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Many Tried and True Home Remedies Use The Natural Healing Benefits of Apple Cider Vinegar

Many of the home remedies for common ailments listed below, call for a tonic of apple cider vinegar (ACV) made by mixing 2 or 3 teaspoons of ACV in an 8 ounce glass of water and drinking this before or during each meal.
 
By taking this nutritious tonic you will, at the very least, be helping to reduce the nutrient deficiencies that result from a typical western diet containing many processed, refined foods.Natural healing Apple cider vinegar kills germs and nourishes the body at the same time, so have a look at some of the many different ways people have been benefiting from the external and internal application of this folk medicine.

ACNE BLEMISHES
Apply a solution of apple cider vinegar and water (2 tablespoons to 1 eight ounce glass of water) with a cotton ball several times a day. This will help reduce infection and dry out inflammation.

Another natural healing home remedy calls for the daily application of apple cider vinegar which has been infused with horseradish. Prepare the solution by adding two cups of ACV to one pound of grated horseradish. Let it sit for two weeks, then strain.

AGE SPOTS
Apply daily, to these darkened areas of the skin, a solution containing 2 teaspoons of apple cider vinegar and 1 teaspoon of onion juice. According to this home remedy, the spots should begin to fade within 2 weeks.

ARTHRITIS HELP
Message the sore joints with a liniment made up of 2 egg whites, ½ cup apple cider vinegar, and ¼ cup olive oil. Also, simply taking the apple cider vinegar tonic (2 or 3 teaspoons to 8 ounces of water) before each meal has been an effective natural healing home remedy for many people.

ASTHMA
Some people have found relief from mild asthma by taking the apple cider vinegar tonic along with applying a vinegar-soaked compress to the inside of the wrists.

ATHLETE'S FOOT
Athlete's foot and toenail fungus are both fungal infections, which are quite difficult to get rid of. One of the best home remedies involves soaking the feet twice a day in a 50/50 mixture of apple cider vinegar and water. Or, you can apply pure apple cider vinegar to the affected areas several times a day and before bedtime.

BLEEDING NOSE
Soak a cotton ball in pure apple cider vinegar, have the person lay his head back and then place it in the bleeding nostril. This home remedy will help stop the bleeding quicker.

BLOOD PRESSURE
Take 1 tablespoon of apple cider vinegar and 1 tablespoon of honey in a glass of water twice a day to help lower blood pressure. The high potassium values in both natural healing substances helps to balance out sodium levels in the body, which aids in maintaining blood pressure within healthy limits. Apple cider vinegar and honey also contain magnesium, a mineral that works to relax blood vessel walls and thus lower high blood pressure. To maximize the benefit of this and other home remedies, take the holistic approach, and couple this with dietary modifications such as a reduced fat and salt intake, moderate coffee and alcohol, no smoking, and daily exercise.

BONE HEALTH
Due to its mineral content, Apple cider vinegar helps to sustain bone mass and fight against osteoporosis. The important minerals involved include manganese, magnesium, phosphorus, calcium, and silicon. Take the general apple cider vinegar tonic (2 or 3 teaspoons to 8 ounces of water) to boost the body's supply of these minerals. Click here to find more about the mineral content of apple cider vinegar.

BRUISES
Dissolve 1 teaspoon of salt in ½ cup of warm apple cider vinegar and apply it to the bruise as a compress.

BURNS
Apply pure apple cider vinegar to the burn, whether it's from the sun or a hot surface, to reduce the pain, to disinfect, and to supply nutrient required for healing.

CANCER PREVENTION
Apples and apple cider vinegar contain numerous substances that protect against many types of cancer. They contain beta-carotene, a powerful antioxidant, and phytochemicals such as flavonoids and polyphenols that are also protective against cancer formation. Plus they both contain pectin, a soluble fiber, which binds certain cancer causing compounds in the colon and speeds up their elimination from the body. For more information on soluble fiber click here. So eat an apple a day and take the general apple cider vinegar tonic home remedy (2 or 3 teaspoons to 8 ounces of water) to maximize these benefits.

