Apple Cider Vinegar
Health Benefits

Apple Cider Vinegar: Uses, Health Benefits and FAQ

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.
Broad Benefits
Posted by Chuck (Springfield, MO USA) on 01/21/2009
★★★★★

ACV-Joint Pain/Weight Loss/more:

Im a 42yo wm who was suffering from elbow joint pain and had blood pressure so high it was giving me headaches occasionaly..I was about 195lbs and 6"0 tall so was not alot overweight but just didnt feel right. Because I dont have good insurance I decided in june of 2008 to try ACV to see if it would work for me before going to the doctor.YOU MUST BUY REAL ACV,unpasturized and with the MOTHER> DO Not buy ACV at the grocery store as it will be pasturized and a waste of time.. I went to a local health food store and bought ___ACV with the MOTHER>Im not promoting ___,its the only one Ive tried, Im sure theres other good brands out there. If the ACV you buy is dirty looking and it says it has the MOTHER, then its probably good (do your own research)

Anyway..I started by taking 2tablespoons in a small glass of water twice a day, and within 2 days my joint pain went away and my energy level went way up...This stuff tastes nasty but after you realize how much it is helping you you will get use to it.. I havent had a headache since I started taking ACV,h ave lost 15lbs,and havent had a twinge of pain in any joints... Its been 19 months, Im a much happier and healthier person...Remember Im taking 2 tablespoons, NOT teaspoons, twice a day...once in the morning and mid-afternoon. Dont ignore your doctor if you think you need one,but Im sure this product has changed my health for the better!


Broad Benefits
Posted by Janice (Mpls, MN) on 01/16/2009
★★★★★

After just a few days of taking only 2 tsp of ACV, my acne and dandruff completely cleared up. It has also helped with symptoms of PMS and insomnia, and I now have much more energy from taking it on a daily basis. I do find it is hard on my tooth enamel, so I make sure I sip it through a straw.


Broad Benefits
Posted by T (Maryland, USA) on 01/16/2009

Put it in apple juice. Myself and my very picky and perceptive child have no problems taking it this way. It blends right in...no surprise really, "apples to apples" ;) Experiment with different amounts to find the least amount that will disguise the taste enough for you. We drink it with plenty of water alongside.


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


Broad Benefits
Posted by River (Southampton, UK) on 01/10/2009
★★★★★

I was desperately looking for natural remedies for lots minor and not so minor ailments I have. I have rhinitis allergy, asthma, reflux, hot flushes, hair thining, insomina when I came across your website! you have changed my life. I have definete improvement in all but the reflux (and too early to say if hair loss will improve ) with ACV. It is early days though. I did not think it would work so quickly. Thank you so much. I have taken 2 table spoons of organic ACV in half a glass of water twice dailly for the past week and already noticed a change. Thank you!


Broad Benefits
Posted by Lovectac (Greensboro, NC) on 12/30/2008
★★★★★

I bought the organic apple cidar vinegar and I take it twice a day (1 tbsp in the a.m. with a cup of ice water and the same in the p.m., generally a half hour to an hour before going to bed.) Now since I haven't been taking it on a routine basis, I can't say if I've lost weight, however, my hair dresser told me recently that my hair was growing (I hadn't noticed). I felt less sluggish and my appetite didn't increase. Starting for the New Year, I'm going to drink it twice a day everyday and closely monitor the results and report back. One more thing, at first I did experience a pain in my lower right side in the back but after a few weeks it subsided. I read on this site that that may happen. I stopped drinking it but then after about 2 weeks being off of it, I started drinking it again and didn't experience the pain. Good luck to all and good health to you.


Broad Benefits
Posted by Dianna (Austin, Texas) on 12/28/2008
★★★★★

i have tried apple cider vinegar in the past with mixed results. i have diabetes and take insulin. when i started taking ACV before i was taking 1 tablespoon and it really did lower my blood sugar - in fact i had to make sure that i ate enough carbs or it would be too low - like in the 40's. also it was giving me very bad gas. i was taking it in a glass of water 2x a day and my teeth were becoming sensitive.

well, i started taking it again - but this time in a much smaller dose. now i put it in a dropper bottle and take a dropper - approx. 1/2 - 1 teaspoon and i put it in the back of my throat so it doesn't touch my teeth.

this works much better for me and i do get some of the blood sugar lowering effects - but what i really noticed is that in the morning my face is not puffy. it also makes me pee a lot more and i just feel 'cleaner'. it seems like my body is 'clearer' or something. and at this dosage it isn't giving me gas. i do this 2 times a day and maybe i will be able to work up to more eventually - but for now this is helping me.


Broad Benefits
Posted by Kimberly (New York, NY USA ) on 12/14/2008
★★★★★

I would like to enthusiastically offer my support for apple cider vinegar in the cure of various skin ailments. WARTS: I dipped a very small piece of cotton in ACV, put this directly on the wart, then covered all with an air-tight bandage. I left on for c. 12 hours, then let the entire area breathe for 12 hours. I repeated for about 3 weeks, as this was a deep and large wart. The first 2 applications stung and throbbed a bit, but from then on, the entire enterprise was painless. The area eventually ulcerated--looks messy for a while--and painlessly peeled off. No more wart! As maintenance for about 3 more weeks, I dabbed a little ACV on the area, without bandage. The wart has not recurred after more than a year and a half! This really works, folks!

