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.

General Feedback

18 User Reviews
5 star (9) 
  50%
1 star (5) 
  28%
(4) 
  22%

Posted by Firepiperpat (Halton Hills, Ontario, Canada ) on 08/31/2010

A message to Earth Clinic: Why are you not fans of the baking soda/ACV mix? Do you feel that the addition of the baking soda adds too much sodium to be healthy?

Secondly, if our bodies are meant to be slightly alkaline, doesn't consuming ACV add MORE acid to our system? Won't my body then try to neutralize the acidity by drawing calcium from my bones to maintain the proper pH, which might lead to a calcium deficit leading to osteoporosis?


General Feedback
Posted by Carlos Viccino (Piracicaba, São Paulo Brazil) on 08/12/2010

Dear friends, I would ask about the worms that exist in the vinegar, especially in apple vinegar is not filtered or treated much to inhibit the growth of these worms. Wonder if is bad for health? Or if they grow and create a population in the stomach. Anyway, what is the truth about these parasitic worms of vinegar, for those who make use of apple cider vinegar for health? Is it dangerous? dangerous as there are worms that attack the human body. I look back, Grateful, Carlos Viccino

Replied by Leslie
(New Castle, Pa)
08/13/2010

Carlos, those aren't worms. It is sediment from the unfiltered vinegar. This milky, cloudy, and stringy looking stuff at the bottom of the container is what contains the healthiest part of the mixture. It also lets you know that the important vitamins and minerals, enzymes, and naturally occurring good bacteria have not been compromised due to over processing, filtration, or excessive heating. Before consuming, shake the bottle gently to thoroughly distribute all of the nutrients, pour, and serve.


General Feedback
Posted by David (Newburyport, Mass, Usa) on 02/23/2010

Anyone experiencing stomach discomfort after taking that particular apple cider vinegar should switch brands. the type of wooden barrel the cider is aged in can contain resin that can get into the applecider. it's not the acv vinegar thats bothering the stomach ie., bloating, cramping and gas pains etc...it's the resin from the barrel !


General Feedback
Posted by J (Los Angeles, Ca USA) on 07/02/2009

For everyone using ACV (Apple Cider Vinegar) on a more than rare instance, please note the following in my research of the product from webmd.com

http://www.webmd.com/diet/apple-cider-vinegar?page=3

Should I Use Apple Cider Vinegar?

The answer depends on how you want to use apple cider vinegar. As a salad dressing, you should be fine. But TAKEN AS A DAILY medical treatment, it could be a little more risky. Yes, some studies of applecider vinegar are intriguing. But a lot more research needs to be done. Right now, there is not enough evidence that apple cider vinegar -- or any vinegar -- has any health benefit for any condition. Since the benefits are unknown, so are the risks.

I think its a great option to help relieve the pain and suffering of various issues etc., but figured since everyone was somewhat glorifying ACV on the site I had to research it, and think this should be posted so people aren't overding it... apparently it has been known if used too often to lead to potentially osteoperosis (bone thinning) and a slew of other things. Do your research people, please, for you.

Thank you for this site and the posts though, great great ideas and great great remedies. Being added to my favorites list b/c I dont prefer pill popping and shots to fix ailments/sickness etc.

Best, J

Replied by Knute
(Sacramento, CA)
07/02/2009

While the information at WebMD is interesting, and I often like to refer to it also, it must mentioned that WebMD is very much in line with standard mainstream medicine.

Regardless, when proponents of standard medicine voice their concern for risks of different alternative ways, we should always keep the following in mind:

A fully referenced report from a few years back showed that as many as 2.2 million people in the US have in-hospital, adverse reactions to prescribed drugs per year, and 8.9 million were exposed to unnecessary hospitalizations. But the biggest one is this: US number of deaths caused by conventional medicine annually: 783,936.

So, without a doubt, there are HUGE risks with standard mainstream medicine...

Morale: Always consider the source when they talk about risks!

Replied by Frank
(Charlotte, Nc)
10/15/2010

I whole heartedly agree. Of course doctors are going to shoot down any inexpensive natural remedy because they can't capitalize on it. They are all about drugs and treatments because it makes them and the drug companies money. I will take the natural remedies any day of the week and twice on Sunday. I have had great success with ACV, as well as cayenne pepper. They have worked better for me than any prescribed drugs.

Replied by Len
(Toronto, Ontario, Canada)
02/02/2012

In regards to doctors and pharmaceutical companies and not recommending "home" cures (that may or may not work--I believe ACV works by the way) because there is no profit in killing cancer (or whatever), I came across a quote somewhere (maybe even here) that bears repeating:

A live sheep can be sheared many times, but you can only kill him once.


General Health Tonic

3 User Reviews
5 star (2) 
  67%
1 star (1) 
  33%

Posted by Swear By It! (Lawrenceburg, Kentucky, Usa) on 03/07/2011

I swear by this remedy. I can prove it. I have lots of people who didn't believe me at first. But I have a public job. Work with lots of germs and sickness all around me, and I have not been sick this year. I did not get a shot. I take this whenever I feel the need for it. I feel like a million bucks! I use 2 tsp. Apple cider vinegar"with the mother", 2 tsp local honey, 1/2 cup of room temp water. I stir until honey is dissolved. Drink quickly, then chug lots of water. All day. 30 minutes later, I feel great!!! I got rid of sore throat with this, 3 times a day, with plenty of water. That is what the Doctor will tell you to do. Drink plenty of clear liquids... But with the added fighter, ACV"with the mother". I really and truly believe this is the cure we have all been looking for.

