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.
Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Rob (Portland, Oregon) on 04/16/2009
★★★★★
I was on PPIs (gastritis) for around 10 years. I've taken them all. Decided to give the ACV a try to get off of Nexium. I'll be a monkey's uncle, this is the 4th day off and I feel OK. The second day rebound was hell but a little zantac quelled it. The main thing is this acv keep the acid from splashing back up. I don't know/care why it works but it does (at least with me.) I take a tablespoon 3x daily with 8 oz water. It took me about 2 weeks to work up to this level. I started off slowly and a very weak solution (around 1 teaspoon a day with a lot of water.) Too much would make me nauseous. It may be too early to tell if this is a long term fix, but going off Nexium was unthinkable a month ago. My inner alarm clock keeps reminding me to take my purple pill, but I don't need to! I am a little pissed at my doctors and drug industry at this point. All that $$, all that misery could have been avoided by drinking a little vinegar? Wow!
Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Dianna (Austin, Tx) on 04/15/2009
When i first tried taking ACV it also caused me bloating, gas and other stomach problems. So I stopped taking it and used lime juice. You could try lime juice or lemon juice instead. Just use it the same way.
Later due to the hard time I was having finding limes that have no pesticides I went back to ACV - but I now drink 1/2 a teaspoon in my bottled water per 32 ounces. This does not make me have the bloating, gas, etc.
I don't know however if this will work for GERD. But I would think that drinking the lime juice or lemon juice the same way you drank the ACV might help.
Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Kathy (Bristol, TN) on 04/15/2009
I too get constipation from ACV ritual. So I have been switching to Lemon and Baking Soda rather than ACV. Constipation still a problem but not as bad and it Seems to work the same as far as GERD, and does not cause me to be jittery. Weather has been keeping me indoors without much exercise. I take liquid magnesium, along with Vit.c, D, B and Greens. Also use a fish oil liquid mixed in yogurt. Some say molasses helps. Baking Soda is really helpful for the gerd and gripy stomach acid stuff.
Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Gigi (Palm Coast, Florida) on 04/14/2009
Hi Jason, I also experienced constipation when I first took ACV. However, when I switched to the ___ brand, with the 'mother' in it, I found it wasn't an issue any more. The ordinary supermkt ACV will cause constipation. Hope this helps.
Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Angie (South Pasadena, California) on 04/14/2009
Dear Jason: Also, take magnesium. It is a natural laxative that as far as I know is safe. Sincerely, Angie
Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Jill (Albrightsville, Pennsylvania/us) on 04/02/2009
I have been using 2 teaspoons of apple cider vinegar, 1 teaspoon of honey, and a little water about 1/2 hour before I eat breakfast. Is it supposed to be 2 tablespoons or 2 teaspoons. I read many other sites that said 2 teaspoons....
Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Noel (Mississauga, Ontario, Canada) on 03/24/2009
★★★★★
I've been suffering from acid reflux and heartburns everyday for 4 months. My Dr. prescribed me prevacid then librax but none of them help. I purchased a Acid Reflux Report over the internet and ACV is one of the cures from acid reflux. It doesn't make sense since ACV is already acid. I went to the nutrition store and hesitantly purchased ACV. I followed the instructions... to make the story short, acid reflux is gone and I just hope it's all the way through. ACV will now be part of my diet.
Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Greg (Fremont, California, USA) on 03/23/2009
I noticed a few people saying to only buy Unfiltered Organic ACV. I use the Heinz APC, which is obviously filtered and non-organic, with good results. Can anyone explain why it MUST be organic ACV???
Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Noelle (Tampa, FL) on 03/22/2009
★★★★★
ACV cured my acid reflux (and made me smell like roses!) ok, maybe not roses, but it definitely stopped any sort of bacterial growth that caused my body odor.
i take acv orally, 2 tablespoons per glass of water, every morning and two hours before bed. i was diagnosed with acid reflux at 12 and took pills off and on but i feel so free. Apple Cider Vinegar freed me naturally!