ACTINIC KERATOSIS: My dermatologist identified this on my skin just above my upper lip. She offered to burn it off with liquid nitrogen: no, thanks. I followed the same ACV routine, and it worked! Took a lot less time, as this keratosis was not deep.

BENIGN PAPILLOMA: I am currently eliminating a little bump from my nose that I've had for over 10 years: it is in the red and ulcerating phase and about to sluff off.

I am THRILLED with the way ACV works to remove skin ailments! This method is cheap, safe, and natural. The skin afterwards is perfectly healthy and not scarred: quite preferable to liquid nitrogen or fluorouracil-5 or other harsh chemicals. Try it!


Broad Benefits
Posted by Leslie (Jonesborough, TN) on 12/12/2008
★★★★★

I have been taking a grocery store brand of ACV for a week now. I take 2-3 tbl spoons twice a day. Once in the morning and once in the evening. It has taken my daily headaches completely away, my skin is softer, and just when I thought it wasn't helping my weight, I put on a pair of jeans that I hadn't worn in a week, and they were loose! I've been pulling them up all day! I do want to suggest to definitely get the organic kind of ACV. I believe that it will work even better than the grocery store brand. I'm going to get some today.The only side effect so far is constipation. I hope by changing to the organic ACV that that will help.


Broad Benefits
Posted by Elena (Berkeley, CA) on 12/08/2008
★★★★★

I have just starting drinking ACV and water every day for close to 3 weeks now. I have suffered from acne since I was 12 years old and I am now 36 and as I've gotten older it has gotten worse. After drinking ACV for about 2 weeks, my skin started to transform and it looks great! I've tried everything to get rid of my grossly impacted pores and my pores are almost now completely free of debris. I have started using the ACV in my clay mask as well instead of water and it has made a HUGE difference. Not only has my face cleared up but the breakouts on other body parts are also clearing up. My skin is so soft, I have more energy and I've been having regular bowl movements. I've also noticed that my lips were very dry, they are now soft with no dryness.

Initially, when I started drinking ACV my skin erupted, now in retrospect I know that my body was just pushing the toxins out of my system. Also, my skin would be so oily, truly greasy several hours after cleaning my face, now I've noticed that my face has a beautiful glow but not OILY or greasy looking like before, this stuff is amazing! And I should also report that I do look 10 years younger as well! I am now looking forward to continuing my ACV treatment and have started to really take healing myself naturally very seriously.

EC: More acne cures here:


Broad Benefits
Posted by L (Orange County, California) on 12/06/2008
★★★★★

So I was trying Apple cider vinegar to get rid of warts, which it did get rid of them. I did not realize that it would get rid of my eczema too though. I figured I would start drinking it everyday and maybe I would see a difference. After day 4 my eczema is gone. I had tried the steroid cream and it did not work. I was not using the ACV for my eczema but it took it away, I did not put it directly on my eczema, just consumed it. I have lost weight in my stomach, which I have not been able to do for years, my bloating is gone and I am having regular bowel movements. I think I am also passing parasites. My skin looks radiant, I tend to have very dry skin on my face and it gets red and itchy, not anymore, its super soft and no red. My hair looks better. I cant wait to see how this is going to affect my period. I am a couple days late and I think it might be because of the ACV but we will see. The only down side I can see about the ACV is that if I drink it too fast and not throughout the day, I get a really bad headache. First 2 days I sipped throughout the day and I was fine. 3rd day I downed a cup in the morning and I had the worst headache ever, I had to lay down. Maybe its just my body detoxing. Did anyone feel this way after the 3rd day?

Broad Benefits
Posted by Jennifer (Marion, Arkansas) on 12/11/2008

I wanted to respond to L from Orange County. I had the identical same thing happen to me. I had a horrible headache about the third day and had to lay down most of the day. I think I had failed to drink an adequate amount of water. If the ACV detoxes a person, I suppose we need to be gulping down as much water as possible and I think I only had a couple of glasses of water the day before. When I increased my water intake, things got a whole lot better. But my skin has transformed. I am a chronic-acne sufferer and the change with the ACV has been unbelievable. I also have an increased sex drive that is almost ridiculous. I have been scaring my poor husband to death. Its a new me and he's wondering where the old me went. All in all we are enjoying the changes. I just hope I don't experience too many more bad headaches.


Broad Benefits
Posted by Frances (Blanchard, LA) on 12/02/2008
★★★★★

I have been using the apple cider remedy off and on for the last 3 weeks. Because I was laid off from work the state run insurance decided that I did not need the Acid Reflux med. They said I could use the over the counter stuff. After 6 months of agony I went to the internet and found the acid reflux remedy. It has been a great relief to me and it also has cleared my skin which really surprised. I use the apple cider vinegar to rinse my hair too.

