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 Nickieb (Ruislip, Middlesex Uk) on 01/28/2010
★★★★★
I started using Apple Cider Vinegar with mother two weeks ago for arthritis. Four times a day I take 1/3 mug apple juice, 2/3 hot water with 1 tabsp vinegar. Tastes very acceptable rather like lemonade. You could make with cold water but it's winter here and this is comforting. In the last few days I've also tried adding a teaspoon of Blackstrap Molasses. Put that in mug first and then 2/3 fill with hot water to dissolve before adding apllejuice and vinegar. It's really nice and more importantly it has helped the arthritis no end. Scarcely any hip or knee pain after the first couple of days; still have some stiffness but haven't really started exercising yet so that could be the reason and solution.
Also I have dabbed ACV neat on skin irritation which stopped after a few minutes. This occurs from time to time and I can't figure what causes it except maybe chlorinated water.
I've noticed quite a few people on this site snivelling about the taste of ACV. Maybe they're not hurting enough but they should find a recipe that works for them. Take less at a time and do more often, whatever, because it's brilliant. Can't remember how I found this site but I'm so glad I did and thank you all so much. Nickie
Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Muckracker1 (Evansville, In) on 12/01/2011
★★★★★
I am currently using cinnamon and raw apple cider vinegar for hip and knee arthritis. It has helped greatly though I have been using it about 10 days.
One thing many people don't know about over the counter pain relievers; when used for arthritis, they wind up, over time, destroying cartilage. So, you wind up needing joint replacements because the pain reliever you used to banish the pain, banished the pain and destroyed your cartilage.
A friend of mine was very succussful using raw apple cider vinegar to alleivate gout, also.
Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Jack (Sheffield, United Kingdom) on 11/11/2008
★★★★★
Hi to all those in the UK who are thinking of using ACV, it is absolutely amazeing! I am a 60 yr old RN and have had severe pain in my hips and lower back for 3 years, medics said it is because Im on my feet all day on the wards and gave me NSAIDs which were not effective and I would wake up in pain every morning and it was becoming so restrictive I'd even contemplated a double hip replacement. I then read about ACV on this site and gave it a go,WOW!! within 48 hours all the burning in my hips had gone! I could not believe it,even my wife noticed how fluently I was moving again, I use 2 tablespoons with honey twice a day, its even more effective with 72.5mgs Aspirin with my night time dose, Aspirin is a known anti inflammatory, I really cannot thank this site enough.As a person who has worked in the health profession for thirty years and put my complete trust in its remedy,s it is a real eye opener and has definately changed my opinions, Good luck everyone.
Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Peter (Manila, Philippines) on 02/02/2010
★★★★★
I am presently reading the book "Arthritis And Folk Medicine " written by D.C. Jarvis. M.D.. It refers to his researches into the effect of acv on health. It was written in the period pre WW2 and relates to the folk medicine practices in Vermont. Acv drinks as a health tonic were very popular, known as switchel amongst the older Vermonters and was used to keep arthritis at bay. His observation laboratory was the farm and in particular dairy herds.
To explain how it works in arthritis, he uses the analogy of the tea kettle with the calcium build up, which when boiled with acv solution, the calcium deposit is dissolved. So it is this ability to precipitate "dead" calcium which is his explanation as to how it works with arthritis.
What caught my attention was the case of the acv fed calf which was dehorned at ten months of age and was found to have full calcium horns whereas others unfed with acv were hollow. That seems to show that it helps the fuller utilisation of calcium. Another example is the calves supplemented with acv being bigger boned and bodied than the unsupplemented ones.
Another example was that the butcher paid a higher price for dairy cows that were "vinigered" because the meat was more tender than that of others. This is interesting because it shows a good circulation throughout the animal not only indicating no arthritis but also no rheumatism - the hardening of the muscle tissues. He also says that the vinegar diet did away with mastitis and increased milk yields, the increase in milk yields being proof of better calcium metabolism by the animal. ACV also stopped spontaneous abortion and helped in calving.
So how does acv work in eliminating arthritis? Dr Jarvis's answer would be that it assists calcium metabolism and rids the body of badly utilised calcium which causes calcium buildups which is the cause of arthritic pain, and when the excess calcium goes, so does the pain.
Acv also helps the digestive process, as not only did the cows produce more milk, they also ate less feed were free of mastitis and healthier.
Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Robert Henry (Ten Mile, Tn) on 09/27/2016
HI U TEMIS,,,,,,,,,, don't want to rain on your parade, but the 101 year old woman has taken ACV since age 17. I don't think ACV is a silver bullet. It did not help my knee, but ozone shots did. At the same time ozone shots have not helped my back pain. Ice packs do. Another suggestion for you is to use Bio Freeze followed by DMSO on your knees. Wash knees and hands before. Also, take MSM.
Right now I got a case of the ass that I would like to pass around while I got the floor. My Atlanta Integrative doctor that wrote my Glutathione Compounding Prescription has moved on. I have the prescription formula and took it to the nurse practitioner that I use as my family physician. Her MD boss would not allow her to write this for use in a nebulizer.
She explained that I need to get a doctor that does that sort of thing. My Nurse got an education in profanity directed at him.I used this guy for 20 years and he never once listened to my heart, lungs or checked my ears, fingernails, tongue or throat. All he did was check my blood work. When I went to him, he could not believe that I did a niacin flush to detox. He only knew to write a niacin Rx for 500 mg to start for his high cholesterol patients. No one can stand that initially. I promise you that a regular EC reader is more knowledgeable in health, than their MD.
I only use MD's for physical things. The rest I research and do myself, if I can. There is a new deal out that uses the old and the new and is sweeping the medical field. That is UVLrx which is old as dirt, but is now coupled with ozone. Also, there is a new $3 dollar word out and it's called Functional Medicine. More and more MD's are going this way. They ain't dumb and money is not satisfying them. They want to help folks get healthy using natural things.
Ask any old patoot,,,,,, do you want your health or money? We all know the answer to that. ======ORH========
Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Larry C (Bartlett, Il, Usa) on 02/03/2010
★★★★★
Been into holistic health for a few years now and stumbled upon Earth Clinic a few months ago when my 11 YO daughter had a bout with strep and mono. After a bad reaction to her antibiotic with a terrible rash and prescribed an even more terrible antibiotic, I pulled the plug on conventional medical "wisdom" and treated her with organic coconut oil for the mono and ACV for the rash as well as ACV and cayenne for the strep. Her sore throat was gone almost instantly with the gargle although the rash itself took longer she did get some relief. The mono disappeared in two days and she was back to being herself... Amazing!
I broke my left elbow about 22 years ago in a motorcycle accident and the Dr. then told me it would give me trouble later in life. He was completely correct as over the past 1-1/2 years it has gone from a noticeable throb to outright excruciating PAIN! Some mornings I couldn't even extend it fully and certainly not do anything physically stressful. After reading about ACV and arthritis I began using it as directed with about two tablespoons in water, sipping it throughout the day. Within 10 minutes of the first sips the pain subsided. I'm now into the fourth day and I'm a new man. Thank you, thank you, thank you!
BTW Gave it to my 19YO daughter for a headache and it was gone in minutes...
Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Iowama (Pella, Ia) on 05/29/2013
★★★★★
Hi. I also drank a vinegar tea when osteoarthritis nodules first started to show on the joints of some of my finger tips. The nodules shrank and haven't returned to the same size. I switched to drinking distilled water with a little lemon juice and no sweetener throughout the day and upped my intake of minerals because I found it to be a more pleasant substitute. I still was puzzled as to why I would wake up some mornings with red and achy finger joints unrelated to work.
On the advice of a Doctor of Functional Medicine, I started an elimination diet and found that when I ate sugar or gluten, the inflammation would kick in again. This is not to say I'm cured. Sometimes I get carried away in the garden and suffer the consequences. I've read that arthritis can be a bit of a blessing in that even though it is caused by overuse, it can reveal an autoimmune problem. I do wish you success in finding out the source of your inflamation.
Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Oppiesee (Cape Town, Sa) on 07/09/2011
★★★★★
I'd like to post a photo, taken of my hand about 9 days ago and a current one for you to see the major difference that has taken place already.
