Apple Cider Vinegar (ACV): 9 Top Uses & Health Benefits

Flus and Colds

Posted by Meg (Grafton, WI) on 01/24/2009
★★★★★

Thanks for the website. I have used apple cider vinegar since the 70's but somehow (maybe good health) it went off my radar. I just caught a nasty flu and going into day #3 was not cheering me up. I looked on your site and my lights went back on. I did my 3 T. acv + 3T.honey and 1/2 t. cinnamon in 6 oz. water and within 2 hours felt like I just might shake this today. 4 hours later (now) I am feeling really much better and even the cough is almost gone.

Apple Cider Vinegar and pH Balance

Posted by Mike (Atlanta, GA) on 01/11/2009

I wanted to ask about the ACV remedy for the purpose of alkalzing the body to be in a healthier. I am fairly healthy, if I wanted to take this as a maintenace dose, how long should I take this. I saw somewhere where it said 5 days on and 2 days off?

Mike

Brands of Apple Cider Vinegar

Posted by Joyce (Joelton, Tn) on 01/11/2009 490 posts

Hello Latoya,

I don't buy the cheap distilled vinegar for any use, but I do buy a gallon of ACV at Save-a-Lot for about $2/gallon. If you keep it around long enough it grows plenty of mother without any help from the expensive _____ stuff. It works fine for me and has been for years now. I cook, clean, drink, and make medicine with it. At that price, I can afford to keep nothing but ACV and I always have it on hand for whatever I want to use it for, including cleaning my coffee pot periodically.

Brands of Apple Cider Vinegar

Posted by LaToya (New York, New York) on 01/10/2009

There are several Whole Foods Markets in the city. They sell the good ACV. You can find the closest store at www.wholefoods.com

Recipes

Posted by Nichole (Stanton, CA) on 11/26/2008
★★★★★

...Also a quick recipe to get kids to take ACV is to add a couple tablespoons to a bag of sliced apples, allow to sit for at least a day in the fridge and the kids gobble them up!

Colds and Flu

Posted by Marshall (Victoria, Texas) on 11/12/2008
★★★★★

Since I can remember, I have had one or two bouts a year with sore throat and cold/flu that turns into bronchitis. An elderly gentleman who remembered taking acv mixed with honey as recommended by his doctor when he was a child told me try it for my ailments. It has worked like nothing before! Mixed 50/50 with honey in a shot glass(for sore throat), as a straight shot(this burns the tummy a little), or 2 tablespoons with a cup of warm water for respiratory/sinus problems. I have not been sick since I started taking ACV at the first sign of illness. My children have used it as well. They aren't real happy with the taste and smell but I am happy with the results! Hard for doctors to get rich recommending this home remedy!

Canker Sores

Posted by Shirley (Riverside, CA) on 11/08/2008
★★★★★

After reading about canker sores and some home remedies on this site, I decided to try them. All today, I tried first Hydrogen Peroxide, that didn't work, then I put salt on it and it hurt sooooo bad and that didn't work. A few hours later, I couldn't take the pain anymore, so I decided to try apple cider vinegar. I put some on a Q-tip and it hurt soooooo bad, but a few minutes later the pain was basically gone. I went from not being able to talk to eating dinner within a matter of an hour. I am so amazed! I did it couple more times today and it did not hurt that much second time around. I am just amazed as how fast it worked.

Dermatitis

Posted by Nan (Atlanta, GA) on 10/24/2008
★★★★★

ACV cured my dermatitis and is also healing my rosacea!

I'm amazed at how amazing this $6 bottle of organic acv is. I would have never believed it if I hadn't experienced it for myself. I've had rosacea now since May which was a result of a major stress factor in my life. I've been to the dermatalogist and have spent over a hundred dollars in topical creams and pills that just did not work. I then learned that the creams I was given for the rosacea was causing dermatitis so I was again given another cream to try and combat the dermatitis to no avail.

When the dermatologist failed to help me, I went to an esthetician. She put me on supplements stating that it was more likely an internal digestive problem. This actually made it worse. Whereas before the supplements I had the rosacea & dermatitis only on my cheeks, after taking the supplements it immediately spread to my whole face which freaked me out.

I then did a google and somehow found th Earth Clinic website with remedies and saw a few testimonials concerning dermatitis. I thought to myself, I'm desperate and what harm can it do in trying (as I've done about everything else short of doing laser treatments)to try and take care of this. I was even going out without makeup as the dermatitis caused my make up to look cakey and blothcy. On my way home from work on October 17th I stopped at a nutrition store and bought my $6 bottle of ACV. I washed my face and applied the ACV directly to my face with a cotton ball. Saturday it started looking better. I've applied it in the morning and at night after washing my face and follow with my moisturizer and a week later the dermatitis is completely gone and so is most of the rosacea. I also put 2 TBS in a 16 oz bottle of water each day.