I have been using 1 teaspoon to 8 oz of water. I use about a 1/4 cup of vinegar in a large 20 oz cup water shampoo and the rinse with the vinegar.


Broad Benefits
Posted by Lori (Hammond, Indiana) on 11/26/2008
★★★★★

For about 2 yrs. I've been suffering from UTI's/Bladder Infections and most recently, Yeast Infections. I have been to the ER I don't know how many times, then I found a dr. that deals in that. I kept having UTI's and Bladder Infections and he kept prescribing my antiboitics, it got to the point where the antiboitics stopped working, I recently tried the ACV and I feel so much better! It really works. If I knew about this a long time ago it would of saved me a lot of trips to the ER. And I also love the added things it does for me, I have A TON of energy, my hair looks and feels a lot better, I went for a check-up last Monday and I lost 4 lbs. and I wasn't even trying. Trust me ladies, u should try the ACV!

Broad Benefits
Posted by Mel (New York) on 01/05/2012

Hi Lori!
I know this thread is super old, but I've been suffering from chronic yeast infections for over two years now and am recently getting bladder infections and UTI's which I had just thought i'd have to add to the checklist of ailments I've suffered from... I'm definitely planning to try this stuff.. Just wondering, is it still working for you?? Thanks!


Broad Benefits
Posted by Stacey (Greensboro, North Carolina) on 11/14/2008
★★★★★

I've been using apple cider vinegar for about 2 months now, and I have to admit that it does give you glowing skin. I drink one tablespoon of organic unfiltered ACV in a glass of water once a day and use regular filtered as a skin toner on my face twice a day. I'm in my late 20's and have acne, and I saw immediate results in 2 days. My skin glows, even when I have a break out. I use other products for acne, but I have noticed that break outs are reduced.

Additionally, drinking ACV has helped my acid reflux. I do not exactly understand how consuming an acid helps, but it does. I suppose it is possible that my stomach does not have to produce and excessive amount of acid if I am ingesting one.

As a side effect, I did notice that I had the constipation problem other people mentioned. I found it was worse the more ACV I drank, so I just restrict myself to 1 tablespoon per day and give my body a break from ACV at least one day a week.

Weightloss-wise, I've not noticed any results, but I think this is because I am not significantly over-weight and eat a healthy diet in the first place. I'm a 5'8'' 155lbs woman, so even a 5-10lbs loss from drinking ACV would be a bit drastic. I may, over an extended period, lose a bit, but I think that ACV helps more if you have not been taking any weight management measures. I think it might be helpful if more people describe their lifestyle pre-ACV in the weightloss section so that people will have a better idea of what results they can expect.

Broad Benefits
Posted by Marion (Riverside, Ca) on 11/14/2008

At 5'8 and 155 lbs you shouldn't be concerned with weight loss. You are at the ideal weight for your height.


Broad Benefits
Posted by Joyce (Joelton, Tn.) on 11/14/2008

Hi Stacey,

You might want to join the crowd following the advice of Dr. Jonathan Wright in his newsletters. Dr. Wright says that heartburn or acid reflux, also known as GERD is caused by our stomachs not producing enough acid, which would explain why ACV would help it.


Broad Benefits
Posted by Stacey (Greensboro, NC) on 11/17/2008

To Marion:

11/14/2008: Marion from Riverside, Ca replies: "At 5'8 and 155 lbs you shouldn't be concerned with weight loss. You are at the ideal weight for your height. "

You're exactly right. I'm concerned that some people may be within a relatively healthy weight for their size and still trying to lose weight. In my experience, the more overweight you are, the more drastic the results of any health plan. I do not want people to give up on ACV as a health tonic simply because they do not lose weight. ;)


Broad Benefits
Posted by Garry (Sacramento, Ca) on 12/06/2010

Just a note on Dr. Jonathan Wright - an email circulating from the HSI (Health Sciences Institute) actively promotes subscriptions to his papers and claims he won The Linus Pauling Award - if you check the web you will find no such award.


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!


Broad Benefits
Posted by Sarah (Monrovia, CA) on 11/12/2008

This and a wonderful site! thank you for providing all the treasures to us!I was lucky to find this site in Aug. and began to use ACV with honey once a day:
2 tbsp of ACV and 1 Tbsp of honey. Now I have so many benefits:
I feel more energitic than before;
I lost 5 pounds without any excercise;
I always had puffy face before, not no more puffy face, and I looked alot younger now.
I always have bloating abodomen and even pain with prolonged sitting. Now the bloating is gone! I started to try VCO last month, I put it on my face, the next morning my skin looks supple and glowing and young!
Thanks Earthclinic so many health benefits!!! I love and respect earthclinic!!!

Broad Benefits
Posted by Lara (Israel) on 05/22/2012

Hello Sarah - I know your post about ACV is from 2008.... But I was wondering if you have found any other solutions or information regarding abdomen pain and bloating from prolonged sitting (something that affects me nearly every day, and has been causing me pain on and off for many years). You are the first person I have seen mention this as a cause of pain.... In fact, after years of using Earth Clinic - this is my first post!



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