Apple Cider Vinegar: Uses, Health Benefits and FAQ

I started using ACV for my IBS. First thing my husband noticed was how clear my complexion was and my healthy looking rosy cheeks. I lost about 5 pounds in 10 days. I have so much energy I cut way back on caffeine. I mix 2tbls. with cold water and sip with a straw before meals and before I work out. I LOVE this stuff!!!

I suffered from bad throat and cough, blocked nose esp night. It was so bad that as if I could not breathe, so I have to get up so often night causing sleeping problems. It was so bad that doctors thought I had asthma. Whenever I eat spicy food, I tend to get choked easily and it was so embarrassing. Sought help from ENTs (Ear Nose & Throat Doctors) but no avail and to extent they recommended surgeries. It was a friend who recommended me and literally forced to drink a mug at her apartment. In fact, it was almost instant remedy on road to recovery. I mix a tablespoon with a mug of water and drink in the morning. After about a month, it sort of cleared the irritants in my throat and I hardly have any bad throat problems, blocked nose problems at night and I hardly cough like I used to have like a monthly occurence. Apple cider really helps on sinuses. No need to go to doctors! Now I can sleep so soundly.

I have a friend who uses that ACV recipe every day. He has rid himself of acid reflux, allergies, skin problems, excess weight, and says it gives him a real energy boost. I am about to try it myself, although I do not need to lose weight (on the contrary). We'll see how it goes.

I have been suffering from bronchitis- my face has several hard pimples, very hard, no pain it is just starts on my face. Help me as soon as possible I am 31 now.

Some apple cider vinegar brands are extremely acidic, causing heartburn and yeast infections. (Note: certain brands of Organic Apple Cider Vinegar stop a yeast infection, yet other brands are so acidic that they can actually cause a yeast infection. Thus start with a lower dose to see how your body responds to the vinegar.) 5% acidity level is what is posted on all apple cider vinegar (ACV) labels, however it seems that some brands are far more acidic than others! We once bought an expensive, organic, unpasteurized brand with a fancy gold label and got terrible heartburn that lasted for hours from just 2 teaspoons' worth!

J: Just guessing, but I have a similar situation w/ my kitty minus the redox potion. Mine is a case of indoor/outdoor kitty that prowls around the bushes and gets those little green stick-balls on his long fur, lays around and pulls them off with his mouth and can't help but swallow them rather than spit them out. This may not be your case but the symptoms you listed are similar to my kitty and I think is those little green stick-balls terpenes that cause such intestinal irritation. On the good side, there's probably no greater natural parasite remedy for wild animals which are often plagued by parasites.

Starting today using ACV on my back probably 20-25 spots all over….figured out an easy way to reach those unreachable spots!

I used a long handled “ baby bottle brush”…the wire kind with the stiff bristles at the end. I wrapped a cotton pad around the bristles and you can just dip the cotton pad into the bottle of ACV and apply! So easy!

Hoping it works!

I have been using 2 tablespoons of organic ACV in water every morning for the past 2 years. It has been life changing and people very often asked me what I'm doing. I am 43 years old and I feel like this health tonic is as good for your insides as it is your outsides.

It has helped me with all of my minor health ailments.

I have suffered with bleeding ulcers as a result of a hiated hernia. It has cured my acid reflux. It has also lowered my blood pressure. It has helped with my anxiety. It has kept my weight the same. (I'm a healthy weight for me, 130pounds). It helps keep my skin youthful and I haven't gotten sick. No colds, no flu.

Acv is the fountain of youth. And a very potent health tonic. I highly recommend it.

When I take it, I drink the diluted ACV before or during a meal. Helps with digestion; stimulating/increasing the digestive acid in the stomach (read this in Jarvis' book), and helping kill off any bacteria in the meal you're consuming.

I had read that drinking apple cider vinegar is good for your bones, that the vinegar prevented oxidation (as in brittle bones)also there was a whole page of the benefits that one will reap drinking 1 tablespoon of vinegar everyday. well all I can say is that it changed my body (internally)for the better, I do not think that there is enough space to describe everything, also the artritis in my hands, the pain, swelling is no more.

Hi Deirdre
Those crystals are probably uric acid crystals. Their accumulations create all sort of problems. The pain in joints is called gout. So look for gout treatment. Eat the least processed food as possible. Don't drink sodas pop. Avoid food with aspartame, msg, any food with high fructose corn syrup, reduce protein... All these are acidic. 60% or more of uric acid is eliminated by the kidneys via the urine. If the urine is acidic a lot less of it will be eliminated. To measure urine acid level you can use pH paper or sticks. You can verify that your urine is most probably acidic (pH lower than 7). The closer the urine pH is to 7, the more you will be able to eliminate uric acid. This is about the best thing I learned for myself. So, learn about alkalizing, search for alkalizing formulas here or on the web, read some of my posts here. Unlike filtered vinegar, good unfiltered raw unpasteurized ACV is alkalizing. But there are better formulas than just ACV alone. Good luck, Alain

To protect my teeth from the vinegar acid, I swish baking soda and water around in my mouth after every dose of ACV. Usually about a teaspoon of baking soda to a mouthful of water mixed in a small cup does the trick.

Swishing with baking soda or another acid-neutralizer immediately after consuming ACV is the best way to protect your teeth. Brushing your teeth directly after acidic things have gone into or come out of your mouth can further the damage to enamel since enamel is softer then.

acv worked well at getting rid of my prostate infection. it also helped for my gout and constipation. i'm using 2tsp acv to 8oz. of carrot juice, also added 2tsp of wheat grass.

question: will the acv destroy the benefits of carrot juice and wheat grass? thanks for a response.