I have a bad thyroid and take levythyroxin daily. I don't take the ACV everyday. Just when someone around me is sick. Or when I feel that first symptom of a cold. And I am not getting sick. I am a seven year cancer survivor of Hodgkins Lymphoma and intend to find the cure to cancer one day. I am hot on the trail! I feel better than I ever had! There are numerous things that are good for us, but one that truly comes from the fruit of the earth, apples, vinegar comes from the apple, which God put before us. Let's use the old knowledge and learn from it. And use it.. Pure water, pure honey, pure apple cider vinegar. It purifies your body inside out! Swear by it!


General Health Tonic
Posted by Amyjoe (South Island, New Zealand) on 07/13/2009
★★★★★

I have been taking ACV along with manuka honey which also contains many healing properties, so far so good, every now and then i will add 1 clove of garlic by crushing and adding to it, im feeling great and will continue with this as long as i need too, thank you all for the awesome stories and knowledge you have all shared. Kia Kaha


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.

Replied by Reader
(La, Ca)
11/10/2009
★☆☆☆☆

WARNING!

To Earth Clinic: Roz from Calgary, Canada's comment on ACV as a general health tonic is mostly very positive, but she warns that a doctor thinks it caused her husband's stomach bleeding, so it would help readers if you label the post as also having a warning.


GERD

2 User Reviews
5 star (2) 
  100%

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.


GERD
Posted by Denise (Tahlequah, OK)
★★★★★

I am a 31 year old college student who also works full time. Lots of stress and the desire to eat spicy foods has led to a problem with GERD. The doctors gave me Zantac and other medicines, but not being a fan of medicine I searched for other options. My chiropractor told me to try organic apple cider vinegar. I picked up a bottle of' vinegar at my health food store and started drinking it with honey and water a couple of times a day. The combination cured my reflux problem and also gives me energy. I also have found that I have not been sick and I have been taking this for over four months. I read that apple cider vinegar is also has a natural antibiotic effect. It cleanses the body. You can try the vinegar you get in the store but for all the benefits organic vinegar with the 'Mother' is your best bet. I drink the vinegar and even eat it with my food on a daily basis. It really does work.

EC: Read hundreds more testimonials and cures here.


Gout

3 User Reviews
5 star (3) 
  100%

Posted by Deirdre (Mission, B.c. Canada, British Columbia, Canada) on 08/12/2010

I have arthritis and a naturopath tested that my blood has acid crystals. I checked with Dr. Paul C. _____'s book "Apple Cider Vinegar Health System" and he advocates = 2 tsp Apple Cider Vinegar with 1 tsp honey in small glass of water, twice a day. Apparently when acid crystals are allowed to harden in joints and tissues, joints become stiff and tissues are hardened. When acv programme is given the precipitated acid crystals enter into a solution form and pass out of the body. Have you any thoughts on this?

Replied by Alain
(Ottawa, Ontario, Canada)
08/12/2010

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


Gout
Posted by Mae (Maumelle,AR)
★★★★★

ACV is a miracle cure. The whole world should know about it! It's cured my family af allergies, my husband of gout, my dogs of skin ailments...we love it..its changed our lives.


Gout
Posted by Al (Big Lake, MN)
★★★★★

I was having the worst gout attack in years, the pain brought me to tears, as my left foot was swollen to the ankle. Ibuprofen did not work even in large doses. My wife gave me 2 tbsp of organic apple cider vinegar mixed with 2 tbspn of organic honey (2 times daily); within 3 hours I was walking around with minimal pain and 1 day later I was able to put on my shoes and walk with little pain on the third day it's almost all gone. Amazing, considering it usually lasts for at least 1 week, I am an absolute believer in this remedy.

EC: Click here for more testimonials about ACV curing gout!


Gout
Posted by Phil (Wales, UK)
★★★★★

I have been taking 2 Tablespoons cider vinegar plus 1 Tablespoon of honey in 1/2 cup of boiled water 3 times a day for the last 3-4 weeks, plus doing chi kung exercises and have been able to stop taking piroxicam for gout (I've got the tablets nearby just in case!). I use Aspells organic cider vinegar - I live in Wales so _______'s cv is presumably not available.


Hair and Scalp

3 User Reviews
5 star (3) 
  100%

Posted by Brijette (Bettendorf, Iowa)
★★★★★

My Chiropractor told me to use vinegar on my baby girl's cradle cap. I applied it straight and let it sit for 10 minutes before her bath. I've done this only four times now and her cradle cap is almost gone already!!! Maybe this straight vinegar treatment could work for other scalp problems as well.

Replied by Tina
(Sunnyvale, California)
05/27/2008

The ACV may work on dandruff but boy it smells horrible. I tried the lime juice (yes, fresh squeeze lime juice) and it does clean my scalp like nothing else. You may want to apply the juice on your scalp for 20 minutes and then rinse it off with a little bit of shampoo. I've been doing this once every week now.


Hair and Scalp
Posted by Anne (USA)
★★★★★

I have dark hair which is very oily. I use apple cider vinegar as a hair rinse, it helps to dissolve buildup, which results in much shinier hair. It has also been very beneficial for my dandruff.



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