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.
General Feedback
Posted by Patricia (Hanover, Ontario Canada) on 11/09/2011
Hey there. Just reading the ACV cures section and I have to say it is a load of info to sift through. I would like to start taking ACV for a number of different reasons but have the odd reaction of gagging when I drink anything dissolved in water. I tried ACV straight up and was totally fine (almost) with the taste and am wondering if that is ok, in the long run, to take it that way. I can drink the water a few minutes later and drink a fair bit in a day anyway. Do most people take it everyday or do they take breaks with it? What are the thoughts on this?
General Feedback
Posted by Ralph (Miami, Fl Usa) on 11/09/2011
No harm will come in taking ACV straight up daily. I drink 1 once with half a teaspoon of cayenne pepper every day with no problems. I workout every day and it prevents lactic acid build up.
Broad Benefits
Posted by Christine (Perth, West Australia) on 10/19/2011
In Sept, my husband found that he had 3 bladder stones 3mm, 7mm & 14mm. He immediately started drinking diluted lemon juice daily - half a lemon.
This month we went to Singapore & on the 11th bought Heinz ACV as he passed some reddish urine. Shortly after drinking about a capful with some water, we were truly amazed that he passed a small stone - like a crystal with a bit of pain. On the 14th two more stones and on the the 15th, 3 stones at one go and then a larger one later on the day all without pain. We don't know if there are still any more stones present. My husband was also diagnosed with diabetes and was prescribed with Diabex. After cutting out all soft drinks, beer & sugar his readings in 10 days dropped from 13 to 6 points - he was having the lemon juice daily. He had bad side effects with the Diabex and stopped it completely. He is in his sixties.
I too drank half a capful of Heinz vinegar and found there was a lot of pus coming out of my gums. In Perth, I used to sporadically have half a capful of Cornwall's vinegar with a tablespoon of water followed by more water, as the genuine ACV was too strong for me. I didn't find anything happening to my gums but my jeans would get very loose overnight. The same thing would happen if I took a tiny amount of virgin coconut oil on a bit of bread and also if I took a grain of coarse sea salt, let it dissolve on my tongue and then drink more water (my pants would fall below my hips). My problem is that I have never done things regularly.
Many years ago, I had read about the acv, coconut oil, salt etc. But I used to take the quantities specified by other people and would feel terrible pressure in my head and stopped. In 09, I started taking very tiny amounts and found that I had no problems. Coconut oil has helped my mother with heart burn.
One bad thing that occurred was stupidly swishing my mouth with ACV - something that I had read on another site and it corroded half my tooth!!
Storing Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Chorisia (Ipswich, Suffolk, England) on 10/12/2011
I have been using Aplle cider vinegar (UK) for years bought in 25ltr plastic containers. No mother forms in the plastic container, shortly after transferring into a glass container a thick mother forms. In small plastic containers no mother forms ether. So, is there some leaching from plastic inhibiting the formation of the mother? If so then it is wise not to keep cider vinegar in plastic containers?
General Feedback
Posted by Tom (Houston, Tx) on 10/09/2011
Please help me to understand this about vinegar being alkaline. Apple Cider Vinegar is Acetic ACID with a ph of about 4.5. It is not alkaline when ingested. How can it be good for gastric reflux and other acid casuing illnesses when the acetic acid is very irritating to the esophagus and temporarily lowers blood ph to the acid side until the kidneys balance the ph back to 7.4 which is the boy's normal ph, slightly alkaline. Where am I going wrong?
General Feedback
Posted by H. Anton (Danbury, Ct) on 10/09/2011
You are quite right that apple cider vinegar is quite acidic. Just as it is with lemon juice, after it is metabolized, the residue (ash) is alkaline and helps to alkalize the body.
However, it could be irritating to the esophagus as you drink it since it is still acidic at this point.
Broad Benefits
Posted by Violeta (Skopje, Macedonia) on 09/22/2011
★★★★★
Just to Share my experience with Apple Vinegar.
* My 8 year old son got eczema on his bought hands. I didn't try anything else so I went direct to Earth clinic web site as usually. I sprayed ACV without solution on his hands. Yes, it does burn at first, but this pain goes quickly. But he did it. In two days the eczema is completely gone from his hands.
* I used ACV for my cystitis. It was a difficult, with pain and blood. I couldn't walk, work from pain. The next day after ACV I felt healthy, I could work and be normal. I felt still some pain but the pain was not killing pain. The second day the pain is gone. The next month I had a pain to hold the urine longer. So I was running immediately to toilet because of this pain. After this month I have no any kind of pain.
* My son got some bacteria in his bladder. That made him to go to the toilet every minute but there was nothing to urine. With ACV is supper.
* I am using ACV as a cosmetic, lotion for may face skin. After ACV I put on my face skin coconut oil. ACV make the skin whiter and smooth.
Broad Benefits
Posted by Jethmal (Hyderabad, India) on 07/02/2015
While applying ACV on skin directly shall it be diluted with water before applying on skin or can it be applied in concentrated form? It is strong acetic acid.
Broad Benefits
Posted by Mama To Many (Tennessee) on 07/02/2015
Dear Jethmal,
I usually dilute Apple Cider Vinegar when I use it on my skin, although for bug bites, I have used it straight.