I also keep the acv in the shower and before i turn on the water i put some music on, pour the acv all over my body (i pour a little in my hand and then rub on my body), dance around for 2 minutes and then spend my shower rinsing, NO SOAP!. after the vinegar smell goes away i towel off and go about my business. every deodorant ive ever tried has let me down, time and time again, but this stuff-i love it! i ride my bicycle 10 miles a day commuting and i sniff and sniff and check and check and nothing-no smell at all, its a beautiful thing. i want to shout from the rooftops! These pharmaceutical companys tell us that we have to use their products, their chemicals- and we dont! we just need to go back to nature.
Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Prestige (Glasgow, United Kingdom) on 03/19/2009
★★★★★
I just want to say a big thank you to the subscribers of this website. After suffering from acid reflux for many years, I came across this ACV remedy that brought a big change to my life. I was just wondering if this remedy can also be used during pregnancy? I'm currently taking 2 - 3 Tbsp at every onset of symptoms and then go to bed and sleep like a baby...thank you very much.
Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Lita (Tampa, FL) on 03/15/2009
★★★★★
i am 58 in good health taking no prescription medications and experienced a sour stomach, queasiness, and nausea a couple nights ago about 18 hours after eating dinner the night before. i almost vomited and did not because i was swallowing to avoid it. i could taste the acid in my throat and had the upset stomach for about 5 hours and could not sleep half the night. when i felt well enough, i went online to see what may have caused the sour stomach and came to my conclusion upon reading about tophology (combining foods) that i was mixing fatty steak with salad with too acidic a dressing. i read the reasoning behind this inefficent digestion is caused by hydrochloric acid released by the stomach to digest the fatty steak was counteracted by the alkaline stomach reaction of the stomach to digest the acidic dressing cancelling the digestive action of the stomach, causing the sour stomach. i always thought i pretty much had an iron gut since i do not even get gas from 'gaseous causing foods', but attributed it to getting older. So today, i practised eating small quantities of food in single food categories, ie fruit, vegetables, bread and not mixing. the last thing i ate was a grilled ciabatta roll, which is not even an acid reflux causing food, but i actually got that lump in the throat feeling, and then a bit of acid taste! so then i go back on line to research a natural remedy for acid reflux and came upon this site about apple cider vinegar and off i went to the grocery store. upon returning, i immediately drank a mixture of 1 tbs acv, 1tbs honey, and 8z water and was 90 percent relieved in about 15 minutes. in about an hour, all signs of acid taste were gone and i ate dinner of a salad made with olive oil and acv dressing and spareribs, a similar dinner to what caused my sour stomach in the first place with the exception of using the apple cider vinegar in the dressing instead of balsamic, and i feel great. thanks for the remedy that really worked for me. i guess i will see if i need to take it as a precautionary measure or as a remedy, but at least i will know that it works. thanks a million for this website!
Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Sherri (Los Angeles, California) on 03/14/2009
★★★★★
I suffered with severe acid reflux for several years, waking up from a sound sleep due to choking on acid in my throat! I used tagamet, tums, and Nexium. I came across a home remedy site and found out that using acv helped a lot of people. I bought some raw organic acv at the health food store and put a tablespoon in 8 ounces of water and added a tablespoon of honey and drank it. I couldn't believe that the heartburn and acid reflux just disappeared within 10 minutes after the very first drink. Not wanting the calories of the honey on a regular basis, I now leave the honey out and drink the vinegar & water through a straw to avoid getting it on my teeth. I don't understand why doctors don't suggest using acv instead of Nexium. As long as I drink the mixture twice daily, I have no problems at all and can eat anything I want. If I eat something that I know used to trigger the reflux (like chocolate or something fatty), I sometimes drink a little acv/water right after eating. This has been such a relief for me.
Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Michele (Dallas, TX) on 03/13/2009
★★★★★
I have a GREAT cure for acid reflux. Believe it or not, you can simply take a teaspoon of vinegar -- just regular apple cider or white vinegar. It works immediately. You would think that it would only add to the acid upset but it actually rebalances it. You'll be amazed -- and save a ton of money.
Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Angie (South Pasadena, CA) on 03/13/2009
Hi All: This is Angie again. I wanted to update you all on my experience with ACV. While it did really help me, it seemed to make my hypersalivation much worse. I just read in a book about ACV by Cynthia Holzapfel that it is known for increasing the flow of saliva. I also read someone else on this board had the same experience. So, I've been taking 2 oz's of Aloe Juice two times a day for the past few days instead. It seems to help with the lump in my throat without making me hypersalivate. However, it isn't as effective as the ACV at preventing back flow when I lie down. But I just got a very slight amount of backflow. Maybe I need to increase the amount I'm taking. It also seems to give me more gas than usual, but I can live with this. I will keep it up and see if things improve. If they do I will post on the Aloe section. Good luck and good health to all of you. Sincerely, Angie
Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Jason (Buckeye, Az) on 03/10/2009
★★★★★
ACV: I prayed for a solution to my acid reflux after being diagnosed and perscribed aciphex. found this website and gave it a try and my prayer was answered.
Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Angie (South Pasadena, CA) on 03/10/2009
Dear ACV - Reflux fans:I would really appreciate some feedback!! I've had terrible LPR for two years. I got to the point where I had to take four prilosecs a day while abstaining from all acidic foods, caffeine, and fat. Still I had a terrible time swallowing and felt like I had a lump in my throat. The worst part was the constant need to swallow. It was embarrassing, people would ask me why I kept swallowing every two seconds.
After reading so many testimonials on this website I was ready to give it a try. All I had in the house was Trader Joes Organic ACV. I took 1 1/2 tsp in about 6 oz of water and it cleared up the lump in my throat and let me sleep that night without taking my usual two prilosecs. And I slept comfortably. The next morning I took 2 tsp. Interestingly, I tested my urine with PH strips before and after both times and both times, remarkably showed that I was off the charts alkaline compared to acidic before taking ACV. Anyway, that day my lump in throat was good but I had the worst case of hypersalivation I ever had. Was it because I was nervous about the ACV? Was I not drinking enough ACV or does the ACV only become alkaline in your bowels but acidic in your esophagus? If anyone can answer this I would love to hear. Also, I just bought _____s this morning so if I tried it again I would use that instead.
Recently I started taking 60 mg of time released Prevacid, called, " Kapidex". It has been a week and it keeps the acid from backing up into my throat when I lie down but doesn't do anything for the lump in my throat and I'm starting to hypersalivate again though not as badly as when I was taking ACV. I'm going to get scoped in about a month and not sure if I should stay with Kapidex for a little while just to heal my esophagus or if I should return to ACV. And if so, at what dose.
Thanks so much for taking the time to read my entry. Sincerely, Angie
Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Angie (Lake Charles, La) on 03/05/2009
Yes I have the lap band for about 5 years now have lost 170 pounds have been suffering with acid flux for a year and half now. i am on nexium which helps but it's at night that's the problem all the problems you guys have stated i have. i am going to give the apple cider vinger a try and see. it's getting really bad i don't sleep at all plus it is affecting my ashtma to. i know if i go to my lab band doctor he will tell me to take out that band and that's not gonna happen sorry i know i would gain some weight back and i am not gonna let that happen. gonna give this a try and see.
Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Martha (Orange, Texas) on 03/01/2009
★★★★★
Hiatal Hernia & Acid Reflux: While pregnant with my 2nd daughter I got heartburn with everything I ate and was drinking a bottle of Maalox a day. After she was born it got a little better, but then worse again until everything including water gave me heartburn. Also I began to have reflux while sleeping and I would wake up after breathing the acid into my lungs. I was pretty scared to sleep lying down so I started sleeping at a 45 degree angle to prevent that from happening again.