I take two teaspoons of apple cider vinegar to 8oz of water every other day and I have noticed a STRONG difference in my body. I developed "nummular eczema" on my legs over three years ago which prevents me from shaving from the knees down. My legs were constantly breaking out and the bumps would flare if i went to a dry city keeping me awake all night in itchy pain. Lotion, baby oils, topical medicated creams, you name it, I used it. But since I've been using raw ACV I no longer suffer from blotchy red bumps on my legs and am free to shave every day!! It's absolutely amazing and something that three different doctors couldn't cure or even treat. The mild detoxification that the ACV did was truly remarkable and will continue using it for the rest of my life!

Actually I saw a study saying we are not supposed to brush our teeth until 30 minutes after eating something acidic because acid apparently loosens the enamel and it's possible to brush it away.

I personally like to rinse my mouth out with plain water and then wait to brush my teeth 'til later. No more sensitive teeth while brushing! :)

Here's the thing, I've recently adopted the acv ritual of 3tbsp acv, 16oz. glass water, 2 sometimes 3x's day. I like the taste of it, no necessary sodas or honey to add, and I find that I crave it throughout the day. I AM concerned however, about tooth sensitivity to it. I've not experienced it but have read previous posts that problems with sensitivity and softening of the enamal occurs. Is that true? Am I going to have to stop? I will admit, I am completely obsessed about my teeth and my dentist is on my speed dial! lol, Can't help it, I love to keep my smile looking its best. So, should I cut back or not worry? I've used a straw, but honestly, I don't think that works. Contact w/ teeth isn't minimal to me. Thanks in advance for any feedback.

I started soaking both feet and toes in about 1 inch of straight apple cider vinegar in a pyrex casserole dish (the same one I use for the magnesium oil soak) a few days ago to treat nail fungus and severe cracks in my heels, which I suspect to also be fungus related. Well, it seems soaking is a great way to get the benefits of acv without drinking it! You know the rosy, healthy glow you get after drinking apple cider vinegar in water? Well, it's happening after soaking. Also a great increase in energy. Too soon to say if I am losing weight with the soak.

I was finding that drinking apple cider vinegar lowered my blood sugar levels drastically at times, making me feel faint, but have not had any side effects from soaking thus far. The blood sugar reaction from ACV is a new thing. I had been drinking it regularly for many years before that without any problems.

I am using the organic brand of acv right now, even though you can buy a gallon of regular grocery store acv for the same price. I am thinking about ordering organic acv in bulk, since it takes up almost half a bottle of organic acv to fill the small dish with enough liquid to cover my toes. I must admit, right now I am re-using the acv a few times, otherwise it just isn't cost effective. But yes, I wash my feet before soaking them!

Sorry to say that I have had cracked heels for 11 years now (coincides with when I started training at the dojo). Only recently did it move into toenail fungus. Getting rid of it once and for all is long-overdue. Bad idea to have a fungal infection lingering on for years and years. I am determined to keep this up for months if necessary.

Now that I'm faithfully taking ACV I received an email warning about danger of too much acid in our systems causing cancer... how do we know what is 'too much'? I have noticed a jump in energy and an elevated 'good' mood... so I am going to continue what makes me feel better... and yesterday someone mentioned a rosy glow, which is amusing as I am blessed with great skin... but this acid/cancer connection is a real concern. Ted? Any comment or suggestion? Anyone else? Thanks. This site rocks! Peace.

I ended up on your site looking for a cure for shingles. I found it and it involved among other things Apple cider vinegar to be ingested and a mix of Aloe vera and crushed cayenne pepper rubbed on the redness which almost instantly brought the blisters to a head. I was done with shingles in about a week. Because of all the testimonials here, I decided to keep on taking the ACV orally 3 times a day. In liquid form or capsules. I realized that my flow of urine got stronger and started to last much longer. I had prostate problems for a few years and I was taking every day some very expensive herbal tea that was working somewhat. I decided to stop the herbal tea and stay on the ACV only. I now pee like a 15 years old and I'm not on any medication. ACV also cured me of my insomnia! Thank you Earth Clinic for such a great site.

Here's a suggestion for all those folks who write, "What if I go out to dinner with friends- How can I have my ACV/ Baking Soda or other concoction close to hand? I guess I'll just have to run home!

You can make up a tiny travel kit or "night out" kit.

If you are male, check with your women friends about what they use for travelling with makeup, etc. Tell them what you need to carry and ask for suggestions how- We ladies are quite resourceful with this kind of thing :).

I have travelled with a 1-ounce bottle of ACV and a baby food jar of Baking Soda. It takes up almost no room, and is right there when you need it. You don't have to lug a quart jar of ACV out to dinner with you.

It may work for you to place your small kit in the glove compartment of your car on your way out the door (Maybe not a good idea to leave it in there 24/7), or in a manpurse if you carry one. Or in the pocket of your parka.

Just put enough pre-measured in the container for one or two applications. That alleviates the need for measuring.

There are small, flat liquid and solid containers in the cosmetic department of Walmart, other department stores or beauty supply stores which you can use for things like this.

You can use empty, cleaned baby food jars from the grocery for powders. That's just an example. Stick one of baking soda in your glovebox so thsat it's there when you need it.

It's quite possible to get creative and come up with a tiny little, one-or-two application kit which will meet your specific needs.

Just sit down and work it out once and the problem is solved.

Hope this helps someone-

Linda

I took acv for years and experienced problems with my dental erosion. Also, other problems possibly relating to amalgam fillings. Stopped acv and now ok. I would encourage anyone considering acv to dilute and then follow w/ sodium bicarb.