Generally though, I dilute it half and half with water.
For sensitive skin areas, small children or babies, I use 1 Tablespoon per cup of water.
~Mama to Many~
Broad Benefits
Posted by Nanie (UK) on 09/11/2023
Please don't use undiluted apple cider vinegar on your face. It can ruin your skin barrier. Mix it with bentonite clay or just use a regular chemical exfoliant!
General Feedback
Posted by Ann (Kingston, Jamaica) on 09/21/2011
Doesn't ACV bleach your face. Does it work the same for black people?
General Feedback
Posted by Tracy (Boulder City, Nv, Usa) on 09/10/2012
Hi Ann, I'm not sure about ACV bleaching the face but hydrogen peroxide will bleach your face. However, They both will dry your skin out, so be sure to use some coconut oil as a fabulous moisturizer to replenish your skin :) I am an Esthetician and I use it daily.
General Feedback
Posted by Doddie (Lawrenceville, Georgia, Usa) on 09/19/2011
I read on here that under certain conditions Apple Cider Vinegar should not be used. Can you tell me what they are ? And under what conditions should only baking soda should be use (if any) ? Thank you for your feedback. I may have missed the answer in my reading EC but I think this is important to know.
General Feedback
Posted by Cho-aquarius (Las Vegas, Nevada) on 09/04/2011
My question is about the acv, is it ok for me to take Apple Cider Vinegar even my uric acid is very high? I have type 2 diabetes too and my tryglycerides is 400 im not taking any medicine for my tryglyceride coz im having a muscle pain with the medicine theyre giving me. Im taking metformin 1000 morning and evening but my sugar still 160 fasting and after 2hrs (aftermeal) 175 my a1c is 7 so im wondering is Apple Cider Vinegar can help me with all my problems please help im getting depress and stress thank you very much
Broad Benefits
Posted by Xavier (Queens, Ny) on 08/28/2011
★★★★★
ACV is a great weight loss treatment. Don't expect the weight to fall off right away. You still have to eat right and get the exercise in. ACV does help on warts and boils. Take it internally and externally for best results. a little tumeric, oregano oil and tea tree oil does wonders as well.
Broad Benefits
Posted by Carolie (Vancouver, Wa) on 08/06/2013
What are the ratios of Avc to water?
General Feedback
Posted by Christine (Nottingham, England) on 08/14/2011
to ti. Thank you for your suggestion I will give it a try. christine
General Feedback
Posted by Christine (Nottingham, England) on 08/13/2011
can ted or anyone tell me if apple cider vinegar contains histamine. I would like to try it to reduce histamine levels. I am not sure what to do. I do not want to make things worse. thanks
General Feedback
Posted by Ti (Houston, Usa) on 08/13/2011
Christine, A natural product to reduce histamines is Standard Process 'Antronex'. Hope it helps. You can find it on amazon.
General Feedback
Posted by Marina (New York) on 08/13/2011
Dear Earth Clinic,
Thanks so much for your website. It is priceless. One question about ACV -- is it just as effective eating it with olive oil in a salad, or does it work better/faster in water? Thanks again for a great resource!
Marina
General Feedback
Posted by Rapunzel (Hotlanta, Usa) on 08/09/2011
★★★★★
@Aricegirl,
There's no harm whatsoever in taking the vinegar straight or in less water than suggested above. In fact, I take mine either straight, or I will put the ACV in a tablespoon or two of water and down it in a single gulp. (Sometimes to sweeten it a bit, I'll put in a couple drops of liquid stevia. If you go this route, just make sure that you rinse out your mouth with clean water b/c you don't want the ACV to wear down the enamel on your teeth.
Also (and perhaps most important of all), be sure to purchase an ACV that is unrefined - meaning that it is raw/unpasteurized and with the "mother" still in it ... And preferably organic. The "mother" is the natural fermentation base that allows the apple cider to become vinegar. Always shake up the bottle before you pour the vinegar in order to get those wonderful enzymes, beneficial bacteria, and great nutrients all mixed together.
WRT your own allergy issues, you might also try finding a local honey source and take a small amount each day. (Some take 1 tsp, others 1Tbsp. ) Honey from a local source will have the pollens in your area, and this will allow your body to become accustomed them, naturally.
Liquid Vs. Pills
Posted by Esther (Singapore) on 06/26/2011
Does ACV in pill form work as well as in the liquid form? It sometimes give me a bloated feeling in the stomach after mixing the vinegar with water so am wondering if the pill form is alright as a substitute.
Liquid Vs. Pills
Posted by Sheila (San Diego, Ca, Usa) on 06/09/2011
I picked up ACV Extract capsules and wondered how effective the ACV is in a capsule versus the bottled liquid. Does anyone know if there is a difference if any, and how can I figure out if the 2-200 mg caps I take a day is equal to 2 tablespoons in water recommended in the ACV dilution recipe? To note, I was told by the vendor that their ACV Extract capsule is more potent than 'regular' ACV in capsule form.
It says on the label that the ACV is "standardized to 35% acetic acid". What does that mean?
