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.

Broad Benefits

133 User Reviews
5 star (128) 
  96%
4 star (1) 
  1%
3 star (3) 
  2%
1 star (1) 
  1%

Posted by Janice (Mpls, MN) on 01/16/2009
★★★★★

After just a few days of taking only 2 tsp of ACV, my acne and dandruff completely cleared up. It has also helped with symptoms of PMS and insomnia, and I now have much more energy from taking it on a daily basis. I do find it is hard on my tooth enamel, so I make sure I sip it through a straw.


Broad Benefits
Posted by Judy (Hubert, North Carolina) on 01/15/2009
★★★★★

As everyone should be I was very skeptical when I read of all the cures acheived with ACV. I started out looking for relief for my partners enlarged prostate. When I kept looking at all the things ACV could do, I said what the heck and tryed it along with him. Well let me just say that I feel like a brand new woman! I have had sever back pain and degenerative disease since I was 11 yrs old. About 6 yrs ago I was in an auto accident that I have had constant neck pain from. More recently, with my age now being 48, I have had knee and hip pain on my right side. After taking ACV in water, 2 tbls in 8 oz, for three days my hip no longer hurt! I decided to follow the recipe better and slowly drink 3 to 4 glasses of the same recipe all day. While at the gym I realized I could move my neck and look over my shoulder with no pain!! When I get up in the morning I no longer have to hang on to the counter when I kneel down to get something from the bottom of the cupboard!! I wake up everyday now PAIN FREE! I can't wait to see what happens next! As for my man, well he see's what it is doing for me and wants to do it too but hates the taste and doesn't have the patients. I have been doing all I can to get him to do it. He will now and again but won't do it every day. Does anyone have any ideas how to make it taste better for him? I am used to it already and really with everything it has done for me wouldn't care how it tasted.Thankyou so so so much for this site! Who would have thought that a little bottle from the grocery store costing all of one dollar could make me feel younger then I ever have!!

Replied by T
(Maryland, USA)
01/16/2009

Put it in apple juice. Myself and my very picky and perceptive child have no problems taking it this way. It blends right in...no surprise really, "apples to apples" ;) Experiment with different amounts to find the least amount that will disguise the taste enough for you. We drink it with plenty of water alongside.


Broad Benefits
Posted by River (Southampton, UK) on 01/10/2009
★★★★★

I was desperately looking for natural remedies for lots minor and not so minor ailments I have. I have rhinitis allergy, asthma, reflux, hot flushes, hair thining, insomina when I came across your website! you have changed my life. I have definete improvement in all but the reflux (and too early to say if hair loss will improve ) with ACV. It is early days though. I did not think it would work so quickly. Thank you so much. I have taken 2 table spoons of organic ACV in half a glass of water twice dailly for the past week and already noticed a change. Thank you!


Broad Benefits
Posted by Diana (Palmetto, FL) on 01/09/2009
★★★★★

I have been suffering from cronic sinusitus for several years now and I have tried everything with no help. When I say everything, belive me, if it is out there, I tried it. I have used every over the counter medicine, nasal sprays, netti pots, heat packs and prescriptions and none helped. It has recently gotten so bad that I developed extremely dark circles under my eyes and asked a dermatologist what I could do to deminish them and they said "nothing". They were wrong! I have not only found relief from my sinus issues, but the dark circles are practically gone in a matter of days. I found your website and thank God for it. I took 1/8th cup of ACV for my sinus problems and that evening, I became very ill that night and instantly thought, it was due to the ACV dose. That night however, I went to bed and again took the ACV the next morning to help with my sinuses. In two days I woke with no congestion for the first time in 7 years!! This is an amazing remedy that has been sitting undiscovered by me in my pantry. I am on my third day of dosing with ACV and am equally excited about the prospect of it helping with my acne issues as well. I was really happy when my sinuses cleared, but am even more excited about the dark circles beginning to lighten. ACV is the one item I will never be without.


