend this with the following fresh living ingredients
(not bottled or dehydrated stuff)
Equal parts of:
1 whole peeled lemon
peeled garlic
sliced onion
sliced ginger root
Pour this mash into a pint size glass jar and cover. It will stay useful for a couple of weeks, but it is best to take a 3 or 4 spoons of this every day so it shouldn't be sitting in the fride very long. Take a heaping table spoon of this Health Tonic as soon as you awake in the morning, with lunch, and before bedtime. You can mix it in water, juice, or tea if you wish. I often take it right out of the spoon. It is quite zesty and I have developed a fondness for it. It is good for cleaning/toning your liver. It is good for heart and blood pressure and a hundred other things that need support in our internal organs which work in harmony with each other. This tonic is also anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidant, anti-fungal, anti-bacteria, ant-viral, anti-parasite, anti-yeast, anti-fungus. It supports your pro-biotics. Good health to you, hope you're enjoying your journey into sharing your own wisdom. Nuri
Apple Cider Vinegar and pH Balance
(Ottawa, Ontario, Canada)
08/12/2010
Answer to Jessica from San Diego about pH balancing and vitamins. You just observed by yourself that vitamins are acid forming. Vitamin C is Ascorbic Acid. Probiotics are also acid forming. I don't know about garlic. Possibly alkalizing if of good quality. Just take more alkalizing food, spices and minerals. Alain
(North Carolina)
12/28/2024
Hi Jessica-hope you are well. Do not take Apple cider vinegar and colloidal silver together. The colloidal silver will kill all the good stuff in your Apple cider vinegar
Apple Cider Vinegar and pH Balance
Mike
Apple Cider Vinegar and pH Balance
★★★★★
If you live in a highly polluted area like we do (Los Angeles) where allergies and sinus infections are rampant, your system may better balance itself with a small dose of apple cider vinegar each day. Ultimately we suggest you experiment with a kit to find the pH balance your body functions optimally at. Want to know more about pH? Click here.
Our Bangkok contributor Ted tells us, "Apple Cider Vinegar in itself is alkaline because of its "ash" content, which means if the apple cider vinegar was burned, what is left over becomes ash. When you check for the pH of that ash and dissolve it with water, the content is alkaline. Whenever our body digests anything, it undergoes oxidation, which is similar to burning and the end result is that you can determine whether the end product was alkaline or acid. Apple Cider Vinegar has anti-fungal, anti-bacterial, and anti-viral properties, primarily coming from the malic acid and acetic acid portion of the vinegar. Apple cider vinegar acts as a buffer in the body because the acetic acid reacts with base or acid compounds to form an acetate, therefore rendering them chemically bioavailable for the body's utilization. Additionally, Apple Cider Vinegar can reduce the toxicity of certain compounds by converting the toxin into an acetate compound, which is less toxic. This is why they are ideal for insect bites and certain skin allergies. While Apple Cider vinegar in itself is considered alkaline, a chemically pure vinegar (acetic acid) is neither acid nor basic forming as it leaves no ash as the entire portion, when burned evaporates completely. Ted
(Hanover, Pa, Usa)
10/19/2012
Hi! I am a gastric bypass patient, 6 years out. I tried to drink Teds recipe of 2 tbsp Apple Cider Vinegar to 1/4 tsp baking soda then adding 1 whole lemon and 8 oz of water. The first drink felt weird in my stomach, almost sickening, so I waited a bit to drink more. My stomach really didn't feel good when I drank it so I stopped. Has anyone else had this problem? I really want to do this to help get my body feeling better. Thanks! Sandra
(Florida)
03/15/2016
Sandra, Stick with the vinegar, lemon, baking soda formula every day. I let my set sometimes for a while . I use distilled water also. Try different times of the day and see what works for you. Drink slowly. Your body will become used to it.
(Canada)
05/28/2023
Yes. I have had gut problems for over 15 years. I started taking apple cider vinegar and got worse, instant diarrhea, stomach pain - very terrible. I ordered the book: The Bloated Belly Whisperer by Tamara Duker Freuman, MS. RD, CDN (Crazy title name, for sure). She recommended NO vinegar, and soluble fibre (acacia -) and had lots to say about many gut problems. I have no association with her or her books. Her suggestions helped me a great deal.