CHOLESTEROL REDUCTION
It is thaught that the water soluble fiber pectin, found in apple cider vinegar, absorbs fats and cholesterol and eliminates them from the body. And at the same time, the amino acids present in apple cider vinegar neutralize some of the harmful oxidized LDL cholesterol.

Recently, researchers from Mizkan, a japanese food manufacturer, reported that regular vinegar intake of 3 teaspoons (15 ml) or more per day can significantly lower the level of cholesterol in a persons blood. They found that acetic acid, the major ingredient in vinegar, is responsible for this effect. The results were presented at the 59th Annual Meeting for the Japanese Society of Nutrition and Food Science in May 2005.

Maximize this benefit by taking the apple cider vinegar tonic home remedy (2 or 3 teaspoons to 8 ounces of water) and increasing the amount of fiber rich food in your diet (more fruits and vegetables) while reducing the amount of saturated and unsaturated fat.

COLDS
At the first sign of a cold, take 1 teaspoon of apple cider vinegar in half a cup of water several times a day. The body becomes more alkaline during a cold and the vinegar will help to rebalance the body's acid level.If you have a chest cold, a long-standing home remedy calls for soaking a piece of brown paper in vinegar then sprinkling one side of it with black pepper. Place the peppered side of the paper on the chest, cover with a towel, and relax for 20 minutes.

CONSTIPATION
A low fiber diet and the reduction in digestive acids and enzymes as we age, can lead to constipation. More fruits and vegetables and a daily tonic of apple cider vinegar (2 or 3 teaspoons to 8 ounces of water) is a natural healing home remedy to combat constipation.

CORN AND CALLUS TREATMENT
Soak your feet for half an hour in a warm bath containing half a cup of apple cider vinegar. Use a clean pumice stone to rub the affected areas then apply pure apple cider vinegar and cover with a bandage. Reapply vinegar and bandage the following morning.

COUGHS
A home remedy to sooth a nighttime cough is to sprinkle apple cider vinegar on a cloth placed on a pillow.

CRAMPS
Muscle cramps can be caused by a calcium and magnesium imbalance in the body and by a lack of vitamin E. To help prevent the recurrence of cramps, take a regular tonic of apple cider vinegar (2 or 3 teaspoons to 8 ounces of water) along with 1 teaspoon of honey.

DANDRUFF
Apply pure apple cider vinegar to the scalp and work it into the roots of the hair; allow the vinegar to stand for a half hour or a full hour before washing your hair. This will help to destroy the bacteria and fungus that cause dandruff and itchy scalp.

DIABETES
A daily tonic of apple cider vinegar (2 or 3 teaspoons to 8 ounces of water) supplies dietary fiber and other ingredients, which are beneficial in controlling blood glucose levels. As well, the acids and enzymes promote better digestion and nutrient absorption, which is impaired in many diabetes sufferers. This home remedy has been the subject of new research that shows that apple cider vinegar can help lower blood sugar levels.

DIAPER RASH
Use a 50/50 mixture of apple cider vinegar and water to eliminate the bacteria and fungus that cause diaper rash.

DIARRHEA
Pectin, the water soluble fiber in apple cider vinegar, will help to absorb water in the intestines and provide more bulk for the stool. Also, intestinal bacteria transforms pectin into a protective coating which sooths the irritated lining. The well known over the counter diarrhea preparation, Kaopectate contains pectin. So take the natural healing apple cider vinegar tonic (2 or 3 teaspoons to 8 ounces of water) to help eliminate diarrhea.

DIGESTION
As we age, it is common for people to produce less stomach acid (hydrochloric acid) which can lead to digestive problems. Taking the apple cider vinegar tonic home remedy (2 or 3 teaspoons to 8 ounces of water) before a meal will enhance the action of your stomach's acid and digestive enzymes.

EAR INFECTIONS
Use an ear syringe (found at drug stores) to squirt a vinegar solution into the ear and let it sit for a minute or so, then turn your head and let the liquid drain out.

The vinegar solution can be a 50/50 mixture of ACV and pure water, a 50/50 mixture of ACV and rubbing alcohol or a solution consisting of one-third vinegar, one-third pure water, and one-third rubbing alcohol.

If the ear problem persists, see a health professional.