I started xray school right after my daughter was born and during the 1st semester of training I saw all these people having Upper GI tests and were prescribed medications but people kept coming back because the meds weren't helping and that's when I decided to look for a solution naturally. I was told if you took a tablespoon of ACV when you had heartburn and the heartburn went away then you needed MORE acid and not less and the pills the docs were giving people STOPPED the production of acid, but you need that acid to help digest your food. I also assummed I had a hiatal hernia because sometimes my food felt like it didn't want to go down and stayed in my throat. After learning about the ACV treatment I did that for about 3 months. It was hard to drink it everyday but I did. I also cut out sodas, sweet tea, and tomato products as these things caused severe heartburn. I kept searching and talking to people and found a company that made food enzymes. I switched to food enzymes for about a year. My hiatal hernia and heartburn went away and I started sleeping flat again. That was in 1995 and I haven't had the problem again. I've told lots of people to try the ACV or food enzymes because I now know for sure that the meds people are put on are not the solution - oh I know it fixes some for a while but then the body is unable to get the vitamins from the foods they are eating and they come back to the hospital for a CAT SCAN to see what problem they have now. Since I work in a hospital and see the day to day problems that people have due to medication or Drs. who are simply overworked and most know nothing about nutrition, I go the natural way for everything. This is a great website and at least when people are searching for a solution they will try it, but I find that people look at me like I'm crazy when I tell them a simple solution to their problem, especially if it is going to mean they can't just take a pill and the problem goes away.
Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Victoria (Commerce, Michigan) on 02/28/2009
if you use the apple cider vinegar cure you have to drink alot of water w/it so that it can flush out your system, your system needs flushing. that's why you are getting constipated. ACV is one of the best things you can do to flush your internal organs but its not going to work unless you are drinking more water. it detoxes your system.
Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Candace (Seattle, WA) on 02/19/2009
Thank God I found this sight. I had a weight loss surgery two years ago. I have what they call a lap band. Just recently I have such bad ACID REFLUX. Its so painful. I can hardly sleep without throwing up. Food has sometimes sat in my chest for hours.I keep a cold and a cough. In the last few weeks its be so bad that I just cant eat..no I should I'm scared to eat or drink! I just want one night of peacful sleep.I found your website by looking for a natural remdy since natural supplments usually work for me.I'm at work right now with a bottle of tums and pepto that just mask the problem. As soon as I leave here i'm trying ACV..Will let you know results today..wish me luck!
Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Jason (London, UK) on 02/17/2009
★★★☆☆BETTER BUT WITH SIDE EFFECTS
Hi there, I was suffering very badly from Acid Reflux a few months ago and had to carry rennie tablets everywhere with me when I had attacks. I looked for natural cures on the Internet and found this site. I mix the ACV with some juice and it worked great, at first.
I have started to notice that I have been getting very constipated recently, and the only change in diet is me using Apple Cider Vinegar. I must take ACV to cure my heart burns, then I will get constipation as a result of it & this will then make my acid reflux even worse. It is a vicious cycle that I don't know how to get out of.
I have two choices:
1 - Stay without acid burn pains and feel nauseas, bloated, sluggish and constipated all the time
or
2 - Stay with the acid burn pains after I eat anything and have no constipation
Any help you could provide me at all?
Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Cindy (Midwest, IL) on 02/16/2009
★★★★★
The person who said do not take ACV-it doesn't make sense, may have a highschool education about acids and bases, but he does not understand medical things very well. What is Prevacid? It helps to slow down or stop the pumps. It's the same concept as, putting oil on your skin. If you continually put oil on your skin, your oil glands will slow down or quit producing the natural oils. If you ingest Vinegar, your body will tell the stomach to produce less acid. IT WORKS! I used to have Acid Reflux so bad, I took 1 or 2 30 mg pills of Prevacid every day. But, it's chemical and not natural. A friend in Europe told me to take the ACV. I did 1 tablespoon of ACV with 1 Tablespoon of water 2-3 times a day. After some time, I only needed it 2 times a day, then once a day. Then I went a LONG time not needing it again. So that meant NO pills for my body to filter through and my body actually stabilized on it's own from something natural. Now, I only need it if I am an idiot and eat a lot of deep fried foods and such. So yes, it's great! I agree you must be careful about your teeth as the acid can eat the enamel; it does have a high acid pH. But the thing of it is, you do not have to do it ALL the time, only until you get the acid under control. Now I only need to take ACV once every 6-8 weeks-less or more, depending on my diet and stress. But there have been times I can go months witout touching the stuff. And you get some Vitamin C and antioxidants. And just think, it saved the soldiers from scurvy and mouth bacteria and lots of ailments in George Washington's day! There IS something to old remedies, as long as they are not just silliness. When it's telling you to do weird things, you know it's bologna. But simple things, are very accurate and cheaper and healthier! It's a win-win-win situation.
Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Paula (Tuscaloosa, AL ) on 02/14/2009
Wendy, you have it. You are right on target. Also, there are some studies that suggest, unlike John's description, that acid reflux could possibly be too little acid and the body is trying desperately to break down the food and it can't. That could be one reason acid helps. There could possibly be two different causes- maybe some people have too much and some too little. I think my grandson has too little acid. He is 12 and has suffered his ENTIRE life. Pickle juice, vinegar, and Aloe helps him--- peppermint, ginger, and enzymes also. When he was about three, he actually threw up an entire meal that he had eaten about 8 hours earlier with NO breakdown of the food. Thanks for this site-I have copied parts of it for so many folks that have no internet to try to help them with their problem. I have never had an issue with any of this, but wish I could trade with my grandson. This problem seems to be almost trying to ruin his little life and it is hard to chase a 12 yr. old around to ball practice, school, movies, etc. with a glass of Aloe!! (LOL)
Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Wendy (Bellingham, WA) on 04/23/2008
★★★★★
Response to James from Houston: I'm a nursing student. My mom always drinks pickle juice when she has heart burn and reflux, which is obviously vinagar. Anyway, I could never understand that considering vinagar is acidic, right? Well, I asked my professor how pickle juice works. He told me that when you add MORE acids to the stomach, the acid pumps in the stomach turn off because no more acid is needed. However, when you take antacids, the antacids desolve the acid that's presently in the stomach to provide quick relief, but then the stomach quickly turns the pumps on to replenish the acids. And you may notice that after a few weeks, just one antacid no longer does the trick. You need two or three to get the same relief because your stomach pumps are working overtime to replenish those lost acids. The moral of this story? It's healthier and safer to add more acids to the stomach to naturally turn off those acid pumps than it is to take away those much needed acids from the stomach. Vinagar, or pickle juice, is a better choice.
Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by John (Niagara Falls, NY) on 03/04/2008
★★★★★
DISAGREEMENT, DISAGREEMENT! To James from Houston: Acid Reflex can be on different levels. I have been told that some people produce an overabundance of acid and some do not produce enough. I myself have an acid reflex issue, due to a Hiatal Hernia. Vinegar works for me as my doctor has indicated that my stomach does not produce enough acid. Taking vinegar and relieving my reflex would make sense. I no longer take Nexium, due to side effects and use vinegar or nothing at all. I have tried changing my diet, but nothing seems to work. I try not to eat late evening as it is very difficult to sleep. I have used Cider Vinegar and Vinegar. Both work for me. The after taste is somewhat of an annoyance, but it is worth it.
Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Harvinder (Tokyo, Japan) on 03/02/2008
This is regarding mesages from John from Duluth, Minnesota and James from Houston. I, too, was very confused about using vinegar, an obvious acid, to alkalize the body or neutralize acid reflux.