(Norton, Va)
11/10/2012
I am writing to clarify some statements broadly made on this site. Apple cider vinegar (ACV) is composed of 5% acetic acid with a pH of 3 clearly making vinegar acidic rather than alkaline. The pH would need to be higher than 7 in order for the vinegar to be alkaline and then it would not be vinegar, it would be sodium or potassium acetate and would likely do little for those of us taking it other than possibly elevating blood pressure that might be caused by the increased levels of sodium.
(Il, Usa)
11/06/2014
Have u read Dr Jarvis' book? Vinegar is an acid. The whole reason for taking it is to make the urine more acidic. Alkaline urine demonstrates u are not healthy. It all works biochemically via electrical energy. His explanations are very strange, but he proved this folk remedy with cows, horses, and dogs so he could see for himself whether it had all of the benefits espoused. However, he added Lugol's iodone to the mixture as well - at least 3 drop to one serving 3 times weekly. If one has a health problem, they are to drink with each meal. The vinegar & natural honey are supposed to be mixed together well in a glass before adding water. The honey adds solar energy to the concoction.
(Hawaii)
01/12/2015
ACV in its chemical liquid form is acidic, but when consumed it converts to citric acid in the body via the Krebs Cycle. ACV is a type of acetic acid and is changed to citric acid by combining with oxaloacetic acid with the help of Acetyl CoEnzyme A and ATP (adensosine triphosphate). Acetic acid is decomposed in our body into hydrogen atom (H+) and acetyl (CH3CO-), which is alkaline. Because it is converted to Citric Acid, it actually causes an akaline effect on the Blood. Types of Citric Acid foods are lemons. Lemons are known for alkalizing effect. This is why ACV is very good health food, when consumed in small quantities dissolved in water. It helps with all kinds of illnesses because it has an alkalizing effect. Most illnesses are due to acidity in the body. Modern humans have lost touch with this thousand year old remedy.
Source: http://www.naturodoc.com/library/lifestyle/umeboshi_vinegar.htm
(San Fernando)
03/13/2015
I've read quite often in allopathic research and in doctor's articles that the pH homeostasis mechanism in the human body always operates perfectly and never goes wrong. Really?
So even though the western diet is so bad and so poisonous, even though people have all manner of sickness in huge numbers, including autoimmune and other diseases and even though our immune systems and hormone systems have been thoroughly trashed through our poison processed food diets -- through all this the final conclusion for some people is that our homeostasis pH regulating mechanism always remains untouched, works perfectly and never fails us?
Here is some interesting research evidence from my side on the direct association of acidosis that is increasingly accumulated in the body and which is caused by poor processed food diets over a period of many years. This research looks at our dietary evolution and the ultimate corruption of our older but healthier natural diets in terms of the rising acid levels in our bodies that are apparent today.
Apple Cider Vinegar as Panacea
I am a big fan of the site and consult it regularly for a variety of issues and have had success! For that, Thank you.
I am concerned about the recommendation of Apple Cider Vinegar for almost ever ailment in question. I did have success in treating myself with ACV but the frequency with which is appears as a remedy makes me wonder if the site is sponsored by _____ or something! haha. Just curious because I am considering using ACV in my hair and a daily routine but I am uncertain as to the objectivity of the site.
EC: Hi Zachary,
During Earth Clinic's first few years, we allowed brand names to be published on the site, not realizing the extent of fake product posts on the internet. Most of the feedback back then was about apple cider vinegar. Then we received an email much like yours in 2004 (or thereabouts), asking us if we were a front for the Bragg's company! It was a most excellent wake-up call and I am forever grateful for it. Shortly thereafter, all but a few product names were banned from the site. Bragg was the first brand name to be deleted from the site. Tis true, there are now thousands upon thousands of Apple Cider Vinegar posts on the site. However, most ACV posts arrive from different ip addresses from around the world, which is why we think most (hopefully all) are legitimate posts.
Deirdre
(Tequesta, Fl)
09/23/2010
Zachary be careful using ACV on your hair. I have blond highlights in my hair and the ACV turned my highlights pink! I use regular white distilled vinegar on my hair every few weeks and it works just fine.
Apple Cider Vinegar Contraindications
★★★★★
1. Stomach ulcer, 2. Low Potassium level.
ACV will additionally lower your potassium level.