I am now a firm believer in ACV!!

EC: Click here for many more posts about apple cider vinegar and dermatitis.

Halitosis/Bad Breath

Posted by terri (martinsville, va, usa) on 10/18/2008

How do you use the ACV for bad breath? I recently started drinking ACV, with 100% grape juice (no sugar added).

General Health Tonic

Posted by Roz (Calgary, Canada) on 10/13/2008
★★★★★

My grandfather is 93 and has used Apple Cider Vinegar mixed with raw honey and aloe vera everyday for 30 years. He has survived Colon Cancer and Throat cancer. Until the past 2 years he has been healthy as an ox. Warning: A recent side effect has been stomach bleeding which his doctors attribute to ACV.

Warts

Posted by Tone (Los Angeles, CA) on 10/10/2008
★★★★★

I have had warts on my right hand for years. I tried treating them with commercial products, and they would work for a while, but the warts would always come back (and invite a few more to join them!). I stumbled upon ACV as a natural way to treat warts and decided to try it. The first attempt on my thumb was a learning experience...I put too much on and it lifted all of the skin off and made it raw and sore. After that, I kept the cotton and ACV only on the wart area with a bandaid, and it has worked incredibly well. After a couple of days the wart will turn black, then die away. It's a miracle considering how many years and the amount of money that I spent trying to rid myself of them.

Hair Conditioner

Posted by Marcie (Dallas, TX, USA) on 09/27/2008

i am anxious to try using ACV as a rinse for my hair to see if it can help with hair loss. will the ACV lighten the hair at all? i have very dark brown hair that i LOVE ( my natural hair color) and am afraid that the ACV will make it lighter. i plan to use it about 3 times a week as a rinse after the shampoo part and use a conditoner on top of that.

can anybody tell me if it's safe for me to use? i DON'T want to bring out highlights or anything i just want to keep my color as is.

thanks in advance!!

Diabetes

Posted by Faith (St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands) on 09/09/2008
★★★★★

I must say when I heard about Apple Cider Vinegar I was curious. I went out the same day and purchased a bottle. I'm a type 2 diabetic and I must say that I feel a lot better since taking it, my monthly cycle has changed to a more normal cyle. It used to be very heavy the first two days...no more.

I also started the pulling oil...that too is great. My mouth feels so clean all day. Just started it so I haven't really seen anything major, but I will report back. Thanks Earthclinic.

EC: Read more about apple cider vinegar and diabetes here.

Blood Sugar

Posted by Pat (Ballwin, MO) on 09/05/2008
★★★★★

I found this article on RealAge (www.realage.com//ct/tips/2655) about ACV and wanted to share.

Vinegar Delight

Research suggests that a little bit of vinegar could have a beneficial effect on blood sugar levels.

In a study, ingesting a couple tablespoons of apple cider vinegar before a high-carbohydrate meal was found to help dampen expected spikes in blood sugar levels from the meal.

For a bit of vinegar's benefit, try starting off your next pasta meal with a salad splashed with red wine vinegar and olive oil.

Vinegar is no substitute for healthy eating habits or for proven methods of blood sugar control. The beneficial effects of vinegar on blood sugar levels may not apply to healthy individuals, and more research is needed to confirm its potential benefits for other populations.

In a recent study, ingesting 20 grams (approximately 2 tablespoons) of apple cider vinegar before eating a high-carbohydrate meal improved insulin resistance.

Study participants who experienced the blood sugar control benefits from vinegar were either diabetic or had insulin resistance syndrome. They followed the 20 grams of apple cider vinegar with a high-carbohydrate meal consisting of a white bagel, butter, and orange juice.

After the high-carbohydrate meal, the acetic acid from the earlier serving of vinegar appeared to reduce blood sugar levels by 19 percent in people with diabetes and by 34 percent in people with insulin resistance.

Acetic acid may help lower blood sugar levels by suppressing enzymes required to break down sugars, resulting in slower absorption.

The best way to keep blood sugar levels steady is to eat a balanced diet, eat at regular intervals, and engage in a moderately strenuous program of physical activity. If you have diabetes or insulin resistance syndrome, follow your healthcare provider's advice.

