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.
38 User Reviews
Posted by Mama to Many (TN) on 12/22/2022
★★★★★
Over the years my children have not always loved the medicines that I have given. They have generally been pretty tolerant and patient, though slippery elm will always be a hard sell for them. :)
Vinegar Tea has been staple in my home for a long time. And now my oldest son gives it to his kids. My 5 year old grandchild loves vinegar tea. My daughter in law makes a large batch of it to give the kids during the day when they are fighting sickness.
It would be better if I had called it, "Honey Tea" from the start. Here is how we make it:
- 1 Tablespoon Apple Cider Vinegar
- 2-3 teaspoons honey
- 6 ounces hot water
- a dash of cinnamon if desired
- Mix.
Thats it! Good for cough, colds, flu, sinus infections, stomachache etc.
Pass it on!
~Mama to Many~
Replied by Christy
(New Jersey)
01/13/2024
Mama To Many
(Tennessee)
01/14/2024
Replied by Jeanne
(Pennsylvania)
01/31/2024
Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Sara (Long Beach) on 01/18/2018
★★★★★
Apple cider is good too, just a tablespoon with water twice a day will cut the flu symptoms.
Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by John McMann (Kentucky) on 01/14/2018
★★★★★
Here is tried and true, southern flu-kicking remedy. Drinking this when I first start to feel sick, kicks the virus out. If taken during cold or flu recovery, helps ease congestion and prevents cough.
8 oz of hot water, 2 Tablespoons apple cider vinegar, 1 jigger whiskey, 1 teaspoon of lemon juice, 2 shakes of cayenne pepper. Stir and drink slowly. Enjoy.
Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Robert (Katy, Texas) on 12/19/2013
★☆☆☆☆
While I am a firm believer in the healing abilities of ACV, I must admit this time that it couldn't overcome my flu. The flu already had a 3+ day head start, I was taking 2 tablespoons of the highly known brand of ACV, along with a tablespoon of locally produced honey in 6 ozs of distilled water.
While this combo would knock out the side effects for approx. 2 hours, the flu fought back each time to the level of intensity that had been there previously. I did this 3 times a day, same results each time. Finally had no choice but to go to the doctor getting Tamiflu and a Z pack.
While I haven't read thru all the posts, from this experience maybe because I didn't start early enough this was too little too late. I for one will continue with the ACV in the future.
Replied by Karen
(Michigan)
02/07/2016
Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Josephine (Pittsburgh, Pa) on 01/30/2013
★★★★★
I've also been seeing a lot of improvement in my flu symptoms using one teaspoon of ACV in 6oz of warm water with a few lemon, honey, and menthol lozenges dissolved in.
Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Joelle (Dallas, Texas) on 01/05/2013
★★★★★
I have not had the flu in years and my first day on vacation I started getting the flu symtoms. I immediately pulled up EC website to find a natural remedy, I started taking 2 tablespoons of ACV 3x a day for 3 days. I started feeling better after the first day. ACV & Virgin Coconut oil are my go to natural remedies . This site is amazing!!!! Thank you so much!!
Replied by Karen
(Detroit Metro, Mi)
01/05/2013
★★★★★
Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Shelly (Castle Rock, Co) on 12/08/2011
★★★★★
Wow, I was really sick last week and wish I had found this site sooner. I started feeling ill again this afternoon with nausea, headache and fever/chills. I came home and put on a hot pack and was ready to give up for the day when I found this site. I put 2 TBSP of ACV into some hot apple cider. It helped to put it into the apple cider because it almost disguised the bitter taste (almost). Anyways, less than an hour later I can't even tell you how much better I am feeling. So much that I am starting to question whether I really felt that bad or not. Thanks so much, love this remedy. :-)
Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Bart Sniffer (Sydney, Australia) on 06/28/2011
★★★★★
Around lunch time I started getting the first signs of a flu... Just in nostril. Post nasal drip, beginning to feel that flu like symptoms coming on. Later in the afternoon some sneezing began.