ECZEMA
To help relieve the itching and dryness of eczema, apply a 50/50 mixture of apple cider vinegar and water to the affected areas.

FATIGUE
Fatigue can be caused by a build up lactic acid in the body during exercise or periods of stress. The amino acids found in apple cider vinegar can neutralize the excess lactic acid in the bloodstream and the potassium and enzymes obtained through regular use of a vinegar tonic can help beat fatigue.

FLATULENCE
Many people avoid eating certain foods such as beans due to the gas they produce in the body. This gas is a result of incomplete digestion and can be minimized by soaking the beans in apple cider vinegar prior to cooking them.

FOOT CARE
Try this home remedy for sore and tired feet which sometimes ache at the end of a long day: Add a cup of apple cider vinegar to a basin of warm water and allow your feet to soak for 15 minutes.

HEADACHES
Research has shown that people have slightly more alkaline urine when they have a headache. An apple cider vinegar tonic will help restore your body's acid/alkaline balance. According to one home remedy, inhaling the vapors from a small bottle of apple cider vinegar can also help or if you have a vaporizer, add some cider vinegar to the water and inhale the vapors for five minutes.

HEARTBURN (ACID REFLUX)
Heartburn or acid reflux is a condition in which some of the acid content of the stomach periodically backs up into the esophagus through the lower esophagus sphincter valve.

Even though testimonials abound throughout the net on the effectiveness of using apple cider vinegar to relieve heartburn, no scientific studies have been done to substantiate this. A recent survey, however, conducted at the Earth Clinic web site found that vinegar was the best of all the home remedies suggested to relieve heartburn or acid reflux.

So to relieve occasional heartburn, try drinking the general apple cider vinegar tonic home remedy (2 or 3 teaspoons to 8 ounces of water) before each meal.
At the same time reduce your consumption of foods which can increase heartburn such as alcohol, coffee, chocolate, peppermint, and fatty or fried foods.

HEMORRHOIDS
Apply the natural healing abilities of pure apple cider vinegar directly to hemorrhoids to help reduce stinging and promote shrinking. Use a cotton ball to apply the vinegar every few hours until symptoms are relieved.

HICCUPS
To stop hiccups, try sipping a glass of warm water in which one teaspoon of apple cider vinegar has been mixed in. This is a lot simpler than many other home remedies for hiccups.

INSECT BITES AND STINGS
Bee and wasp stings, as well as itchy mosquito bites can be soothed by applying undiluted apple cider vinegar to the affected area.

INSOMNIA
Dr Jarvis in his book "Folk Medicine" recommends the use of honey and apple cider vinegar for those who have a hard time falling asleep at night. Mix one tablespoon of apple cider vinegar in one cup of honey and take two teaspoons of this mixture just before going to bed. Repeat after an hour if required. (You can sleep on that one!)

JELLYFISH STINGS (Chironex Fleckeri and Chiropsalmus Quadrigatus)
The sting of the large box jellyfish, found along the northern tropical coastline of Australia, can be deadly. The venom injected by these animals is capable of killing humans within minutes. When a sting occurs, pieces of tentacle may be left in the victims skin which can continue to release venom. However, by dousing the sting area with regular vinegar (5% acetic acid content), the further release of poison will be rapidly and completely stopped.
That's why Australian lifeguards always keep vinegar on hand and it's their initial first aid treatment of choice.

Reference:
Australian Resuscitation Council Guideline 8.9.6 ( Web Link )

LEG CRAMPS
Take the apple cider vinegar tonic regularly (2 or 3 teaspoons to 8 ounces of water) to help the body's absorption of calcium and magnesium and thus protect against painful leg cramps.

MENSTRUAL PROBLEMS
A glass of apple cider tonic (2 or 3 teaspoons to 8 ounces of water) in the morning has been reported to help reduce the flow of a heavy period.

MORNING SICKNESS
Many women experience nausea and vomiting, often in the morning, during the first three months of pregnancy.A home remedy reported to help keep morning sickness at bay involves simply drinking, as soon as you get up, a glass of water containing a teaspoon of apple cider vinegar.