Libido

Posted by Michael (Clarksville, Indiana) on 09/03/2008
★★★★★

I have started taking Apple Cider Vinegar two days ago...And I am having a side effect that no one else so far has reported. My sex drive has doubled. As well as my energy has went through the roof. No weight yet but have only been taking it for a couple of days...Will update later...

Iodine Depletion

Posted by Sean (Toronto, Canada) on 08/18/2008

Just came to know that my itching was due to another problem. An insect bite. Just wanted to post this clarification. I am very happy with ACV and Honey drink and no complaints. Thanks!

Sinus Infections and Sinusitis

Posted by Jean (Las Vegas, Nevada) on 08/14/2008
★★★★★

Apple Cider Vinegar has cured my chronic sinus infection.

About 4 years ago a root-canal on an upper back tooth developed an abcess that drained into my sinus. For two years I had a chronic sinus infection on that side and it seemed as though I would never be able to breath through my nose again! Anti-histamines, antibiotics, nasal sprays & saline rinses would knock down the pain and swelling temporarily, but nothing worked permanently until I found this site and started using ACV & baking soda. I used 2 TBS ACV and 1/4 tsp baking soda morning and night in small glasses of fruit juice. Put the ACV in the glass first, then the Baking soda (it will foam up and then subside) then fill with fruit juice.

Almost immediately the sinus started to drain and I can't describe the yucky blod filled mucous that came out at first. Gradually, the discharge became clear and now I feel "normal" for the first time in years. I can even smell the roses again!

GERD

Posted by Maggie (Brick, New Jersey) on 08/13/2008
★★★★★

I have suffered with GERD with a year. I could not eat tomato sauce, choclate, soda or fried foods (basically 90% of my diet :). I also could not lie flat in bed. The pain was constant, no matter what I ate, how I ate, when etc. I was put on the typial meds which either did nothing or made the pain worse. I was eating antacids like tic tacs. I asked the MD why I developed GERD as I have no risk factors for it and was unsatisifed with the answer of "it just happens". As a nurse, I need to know the reason why. The pain had to stop. I was not going to go through this the rest of my life. I came across your web-site and thank you and Thank God!! I used the regular ACV and it worked a little. My sister in law talked me into trying the organic ACV with the enzymes and I have used it for two weeks AND HAVE HAD NO PAIN!! I am back to eating whatever I want. I realized I felt better when I had raviloi for lunch followed by pizza for dinner and NOTHING HAPPENED! Previously, I would have been in pain for hours and eating meds and not able to lie down. I still get pain in my stomach if I'm stressed out, combined with bad food, and I rely on an OTC med that works, now one pill is all I need. But I have gone to eating meds to taking nothing!! I checked with my MD first who could neither recommend or dissuade me from using it, but he had no problems with me using it and basically said "knock yourself out". Thank you for being there for us who suffer and I wish someone would do a study on this so that others could be pain free as well.I can also sleep flat again, and on my back, with no pain. I take a tblsp in the morning in 12-16 oz water (be sure to shake the bottle) and again at night before bed. I feel great otherwise as well. It's like my stomach is happy!! Thank you thank you thank you.

Recipes

Posted by TERESA (GREENSBORO, NC) on 08/10/2008
★★★★★

I FOUND THE VINEGAR TASTE IS NOT SO BAD IF I ADD ONE OR TWO PACKETS OF PRE-MEASURED STEVIA W/2 TSP OF VINEGAR, W/6 TO 8 OZ WATER. UNREFINED, ORGANIC ACV WITH MOTHER IS AN INEXPENSIVE PROBIOTIC. I SIP IT THROUGHOUT THE DAY, AS A BEVERAGE. I ONLY USE DISTILLED VINEGAR FOR CLEANING.

Iodine Depletion

Posted by Sean (Toronto, Canada) on 08/05/2008

Dear Ted, Firstly, I want to convey my heart felt thanks for the awesome job you have done in posting your tips! God Bless you!!

Could you comment on the ACV's role in affecting Iodine in the body? I started taking ACV + Honey for the last 20 days, and my skin is excessively itchy and resulting in small bumps / rashes on the skin where-ever I scratch. At times, it is so bad I scratch so much that I see blood.

I worry if this is caused by ACV impacting my iodine levels in the body? I am a borderline Hypo thyroid patient and trying the ACV remedy to see if it helps my hair regrow (I have very very thin hair).

Please advise. Thanks!

Foot Health

Posted by John (Lanarkshire, UK) on 07/26/2008
★★★★★

Put about a pint of distilled white or cider vinegar into a basin of warm water and soak feet. This deodorizes and softens calluses at the same time. Rinsing socks in this solution after washing acts like a built-in odour eater.