Broad Benefits
Posted by Lovectac (Greensboro, NC) on 12/30/2008
★★★★★

I bought the organic apple cidar vinegar and I take it twice a day (1 tbsp in the a.m. with a cup of ice water and the same in the p.m., generally a half hour to an hour before going to bed.) Now since I haven't been taking it on a routine basis, I can't say if I've lost weight, however, my hair dresser told me recently that my hair was growing (I hadn't noticed). I felt less sluggish and my appetite didn't increase. Starting for the New Year, I'm going to drink it twice a day everyday and closely monitor the results and report back. One more thing, at first I did experience a pain in my lower right side in the back but after a few weeks it subsided. I read on this site that that may happen. I stopped drinking it but then after about 2 weeks being off of it, I started drinking it again and didn't experience the pain. Good luck to all and good health to you.


Broad Benefits
Posted by Dianna (Austin, Texas) on 12/28/2008
★★★★★

i have tried apple cider vinegar in the past with mixed results. i have diabetes and take insulin. when i started taking ACV before i was taking 1 tablespoon and it really did lower my blood sugar - in fact i had to make sure that i ate enough carbs or it would be too low - like in the 40's. also it was giving me very bad gas. i was taking it in a glass of water 2x a day and my teeth were becoming sensitive.

well, i started taking it again - but this time in a much smaller dose. now i put it in a dropper bottle and take a dropper - approx. 1/2 - 1 teaspoon and i put it in the back of my throat so it doesn't touch my teeth.

this works much better for me and i do get some of the blood sugar lowering effects - but what i really noticed is that in the morning my face is not puffy. it also makes me pee a lot more and i just feel 'cleaner'. it seems like my body is 'clearer' or something. and at this dosage it isn't giving me gas. i do this 2 times a day and maybe i will be able to work up to more eventually - but for now this is helping me.


Broad Benefits
Posted by Kimberly (New York, NY USA ) on 12/14/2008
★★★★★

I would like to enthusiastically offer my support for apple cider vinegar in the cure of various skin ailments. WARTS: I dipped a very small piece of cotton in ACV, put this directly on the wart, then covered all with an air-tight bandage. I left on for c. 12 hours, then let the entire area breathe for 12 hours. I repeated for about 3 weeks, as this was a deep and large wart. The first 2 applications stung and throbbed a bit, but from then on, the entire enterprise was painless. The area eventually ulcerated--looks messy for a while--and painlessly peeled off. No more wart! As maintenance for about 3 more weeks, I dabbed a little ACV on the area, without bandage. The wart has not recurred after more than a year and a half! This really works, folks!

ACTINIC KERATOSIS: My dermatologist identified this on my skin just above my upper lip. She offered to burn it off with liquid nitrogen: no, thanks. I followed the same ACV routine, and it worked! Took a lot less time, as this keratosis was not deep.

BENIGN PAPILLOMA: I am currently eliminating a little bump from my nose that I've had for over 10 years: it is in the red and ulcerating phase and about to sluff off.

I am THRILLED with the way ACV works to remove skin ailments! This method is cheap, safe, and natural. The skin afterwards is perfectly healthy and not scarred: quite preferable to liquid nitrogen or fluorouracil-5 or other harsh chemicals. Try it!


Broad Benefits
Posted by Leslie (Jonesborough, TN) on 12/12/2008
★★★★★

I have been taking a grocery store brand of ACV for a week now. I take 2-3 tbl spoons twice a day. Once in the morning and once in the evening. It has taken my daily headaches completely away, my skin is softer, and just when I thought it wasn't helping my weight, I put on a pair of jeans that I hadn't worn in a week, and they were loose! I've been pulling them up all day! I do want to suggest to definitely get the organic kind of ACV. I believe that it will work even better than the grocery store brand. I'm going to get some today.The only side effect so far is constipation. I hope by changing to the organic ACV that that will help.


Broad Benefits
Posted by Elena (Berkeley, CA) on 12/08/2008
★★★★★

I have just starting drinking ACV and water every day for close to 3 weeks now. I have suffered from acne since I was 12 years old and I am now 36 and as I've gotten older it has gotten worse. After drinking ACV for about 2 weeks, my skin started to transform and it looks great! I've tried everything to get rid of my grossly impacted pores and my pores are almost now completely free of debris. I have started using the ACV in my clay mask as well instead of water and it has made a HUGE difference. Not only has my face cleared up but the breakouts on other body parts are also clearing up. My skin is so soft, I have more energy and I've been having regular bowl movements. I've also noticed that my lips were very dry, they are now soft with no dryness.