NIGHT SWEATS & HOT FLASHES
Apple cider vinegar has helped reduce hot flashes and night sweats for some menopausal women who for various reasons can't take hormones. Use the apple cider vinegar tonic regularly. (2 or 3 teaspoons to 8 ounces of water)

POISON IVY & POISON OAK
The health and fitness expert Patricia Bragg recommends spraying a solution of equal parts apple cider vinegar and distilled water on to the affected areas to stop the pain, itching and ease the swelling. Cooling the spray in the refrigerator will provide even more relief.

SINUSITIS
To help relieve the pain of sinusitis, both Patrick Quillin PhD ( in his book Amazing Honey Garlic and Vinegar) and Cynthia Holzapfel ( in her book Apple Cider Vinegar for Weight Loss and Good Health) suggest drinking a glass of water with 1 or 2 teaspoons of ACV added, every hour for 6 to 8 hours.

For sinus headache, Marie Nadine Antol, in her book The Incredible Secrets of Vinegar, recommends adding an eight of a cup of ACV to a cool-air vaporizer and inhaling the infused-air directly for 5 minutes.
After that lie down for 20 minutes and wait for your respiratory passages to clear.

SORE THROAT
One of many natural healing home remedies for a sore throat involves gargling with a mixture of 1 teaspoon of apple cider vinegar to half a cup of water, using 3 mouthfuls of mixture each hour. As P. Bragg warns in her book "Apple Cider Vinegar-Miracle Health System", don't swallow the gargled mixture, because ACV acts like a sponge drawing out throat and mouth germs and toxins.

SUN BURNS
If the sunburn is localized, apply full strength apple cider vinegar on the affected skin to obtain relief. Do this by soaking a thin towel in apple cider vinegar and placing it over the burn. Leave it on to help prevent peeling and itching. If the sunburn covers a large part of the body then try this home remedy recommended by Patricia Bragg in her book called Apple Cider Vinegar-Miracle Health System: Take a cool bath in which one cup of ACV has been added. After soaking in the bath, gently dry the body and pat ACV directly onto the needed areas. Wait 5 minutes, then pat on aloe vera gel.

ULCERS
A preliminary study in Japan showed that taking a weak vinegar solution can give over 95% protection from alcohol-induced ulcers.

URINARY TRACT INFECTIONS
Drink a daily tonic of apple cider vinegar to help you keep the right pH balance in the urinary tract since the proper acidity creates an inhospitable environment for bacteria and yeasts that cause these infections. Cranberry juice is also a well known home remedy for urinary tract infections. It prevents bacteria from attaching to the walls of the urinary tract.
For a tasty drink, try adding 2 teaspoons of apple cider vinegar to an eight ounce glass of cranberry juice and benefit from both home remedies at the same time.

VARICOSE VEINS
Dr Jarvis notes that the following folk remedy is used not only in Vermont but also in Scotland, England and Germany. Apply undiluted apple cider vinegar to the varicose veins at night and in the morning, and take two teaspoons of ACV in a glass of water twice a day. Shrinking of the veins will be noticed after one month.

WARTS
Patricia Bragg cautions: do not rub warts since this could spread them. Apply an ACV soaked gauze bandage to the wart overnight and in the morning replace it with a castor oil soaked gauze bandage. At night alternate the ACV with crushed fresh garlic and vitamin E (prick open capsule).

WEIGHT LOSS
The use of apple cider vinegar as a home remedy for weight loss is centuries old. Dr Jarvis maintained that an overweight person could lose weight gradually by taking 2 teaspoons of ACV in a glass of water at each meal. No change in the daily food intake is required except to avoid high fat containing foods.

YEAST INFECTION
According to one home remedy, relief can be obtained by the use of a vinegar douche,  
consisting of 2 tablespoons of ACV mixed in one quart of warm water, applied twice a day until the burning and itching symptoms of the infection have stopped. Frequent douching however is no longer recommended, since recent studies have shown that this can cause more harm than good! So, if you tend to get frequent yeast infections, try to find the cause (such as antibiotic use or a diet too high in refined sugars) and reduce or eliminate it.

A vinegar bath, prepared by adding one cup of ACV to the bath water, can also help provide external relief.