I took an cotton ear bud, dipped it in ACV then inserted it into my nostril. Made my sneeze straight away. So blew my nose and tried again, this time holding off sneezing while I did both nostrils, and sniffed in, held it and the gave the biggest sneeze.
I repeated the process immediately. its a little un comfortable/irritating. but I felt better almost immediately. Later that night I repeated again twice. Swabbed the inside of each nostril deep with ACV soaked cotton tip. Sniffed in hard, held as long as I could, then sneezed a few times.
The amazing thing is the next morning I work up feeling fine.
Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Ruby (Beverly, Ma) on 02/10/2011
★☆☆☆☆
I've used apple cider vinegar for a cold successfully but for a flu, it did very little if anything. No change really whatsoever. I've had one of the worst strain of flu for about 4 days now and I have taken more ACV than you could shake a stick at and nothing. I've also been taking colloidal silver, black strap molasses, liquid chlorophil and tea with ginger, honey and lemon. The tea has worked the best in stopping the cough.
Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Pattij (Aston, Pa Usa) on 03/23/2010
★★★★★
Dear Earthclinic:
I became ill with upper respiratory symptoms on Wednesday, and by Friday morning I was unable to go to work. On Saturday, I was so congested I could not breathe out of my nose. The over the counter medication had stopped working and by nightfall, I knew I was in trouble and would not be able to sleep. Suffering from an unbearable headache, overall aches and pains with fever, in desperation I searched the internet hoping to find a natural cure, which would provide me with some relief until I could call my doctor on Monday morning. I came across your website and sent my husband to the store to buy the ACV. I took 2 Tablespoons in 8 oz of warm water for my first dose at midnight and woke up at 4am and realized I could breathe, - my nose had cleared! I took another dose before going to sleep, and another around noon. I felt reasonably well to cook dinner on Monday night and went back to work on Tuesday. This remedy is nothing short of a miracle for me and I cannot wait to share it friends and family. Now that I feel better, I am anxious to investigate the rest of your site. ACV will definitely be a regular part of my diet, as I am a chronic sinus sufferer. Antibiotics offer some relief, but do not cure the problem. I thank you from the bottom of my heart for posting this natural remedy. Thank you, thank you, thank you!
Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Marixpress (Bronx, Ny) on 12/16/2009
★★★★★
ACV strikes again
At the first sign of flu or cold, I drank 2 tablespoons of organic ACV with about 8oz of warm water, squeeze of lemon & honey for taste, every morning for about 3 days. Almost everyone in the household is sick, however, the ones that tried this concoction never did get sick. Thank you to earth clinic for this wonderful recipe!!
p.s. Because of it's many benefits, I have been drinking a cup of ACV "tea" (w/ 2 teaspoons rather than tablespoons) every morning instead of my usual cup of joe. I like to do this before brushing my teeth so I can properly rinse off any acid left over from the ACV - just in case!
Replied by Michal
(Pardes Hana, Israel)
09/11/2012
Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Cured (Ft Walton Beach, Florida) on 10/21/2009
★★★★★
I stumbled upon this site looking for a cure for the flu. I am amazed and had never heard of the healing powers of Apple Cider Vinegar. I am now a believer and will tell anyone who will listen.
My symptoms started out as allergies then went to a sinus infection then started feeling like the flu. This went on for over a month with the flu being the last straw to bring me to the internet to search for an alternative to OTC medicines. Within the first few hours my symptoms had reduced in severity, the first to break was the fever. I have continued the last two weeks various concoctions. One being 2 Tablespoons ACV to 4-6oz orange juice.
I would take this as much as 3x a day.