Initially, when I started drinking ACV my skin erupted, now in retrospect I know that my body was just pushing the toxins out of my system. Also, my skin would be so oily, truly greasy several hours after cleaning my face, now I've noticed that my face has a beautiful glow but not OILY or greasy looking like before, this stuff is amazing! And I should also report that I do look 10 years younger as well! I am now looking forward to continuing my ACV treatment and have started to really take healing myself naturally very seriously.

EC: More acne cures here:


Broad Benefits
Posted by L (Orange County, California) on 12/06/2008
★★★★★

So I was trying Apple cider vinegar to get rid of warts, which it did get rid of them. I did not realize that it would get rid of my eczema too though. I figured I would start drinking it everyday and maybe I would see a difference. After day 4 my eczema is gone. I had tried the steroid cream and it did not work. I was not using the ACV for my eczema but it took it away, I did not put it directly on my eczema, just consumed it. I have lost weight in my stomach, which I have not been able to do for years, my bloating is gone and I am having regular bowel movements. I think I am also passing parasites. My skin looks radiant, I tend to have very dry skin on my face and it gets red and itchy, not anymore, its super soft and no red. My hair looks better. I cant wait to see how this is going to affect my period. I am a couple days late and I think it might be because of the ACV but we will see. The only down side I can see about the ACV is that if I drink it too fast and not throughout the day, I get a really bad headache. First 2 days I sipped throughout the day and I was fine. 3rd day I downed a cup in the morning and I had the worst headache ever, I had to lay down. Maybe its just my body detoxing. Did anyone feel this way after the 3rd day?

Replied by Jennifer
(Marion, Arkansas)
12/11/2008

I wanted to respond to L from Orange County. I had the identical same thing happen to me. I had a horrible headache about the third day and had to lay down most of the day. I think I had failed to drink an adequate amount of water. If the ACV detoxes a person, I suppose we need to be gulping down as much water as possible and I think I only had a couple of glasses of water the day before. When I increased my water intake, things got a whole lot better. But my skin has transformed. I am a chronic-acne sufferer and the change with the ACV has been unbelievable. I also have an increased sex drive that is almost ridiculous. I have been scaring my poor husband to death. Its a new me and he's wondering where the old me went. All in all we are enjoying the changes. I just hope I don't experience too many more bad headaches.


Broad Benefits
Posted by Frances (Blanchard, LA) on 12/02/2008
★★★★★

I have been using the apple cider remedy off and on for the last 3 weeks. Because I was laid off from work the state run insurance decided that I did not need the Acid Reflux med. They said I could use the over the counter stuff. After 6 months of agony I went to the internet and found the acid reflux remedy. It has been a great relief to me and it also has cleared my skin which really surprised. I use the apple cider vinegar to rinse my hair too.

I have been using 1 teaspoon to 8 oz of water. I use about a 1/4 cup of vinegar in a large 20 oz cup water shampoo and the rinse with the vinegar.


Broad Benefits
Posted by Lori (Hammond, Indiana) on 11/26/2008
★★★★★

For about 2 yrs. I've been suffering from UTI's/Bladder Infections and most recently, Yeast Infections. I have been to the ER I don't know how many times, then I found a dr. that deals in that. I kept having UTI's and Bladder Infections and he kept prescribing my antiboitics, it got to the point where the antiboitics stopped working, I recently tried the ACV and I feel so much better! It really works. If I knew about this a long time ago it would of saved me a lot of trips to the ER. And I also love the added things it does for me, I have A TON of energy, my hair looks and feels a lot better, I went for a check-up last Monday and I lost 4 lbs. and I wasn't even trying. Trust me ladies, u should try the ACV!

Replied by Mel
(New York)
01/05/2012

Hi Lori!
I know this thread is super old, but I've been suffering from chronic yeast infections for over two years now and am recently getting bladder infections and UTI's which I had just thought i'd have to add to the checklist of ailments I've suffered from... I'm definitely planning to try this stuff.. Just wondering, is it still working for you?? Thanks!


