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 Rich (Atlanta) on 03/02/2015
★☆☆☆☆
I am a big ACV believer in many things but not sore throat. It seemed to have made it worse. The Cayenne pepper remedy however did work.
Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by My2cents (Rock Hill, Sc, USA) on 11/18/2012
★☆☆☆☆
Talk about regrets! I am an ACV fanatic. I believe whole heartedly in the power of ACV. Especially the unfiltered, unpasteurized ACV with "the mother". BUT in this case, I regret it. I started out with a very sore throat. I was unable to swallow food, and swallowing even liquids was uncomfortable, but not unbearable. I mixed the vinegar and honey. Gargled, swallowed. I noticed that WHILE I was gargling I felt great. My throat did not hurt at all. And for maybe ten seconds afterward. THEN, I noticed that gradually, my throat got worse and worse. It now hurts so bad to swallow that I try just spitting unless I am drinking something. I say proceed with caution.
Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Albert (Johnson City, Tennessee Usa) on 04/28/2012
★☆☆☆☆
This remedy is not very good. I tried it, drank it, cleared it up with water, and I quickly felt a throw up feeling in my stomach. I was about to throw up when I went on the floor, made myself stop breathing, and that sort of helped me not throw up. The only good thing is that my sore throat barely cleared up. (Btw, I am never trying that again, or anything else that my instincts tell me "That is gross, don't try it", so I am never trying gross stuff). I will never do that again. I use salt water gurgling and its works a lot better than this.
Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Victoria (New York City, Usa) on 02/07/2011
★☆☆☆☆
I tried this. First I did 2 tblsp of this in a glass of water and drank it. That didnt work. Then I mixed the ACV in a mug of tea. That didnt work. Finally I just took the ACV straight to the head. This didnt work either. So now I have a disgusting taste in my mouth and still a sore throat. :/
Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by John (Houston, TX) on 05/24/2009
★☆☆☆☆
This was absolutely the worst thing I could have done. I'd taken ibuprophen for 2 days with only limited results so I came to this website. I used 3 tsp ACV, 3 tsp honey and 8 oz. hot water. While I was taking it it did provide limited relief. Gargled roughly half and drank the rest. 30 minutes later after sitting on the sofa and feeling it get worse I got up and checked my temp. My temp had gone from 99.9 immediately before the using the ACV to 102.8 thirty minutes after (so its not as if my mouth were still hot from the drink). This stuff is not only useless its dangerous in my opinion. Stay away from this and if you've got a sore throat, see a licensed physician.
Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Marianne (Portage, Indiana USA) on 12/23/2008
★☆☆☆☆
I took 2 tbs acv, 2tbs honey and 8 ounces of water to help relieve cold symptoms and a sore throat. My throat is burning more than ever, is there something else that I can do to alleviate this problem.
Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Callie (Houston, Texas) on 12/02/2008
★☆☆☆☆
Oh my gosh i just tried the hot water with 3 tablespons of honey and 3 tablespoons of ACV and i drank a cup and just threw it back up it didnt even stay down for two minutes DO NOT DO!
Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Lacey (Willoughby, Ohio) on 08/25/2008
★☆☆☆☆
i tried the 8 ounces warmed over pickle juice. couldn't even make it through the whole glass, i drank about 4 ounces. i waited about 10 minutes, nothing, still sore. so i moved on to the 3 tbs of acv and 3 tbs of honey in hot water. i drank 8 ounces of that stuff. let me tell ya. there is no getting over the taste, i had to choke it down... it didn't cure my sore throat it only made my belly hurt!
Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Judy (Mission Viejo, CA) on 06/21/2008
★☆☆☆☆
I gargled with ACV the last time I had a sore throat and it worked like a charm. It seemed to "sweeten" the soreness in my throat and took out the pain. This last sore throat was so bad I could not swallow so I went for the ACV again and gargled it straight. I accidentally swallowed a gulp-full and it immediately burned and constricted my throat so I could not breathe. It was as tho I swallowed acid. I was alone and scared to death that I was just going to die on the spot. I sucked in air the best I could until I was able to fill my lungs. It was the scariest thing I ever had happen to me, I do not recommend this unless you really dilute it!! I won't ever go near it again. That episode did it for me! Be careful!
Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Bob (London, Canada) on 05/21/2008
★☆☆☆☆
Sore Throat Remedies: Every site I looked at said ACV really works...... WRONG! I used 2 tbsp in 1 cup of warm water, gargled it. My throat hurt even more after that. I went to the hospital it hurt so bad. Was told it wasn't strep, just very very red and inflamed. the ACV actually burnt my throat. I am finally starting to feel a little better after 5 days. So in my opinion stick to the salt and water solution and avoid the ACV.
Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Claudia (Wayne, USA) on 09/28/2007
★☆☆☆☆
Glad to know that the Apple Cider Vinegar remedy works for so many. It didn't work for me: it made matters much worse. I've had a nasty sore throat for weeks. Throat cultures by the ENT revealed nothing out of the ordinary. I tried the ACV remedy but by the following day, the pain in my throat intensified. In search of some relief, I ventured to the health food store. I'm now using a Propolis throat spray (alcohol free). I felt much better after the first application. Things are improving nicely. Good luck to all.
Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Sierra (La Mesa, CA) on 05/02/2006
★☆☆☆☆
for the past week i have had the worst sore throat i can imagine. i would cringe every time i had to swallow, and the left side of the back of my throat was swelled up and almost kinda blue. i have been on aspirin most of the time and that almost makes it completely die down, however it doesn't cure it at ALL. i thought it went away 3 days ago but yesterday i discovered i had it back again. i tried the ACV w/ water and a little honey but couldn't even keep my mouth open long enough to gargle it. then i tried the cajan (sp?) pepper, and that felt like it was going to do something but nothing so far. my best bet right now is aspirin, as sad as that is, and a little honey helps soothe it every now and then. i still have yet to try the lemon but i've found that hot soup is always a nice option.