I also suffer from back pain where I was popping pain pills and muscle relaxers and ibuprofen on a regular basis. Most of this has gone on for almost 2 years--the last week I have hardly taken any of them. I don't know if it is the ACV but I will continue using daily. I have also read it helps with depression and can't wait to see if it helps with my occasional bouts. I have also tried 2T ACV in 6oz of warm water with honey to sweeten--wasn't too crazy about that. I tried it today with 2T ACV and 8oz room temp water with a straw and this actually wasn't too bad. I think that last concoction is something I could mix and put in the fridge so that I don't have to mix it every glass.
Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Cured!!! (Woodstock, Ga) on 09/21/2009
★★★★★
ACV, Orange Juice, and Honey!!!
Yea, for Apple Cider Vinegar!!! Thank God for this site! I did a frantic search after my husband and I were both attacked by a wicked flu bug that has lasted almost 3 weeks. We're finally over the worst symptoms; but the cough (especially his) was the very last thing to go...and it wasn't going without a fight. For 2 weeks, we had tried "everything" including OTC drugs. I also had severe phlegm in the back of my throat, and had lots of nasal mucous. Both were extremely difficult to expel; and his cough was so consistent that it caused him headaches and stomach cramping.
I tried the solution of 4 Tablespoons OJ, 2 Tablespoons honey and 2 Tablespoons ACV...within 1 hour we were both relieved of the symptoms and before the day was over, we knew we were on to the cure! We heated our recipe to make it a little easier to digest. It doesnt taste too bad, but its a long way from tasting good, and the strong taste is "oh, so worth it"! Thank you all for your suggestions, and thanks for this site. It is a God-send!!!
Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Kasey (Crowley, Louisiana, USA) on 08/17/2009
★★★★★
Well, it all started as my very first hangover. I was throwing up all day. It was so bad that I had to go home from work, which I never do. After all of the throwing up I started getting a fever and my throat was sore from the stomach acids.
Within a couple of hours of the sore throat, my nose started to get stuffy and drippy. The hangover started on Saturday morning. Sunday and today (Monday) I have been coughing like crazy, so much that I could not sleep at all the past two days. I had fever, achiness, and weakness. I went to the doctor to get an excuse for missing work and she recommended all kinds of things. I really don't like medication unless it's natural, so I read up on here about a few things just to stop me from coughing so I could sleep. I
decided I would try some apple cider vinegar. I am soooo glad that I did. What I did was mix 1 part apple cider vinegar against about 5 parts water and gargled it. Then I downed 1 tsp of the apple cider vinegar by itself. I went to lay down, and to my surprise I actually fell asleep. I awoke 3 hours later feeling refreshed, I was coughing only 1/4 as much as before, my voice is not raspy, my nose isn't stopped up, just extremely leaky, and I don't have fever or feel weak. Really sounds like a miracle, I know, but it truly worked. Forget all the prescription crap. Doctors prescribe you stuff a lot of times just to keep you coming back. I will definitely keep a bottle of this in my house at all times. I also read that the apple cider vinegar does wonders for the skin. Just a thought :)
Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Sammo505 (Bernalillo, NM) on 06/15/2009
★★★★★
My girlfriend got a flu over the weekend. So I went to earth clinc since they cured my allergies. Again ACV had a lot of results, so I gave her a glass of generic organic ACV. Within 30 minutes her fever was gone and so was her nausea and sniffles. And this was after a day of intense symptoms. The next day I poured some H2O2 in her ears as a precaution. By the third day all she had was a cough. I gave her about 2 glasses a day with 2 tablespoons ACV. I also had one glass a day and never caught anything. Thanks again Earth Clinic.
Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Susan (Big Sky Country, Montana) on 05/27/2009
★★★★★
I have been waiting until the end of the school year to report on my success with organic ACV with the "mother". I have been a tutor in an elementary school for three years now. The first two years I caught everything imaginable...constant sore throats, horrendous coughs, runny noses, on and on all year....I truely was constantly fighting something. Last Fall before the start of the year I began to take 1/4 cup of ACV with tomato juice faithfully once a day. AMAZING....I have not so much as had a sniffle the entire year....no flu, no colds, no anything. I'm in my late 50's and until discovering ACV I believed I needed to quit a position with children that I loved!! This is good news in my world and what have you got to lose by trying it? I tell anyone who will listen about this simple natural "cure-all"....I'm living proof of it's benefits!!!!
Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Rhonda (Harlingen, Texas) on 05/22/2009
★★★★★
My husband had a headache for 2 days, achy body & fever on and off & nausea. I was afraid it was the start of swine flu. We had been exposed to people with it, For the nausea, I gave him some "pink bismuth". But for the other symptoms, I used 2 tablespoons of apple cider vinegar mixed with about a cup of apple juice. He then drink some warm green tea. Within minutes, the symptoms went away and he seemed his old self again! He felt so good that he started playing his drums again! He hadn't played in 2 days!I have used ACV for cough , but never for flu symptoms and I'm so excited it worked!
Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Richzee (West Valley, UT, United States) on 05/07/2009
★★★★★
apple cider vinegar for flu .. I started feeling sick yesterday and i was worried about this swine flu so i bought organic apple cider vinegar, put 2 table spoons in a cup of water and sweetened it with stevia liquid extract. had a couple more doses of it and 3 hours later my flu like symptoms went away .
my symptoms were; a mild fever, cold sweating and diarrhea, i don't know if i actually had swine flu but here i am feeling fine.
this is not spam do your own research and share your results... also the reason i had a co-worker that went home from throwing up constantly . i have know idea if this was the swine flu or not . but i do know my body was going through some flu like symptoms, which i never get and i never get a flu shot. i want to hear back from anyone who has tried this. thanks richard
Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Sammy (Troy, Michigan US) on 04/27/2009
★★★★★
Thanks to God for showing this wonderful site. I was suffering with Sore Thoart and body pains, Sinus congestion. So, I went on to the internet to try some home remedies becoz i am tried of taking antiboitics. Then I saw many people taking about good things of ACV then I wanted to try. I took ACV in the afternoon after couple of hours I started feeling better. I am taking it daily and it's improving better. Thanks you everyone.
Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Meg (Grafton, WI ) on 01/24/2009
★★★★★
Thanks for the website. I have used apple cider vinegar since the 70's but somehow (maybe good health) it went off my radar. I just caught a nasty flu and going into day #3 was not cheering me up. I looked on your site and my lights went back on. I did my 3 Tablespoons. acv + 3Tablespoons.honey and 1/2 t. cinnamon in 6 oz. water and within 2 hours felt like I just might shake this today. 4 hours later (now) I am feeling really much better and even the cough is almost gone.
Apple Cider Vinegar
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!
Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Bahbi (Salem, Oregon, USA) on 10/31/2008
★★★★★
My husband of 81 yrs recently was very sick with a bad cold (or flu?) and had a sore throat, and I (61 yrs old) felt I was also just catching it (just beginning to notice a scratchy throat, and have some congestion). We don't have any "extra" money, and I hate the idea of giving it all to the big pharmaceutical companies for the "privilege" of taking potentially toxic concoctions, so I'm always looking for cheap and natural ways to do things, and I looked online for cold remedies, and found EarthClinic.
That first evening I read about Apple Cider Vinegar for flu/colds/congestion, and both my husband and I immediately started using it (1 Tablespoon in a glass of water, 3 times per day). It didn't taste wonderful, but wasn't TOO bad, and, after all, we were using it as "medicine"...and it did cure both my husband's and my sore throats (Mine within minutes, my husbands within 3 doses).