Broad Benefits
Posted by Stacey (Greensboro, North Carolina) on 11/14/2008
★★★★★

I've been using apple cider vinegar for about 2 months now, and I have to admit that it does give you glowing skin. I drink one tablespoon of organic unfiltered ACV in a glass of water once a day and use regular filtered as a skin toner on my face twice a day. I'm in my late 20's and have acne, and I saw immediate results in 2 days. My skin glows, even when I have a break out. I use other products for acne, but I have noticed that break outs are reduced.

Additionally, drinking ACV has helped my acid reflux. I do not exactly understand how consuming an acid helps, but it does. I suppose it is possible that my stomach does not have to produce and excessive amount of acid if I am ingesting one.

As a side effect, I did notice that I had the constipation problem other people mentioned. I found it was worse the more ACV I drank, so I just restrict myself to 1 tablespoon per day and give my body a break from ACV at least one day a week.

Weightloss-wise, I've not noticed any results, but I think this is because I am not significantly over-weight and eat a healthy diet in the first place. I'm a 5'8'' 155lbs woman, so even a 5-10lbs loss from drinking ACV would be a bit drastic. I may, over an extended period, lose a bit, but I think that ACV helps more if you have not been taking any weight management measures. I think it might be helpful if more people describe their lifestyle pre-ACV in the weightloss section so that people will have a better idea of what results they can expect.

Replied by Marion
(Riverside, Ca)
11/14/2008

At 5'8 and 155 lbs you shouldn't be concerned with weight loss. You are at the ideal weight for your height.

Replied by Joyce
(Joelton, Tn.)
11/14/2008

Hi Stacey,

You might want to join the crowd following the advice of Dr. Jonathan Wright in his newsletters. Dr. Wright says that heartburn or acid reflux, also known as GERD is caused by our stomachs not producing enough acid, which would explain why ACV would help it.

Replied by Stacey
(Greensboro, NC)
11/17/2008

To Marion:

11/14/2008: Marion from Riverside, Ca replies: "At 5'8 and 155 lbs you shouldn't be concerned with weight loss. You are at the ideal weight for your height. "

You're exactly right. I'm concerned that some people may be within a relatively healthy weight for their size and still trying to lose weight. In my experience, the more overweight you are, the more drastic the results of any health plan. I do not want people to give up on ACV as a health tonic simply because they do not lose weight. ;)

Replied by Garry
(Sacramento, Ca)
12/06/2010

Just a note on Dr. Jonathan Wright - an email circulating from the HSI (Health Sciences Institute) actively promotes subscriptions to his papers and claims he won The Linus Pauling Award - if you check the web you will find no such award.


Broad Benefits
Posted by Sarah (Monrovia, CA) on 11/12/2008

This and a wonderful site! thank you for providing all the treasures to us!I was lucky to find this site in Aug. and began to use ACV with honey once a day:
2 tbsp of ACV and 1 Tbsp of honey. Now I have so many benefits:
I feel more energitic than before;
I lost 5 pounds without any excercise;
I always had puffy face before, not no more puffy face, and I looked alot younger now.
I always have bloating abodomen and even pain with prolonged sitting. Now the bloating is gone! I started to try VCO last month, I put it on my face, the next morning my skin looks supple and glowing and young!
Thanks Earthclinic so many health benefits!!! I love and respect earthclinic!!!

Replied by Lara
(Israel)
05/22/2012

Hello Sarah - I know your post about ACV is from 2008.... But I was wondering if you have found any other solutions or information regarding abdomen pain and bloating from prolonged sitting (something that affects me nearly every day, and has been causing me pain on and off for many years). You are the first person I have seen mention this as a cause of pain.... In fact, after years of using Earth Clinic - this is my first post!


Broad Benefits
Posted by Mona (Brampton, Ontario/Canada) on 11/02/2008
★★★★★

I am using Apple cider vinegar remedy ACV 2tsp 2 times a day for the last 2 months. It has cured my sinus, acidity generalized weakness, acne. But one thing that is worrying me the most is ever since I have used it my menstrual flow is very low which was quite normal previously. I am scared with it what is the reason should I continue taking ACV as my allergies are controlled with it.



NEXT