It is what happens to the vinegar once it goes into the body that needs to be understood (as pointed out by Ted earlier). There, in a healthy body, it combines with minerals to produce an alkaline compound. When I test my urine with a pH strip after taking AVC it shows alkaline (around 7.2 or more). So, though I consumed an acid, my body converted it to a base. The same happens after eating citrus fruit. You expect your body to become more acidic but it acutally becomes more alkaline! However, things like coffee will remain acidic in the body: I see my urine pH plunge to below 5.0 after consuming coffee.
Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by John (Duluth, Minnesota) on 03/01/2008
I read a message from James from Houston who took issue with using acid (apple cider vinegar) to fight stomach acid (HCl). It should be noted that vinegar is classified as a "weak" acid whereas HCl is a strong acid. In spite of the fact that both are acids, a weak acid will still react with a strong acid and diminish the acidity. The final result may not rise above the pH of the weak acid, but it is a significant improvement over the pH of the strong acid.
Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by James (Houston, TX) on 01/18/2008
★☆☆☆☆
Hi I have occasional acid refulx and my wife has it severe at times. DO NOT TAKE ACV for Acid Reflux! It just doesn't make any sense. Acid Reflux is an Acid - you neutralize Acids with Bases (Alkaline).
pH less than 7 = Acidic, pH > 7 = Basic (Alkaline). Vinegar pH = 3ish
An antacid is any substance, generally a base, which counteracts stomach acidity. In other words, antacids are stomach acid neutralizers. I truly believe that adding an ACID to your stomach to reduce Stomach Acid is the wrong approach. You should add a BASE like baking soda. Rolaids & Tums are both Calcium Carbonate. Alka-Seltzer is Soduim BiCarbonate. Baking Soda = Sodium BiCarbonate. In the duodenum, gastric acid is neutralized by sodium bicarbonate. So Sodium Bicarbonate (Baking Soda) is used internally by the body to naturally regulate stomach Acid. The equation is HCl NaHCO3 → NaCl H2CO3. HCL = HydroChloric (Stomach) acid
NaHC03 = Baking Soda.
Just add a little bit of baking soda to some water, swirl it around, and drink it. Within a few minutes you will belch. The belch is the gas released when the baking soda neutralizes your stomach acid (or if its crept into your throat it will neutralize it there). You will feel much better immediately. Baking Soda is completely safe.
Why would you ever want to add an acid (vinegar) to another acid (HCL) with the hopes of reducing acid? That doesn't make any sense.
Vinegar is acetic acid (CH3COOH). Some of these recipies recommend you add Baking Soda to ACV. When vinegar is added to sodium bicarbonate (baking soda), it produces a volatile mixture of carbonic acid rapidly decomposing into water and carbon dioxide bubbles, making the reaction "fizz". It is exemplified as the typical acid-base reaction in school science experiments. The salt that is formed is sodium acetate. Basically, this little experiment proves that its better to just take baking soda. The Vinegar is the acid and the Baking Soda is the base. The Baking Soda neutralizes the acid. Its the same way in your stomach, just add the Baking Soda and it will neutralize the acid. All you need is about a teaspoon of baking soda in an ounce or two of water. Problem solved immediately.
Good luck and I hope this helps.
Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Shawna (Charleroi, PA) on 02/08/2009
★★★★☆
I am 21 years old and have been suffering with acid reflux and heartburn since I was a lot younger. I was on nexium for about 3 years and on prilosec for about 5 or more. After reading about all the harmful side affects with long use I was desperate to find a natural cure. I found this website and it is quite a blessing to me. I stoped taking prilosec completly on Feb 1st and started taking 2 teaspoons of braggs organic apple cider vinegar in 8 ounces of water the next day. The first day i took it when I woke up about a half hour before eating anything and I had no symptoms of acid reflux till yesterday. I think I messed up by taking it after I ate. I still have mild heartburn but Im willing to suffer with it and try to make this work! Any other things I should try? let me know! Thanks