I was out of apple cider vinegar, but I had a really vinegary bottle of kombucha in the fridge (which I keep to seed new batches of kombucha) so I started with that. 2 tablespoons kombucha, 1 tablespoon honey, 1 teaspoon ginger, 1 teaspoon borax (after reading about the apples and borax on your site) but it was very sweet so I changed to 6 tablespoons kombucha. (now this is really yummy! ) I make it in the morning and drink it before mealtimes together with 3 capsules of odourless garlic. The last 3 days I am using 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar 1 tablespoon honey, 1 teaspoon ginger, 1 teaspoon borax, it is much more sour than the kombucha mixture so I dilute it with some kombucha and still take it 3 times a day with the 3 garlic capsules before mealtimes.
I also take biochemic tissue salt no 10 - Nat Phos - 2 tablets under the tongue - about 6 times a day.
An acid alkaline food table is pasted in the kitchen and I try to eat as many foods from the alkaline side as possible.
Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Rebecca (Aberdeen, Washington) on 10/09/2008
★★★★★
Apple cider vinegar all but eliminated swelling and pain. I am 58 and have been in good shape most of my life but had a low back injury over 3 years ago and have had severe pain and stiffness which has sent me to doctors, chiropractors, physical therapists, massage therapists and even a rolfer for 15 sessions! All of these helped but very temporarily. I have also been doing yoga and exercises from a book called Relaxercise (excellent by the way) which have also helped but only somewhat. I had been getting worse within the past few months and had develped knee, foot and hand pain along with swelling of these areas especially one ankle and foot which was twice the normal size. It hurt to walk or wear any type of shoe. My husband is an RN who looked at my swollen ankle and foot and told me it almost looked like gouty arthritis. This comment prompted me to research the subject and I found a blog of 100's of people all of who had been using ACV and all but 1 person rated the treatment 5 stars. I immediately went to a health food store and bought the organic, unfiltered ACV and started by taking 3 tablespoons in a large glass of water sweetened with organic raw honey. Following the first dose the night before, I woke to find the swelling reduced to about 1/4 of what it had been and the pain nearly gone. The stuff works like a miracle! I have continued to take it every day but have cut down the dose to 2 tablespoons 2-3 times per day in the same amount of water with honey. I have only a twinge of pain and 1 spot of swelling about the size of a quarter remaining on my ankle. Amazingly, my low back has less pain and more mobility than what I have ever had since the injury over 3 years ago. All this and I have only discovered this treatment less than 1 week ago! Amazing!!
Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Shirley (Missouri) on 08/25/2007
★★★★★
On the latest post dated 8/23/2007 by Crystal who has severe RA at such a young age. I am sure Ted will have some good remedies for her, but in the meantime, I would like to tell her my story.
I am 64 years old. About 4 years ago my arthritis got so bad, it was difficult for me to walk to the mailbox and back and when going up stairs, I would have to take one step at a time. By that I mean, get one foot on a step and bring the other to that step and so on. I had to go down them the same way and be very careful to always hold onto the banister. My knees and hips were very painful all the time. I read in a book I had about taking organic apple cider vinegar, honey and water for different health reasons. Not sure what I decided to take it for now, but it wasn't for the arthritis.
Anyway I did begin to take the ACV everyday. I took it twice a day. One day I came to the stairs and walked right up them without any problems. I didn't think anything about it until I got to the top. Then I thought about what I just did. I couldn't believe I did that without any pain or effort. From then on, I have been walking stairs and taking long walks without pain. I mean NO pain. I do know it was the ACV drink because for one thing it was the only thing I was doing different at the time. Then I didn't take the drink for a few weeks. I guess I got lazy. The pain started to come back so I started back on it and the pain stopped immediately Now I take it for about a week and off 2 weeks or more but I don't have to take it constantly and that's working out for me. You have to use organic apple cider vinegar not the distilled. It should be 2 tablespoons ACV with the baking soda (so the vinegar won't harm the teeth) plus 1 tablespoon raw honey in a glass of water. I think in my case the pain went away so slowly, I hadn't noticed the change until that day I climbed those stairs. Crystal, please don't give up. It may take a while but I believe it will work for you too.
Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Sharon (British Columbia)
★★★★★
In the mid to late 1980's I was working in an Extended Care Unit in a hospital, working as a Care Aide. All through out this time I had been seeing my doctor because of constant pain due to arthritis. My back and knees hurt so bad sometimes it was near unbearable. My knees were so bad I could not touch a knee cap with a finger it hurt so bad. X-rays were taken of my knees, showing spurs under the knee cap itself. X-Rays also take of the small of my back, the doctor said he'd never seen arthritis so bad in someone so young, that everything was becoming one, even my fingers were beginning to twist. He tried me on different arthritis pills to see which would work the best, one finally JUST eased the pain slightly. Now working in the hospital that your doctor works is not to good at times. I was attempting to kneel down and had a extremely hard time of it trying to stay more on my side and very hard time trying to stand; my doctor happened to be on the floor at that time and saw this, told me to make an appointment to see him, he then told me I would have to find other work because I couldn't live like this. The pills the doctor had me on cost $60 a month. He said I would have to take them the rest of my life. At home I thought of this, then remembered something my chiropractor told me, take 2 teaspoons acv, 2 teaspoons of honey in water, adjust to taste. One day (no longer working at the hospital) I ran out of pills, out of money, then remembered what my chiropractor said. I thought there would be a transition period for the acv to work, I was preparing myself for a whole lot of unbearable pain. I started the drink that night and every night for 1 week. Besides flushing my kidneys out, there was NO transition at all. There was no pain, absolutely nothing...and still there is no pain. So I followed my chiropractors instructions because obviously he knew what he was talking about. I then stopped taking it. I found I would get cravings for it, so I took this as my body telling me it needed it. To this day I had not taken any pills from the doctor for arthritis. It has now been 16 years. If you read the instructions how to clean a drip coffee machine, it says to use vinegar. Vinegar dissolved calcium build in the machine and I've found it dissolved the build up in my body. I am back taking acv, this time daily...do not plan on stopping this time. This really is a miracle for me and do advise people to try it, it really does work, besides what have you got to lose other than pain, and you can't beat the cost. It won't hurt and anything as far as I'm concerned is better than taking pills from doctors who treat symptoms...not cure.
Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Mmsg (Somewhere, Europe) on 01/14/2016
What a hoot, ORH!!!!
Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Robert Henry (Ten Mile , Tn) on 01/14/2016
HI U Mmsg, , , , , , , , , glad you liked that story because it was true. I only come across things like this ever so often. The aunt is driving our hair friend crazy, because she wants to be the boss. Sounds right to me. I do think the ACV is the reason the aunt has lived a long healthy life.
This reminds me of the story of when the North Carolina country doctor learned that one sister never got breast cancer like her other sisters because she ate baking soda with molasses all her life.
Speaking of cancer, I got my DNA cancer read out today and I am slowly bringing down my numbers with my 3 cancer protocols. Yesterday I went to my Dermatologist and the two hickies on my face were sent off . He said he was certain that they were cancer, but not Melanoma. I could cure them with my Cruaderm but will opt out. If they don't get it all then I will handle that.
My next post will be about Timh. This fellow is sumpin else. He has been down so many dusty roads that he needs to stop posting and write a book. I truly admire this lad. He knows what has caused his problems and has helped lots of folks on EC.
Out of spit. =======ORH======
Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Dr. Dinakar Madiman, M.d., Ph.d. (Bangalore, India) on 11/25/2011
★★★★★
I recommended ACV (American Garden), which was easily available in Mantri Mall, Sampige Road, Bangalore-560003, to be taken with Honey, in 3:1 ratio (15ml of ACV and 1ml of Honey plus 100ml water). This has given some good improvement in Knee Joint condition, after 3 weeks' treatment.
I feel however that Organic Unfiltered Unpasturated ACV ( so-called 'Mother'grade) will work much better and faster to give good results.
I want to know where this particular ACV (any brand) is available in Bangalore.
Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Gavin (Manganui, Northland, New Zealand) on 07/13/2011
Thank God you had us worried. I moved two ton of wood yesterday bending and lifting.. Six months ago I would have been laid up for a month. Ive no pain in the lower back area at all. Ginger tumeric and cayenne sorted it out really well but I still had to be carefull, but since adding the MSM its the third week since starting it.. And it feels like their never was a problem. It has done something on a very basic level. I'm 64 years old and getting more supple than I've been for a very long time.
Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Roswita (Seminole, Fl) on 10/10/2007
★★★★★
I strongly urge you to buy only the Organic, raw, unfiltered ACV, without preservatives. I am a 62 year old woman who suffers from arthritis and acid reflux. Every morning I mix 1 tbls ACV with 1 tbls raw honey in a 16 oz glass of lukewarm filtered water. I do the same thing at night time. Only I mix it in 6 to 8 oz water. Otherwise I would be up all night. My arthritis pain has gone away and I no longer suffer from acid reflux.
Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Rhonda (Elizabeth City, North Carolina) on 03/11/2007
★★★★★
I read the articles on this site and started using acv with water. Right away the pain of arthritis went away! I had not been able to work, play or much of anything in over a year. I was getting worse by the day. I had not had a pain free day in over a year! After only one day, it eased up. After 3 days my pain was gone completely!!! I'm not joking here. Those of us with RA know how bad the pain is. I had to stop taking Celebrex because of stomach problems caused by the meds. Now my skin is smoother, I have TONS of energy (not hyper), and just feel better over all. I'm trying to get hubby to give it a try since he has acid reflux and a fuzzy-headed feeling for 6 months now. I'll get him to try it eventually! He's amazed at my lack of pain now. Thank you all so much for posting your findings, it's given me my old self back and I've missed it!
Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Sheri (Auburn Hills, Mi) on 06/14/2006
★★★★★
I originally tried ACV for weight loss; I have a stubborn 20 pounds to lose. I was pleasantly surprised as to how pain-free I became in a matter of a few days. My knees no longer 'click' when I go up stairs. I can bend and squat to play with my children and no longer suffer ankle pain from the effort. My acid reflux is gone as well. When I run out of ACV, in a matter of days, the pain returns and I'm like an old lady once more. It works for me!
Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Janet (San Diego , Ca) on 09/26/2023 8 posts
I wanted to add that it now appears to me, that they brand of honey and the location the honey came from as well as other things added to the honey could have an important effect on how well this works for you. I found that when I took the same brand of honey from Florida for 2 days then took the same brand from Ca for 3 days, the honey from Ca didn't stop the pain as well as the honey from Florida. The brand was the same, Local Hive, but the one that seems to work best on me is from Florida, with "Floral Notes": Brazilian Pepper, Citrus, Clover, Gallberry, & Tupelo. I've added this info because I've read that one honey(Maluleka Honey) has very good health benefits, so I'm guessing that may also be the case with Local Hive Honey from Florida and CPPD Arthritis in my knees. I've now ordered some of this same honey from Florida (as I've run out of the Local Hive Honey I had from Florida and once I give it a try, I'll report back if it does indeed keep that horrible pain away. I hope this works for anyone else with this horrible pain.
Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Margaret (Knoxville, Tn, Usa) on 05/05/2011
★★★★★
I have RA. After briefly trying out some of the BigPharma offerings, I started taking ACV with honey. I take 2 tablespoons of ACV with 2 teaspoons of good local honey and a bit of hot water every morning on an empty stomach. Sometimes I do an additional dose in the evening. While I still have some swelling in the joints hardest hit by the RA, I have no pain. None at all. As a wonderful side effect, I also stay remarkably healthy while those around me suffer from colds, flu, etc.
Another good remedy for inflammation in the body is Turmeric. Since I do not care for the taste, I buy empty gelatin capsules from my local healthfood store and fill them myself. Be sure to wear gloves if you try this because the Turmeric will stain anything it touches yellow. I take about 2 teaspoons of Turmeric a day this way.
As far as weight loss - I'm perimenopausal at this time in my life and am fighting that belly bulge myself. Acai berry and Pilates seem to work the best for me. I take 1 teaspoon of Acai (powder that I put in capsules) each day and make myself hit the floor for Pilates several times a week.
Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by San Diego Web Design (San Diego, Ca) on 01/25/2011
★★★★★
I would not recommend regular distilled vinegar, as all of the beneficial nutrients are removed during the distillation process.
If you are allergic to apples, than you may try ACV using only a small teaspoon a day to start, and observe closely if you have any reactions, because it's quite possible you dont have any reactions because it is fermented and organic, of course if you use the brand from B---. (Just don't touch anything that has acetic acid in it with metal, it pulls the metal out, its best to use wood such as a wooden spoon to measure it out.)
Otherwise if you have a reaction or you don't want to take any risks, than the other place to get the beneficial vitamins, nutrients, acetic acid and bacterias are from Kombucha. Which I made kombucha in my house for many months, and it did wonders for my digestive system, but you can also buy it in health stores as well. Just make sure it's raw and organic.