The next day, while continuing the ACV 3/day,I also tried Jean's Tomato Tea because we were both still so congested. My husband usually likes slightly spice-hot foods, and I usually don't, but with the Tomato Tea he didn't like the "hot" sensation of the spiciness, and refused to drink any more after that first try---while I was instantly aware of it clearing my sinuses and soothing my throat, so I continued to use it over the next 3 days. It worked well for me as a decongestant, but my cold was still very much "there", and I began gaining weight (controlling my weight has been a life-long problem for me), so I stopped using the Tomato Tea, but continued the ACV 3/day. It has now been about a week, and my husband is completely healthy, and this morning I am feeling much better and much less congested.
On the second morning after my husband and I began using ACV, we both lost weight. He has continued with a loss each day, and has now lost 7 pounds in 7 days. I had lost 3 pounds, then gained part of it back while I was using Tomato Tea, but now I am slowly losing again, so long as I don't eat anything with sugar and/or processed wheat flour.
Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Catherine (Geraldton, Westen Australia) on 08/09/2008
★★★★★
Thank you for your site.
My son had an awful flu that laid him off work for a week. I started to get the same symptons that he started with. I have used the H2O2 in my ears before and fortunately was able to stop it with that and bed rest for a day and also staying away from sugary foods. However, I am doing a pretty stressful job at the moment and finishing a Project at my volunteer organisation. This morning I woke up with my ears very sore and a sore throat. I used the H2O2 in my ears again a couple of times until the fizzing stopped which eased the soreness alot except for one spot in my right ear. I came to work and grabbed some immune boosters from the Health Shop but my throat was still sore. I found your site when I was looking up the info about H2O2 and colds and flu as I hadn't read it for a couple of years and I had been telling the owner of the Health Shop about it. I saw ACV mentioned in the testimonials about using H2O2 orally so had a look at the ACV testimonials as well.
I've just come Back from the supermarket with ACV and measured a couple of tablespoons [by eye] with a teaspoon of honey into a mug of warm water. The relief to my throat was almost instant and I'm really enjoying sipping on it. I'm even starting to pick up a bit of energy too. Thanks for reminding me about something so effective that I had used in the past and had forgot.
Best wishes and keep up the good work.
Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Melly (Merced, CA) on 05/03/2008
★★★★★
Two days ago, I came down with a nasty flu, and had a fever of 102. Luckily, that's gone down considerably, but a lot of symptoms remain. I googled flu cures, and this site popped up. I actually found a bunch of remedies here that seemed plausible, but the sheer amount of positive feedback for apple cider vinegar really caught my eye. I had some already, and decided to try it out. This morning, I heated about 10 oz. of water, then added 1 tbsp of apple cider vinegar and a splash of lemon juice. I hated the taste, so for lunch I tried something different (new, not found here).
I heated about 8 oz of orange juice, then 2 tsp of acv. As an addition, and because I'd read about its benefits here, aw well, I added a couple of shakes of ground cinnamon (probably 1/2 tsp or so). I can't taste the vinegar, and I feel better already! Aches are easing, my stomach and intestines are settled, and I don't feel nearly as "bleh" as just half an hour ago. I'll keep it up for a couple of days, here's hoping it continues working! I'm thinking of trying oil pulling next if this keeps up, I'm definitely a believer now.
Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Skye (Los Angeles, CA) on 04/24/2008
★★★★★
I have been drinking ACV in hot vegetable broth for a couple of years now, every time I feel virus-y or like I'm coming down with a virus. I usually feel it in my stomach first, and I get exhausted and lethargic, and sleepy. Food is the last thing on my mind! But for some reason, when I feel bad like this, I'll crave ACV in something hot and salty like broth. I usually heat up some water and add the vegetable cubes or broth mix, about 1-3 tbsp of ACV, a tbsp of lemon, and about 1-2 tbsp of fresh ginger (I get it pre-minced in a glass jar). I don't know what it is, but within a few minutes of drinking this, I always feel so much better. It's like my body is craving this concoction, and it's the only thing that will make it feel better. Of course, you should adjust the measurements of ACV, ginger, etc to what you think your body will need...I usually try it out while its heating to check it for potency. I would love to know if this has worked for anyone else!
