Medicinal Uses for Vinegar & Baking Soda

Home remedies can be easy and effective treatments that often have an economical advantage. Baking soda and vinegar are staples in many households, and non-toxic to humans and the environment. White and apple cider vinegars have many of the same healing properties but many find apple cider vinegar to be more palatable. Rinse your mouth thoroughly when ingesting vinegar on a regular basis to prevent prolonged contact with tooth enamel.

Internal Uses for Vinegar

• Keep a bottle of vinegar handy to drink at least once or twice a day.

  Apple cider vinegar has been used for centuries. The website Apple Cider Vinegar Benefits reports that Hippocrates was one of many to create a health elixir of apple cider vinegar and honey. Particularly when made from whole apples, it naturally contains antioxidants and many vitamins and minerals that support healthy weight loss. It can also reduce the effects of arthritic pain, allergies, asthma and cramps; lower blood pressure and cholesterol; support bone health and bowel regularity; prevent diabetes; and prevent or offer relief for heartburn and headaches. This list is not exclusive, so the health benefits are enormous. If you find the taste prohibitive, try adding just enough grape juice to enhance the flavor, and keep a jar of the mix in your refrigerator for a quick "fix" throughout the day

External Uses for Vinegar

• Apply vinegar to a sunburn for cooling relief and healing.

  Full-strength apple cider vinegar can reduce body odor when applied to underarms, and both white and apple cider vinegar alleviate sunburn and other burns, hemorrhoids, warts, dandruff, insect bites and varicose veins. Dilute with water and use for acne blemishes, eczema and athlete's foot. Saturate a cotton ball with water and apple cider vinegar to help stop nose bleeds by pressing to the nose, and drop a mixture of vinegar and water or drops of rubbing alcohol in the ear to combat ear infections. Try mixing apple cider vinegar with egg whites and olive oil for a natural arthritic liniment, and a mixture of the vinegar with onion juice reportedly fades age spots within two weeks.

Internal Uses for Baking Soda

• Baking soda mixed with water is a natural antacid.

  Baking soda has long been recognized for its dental whitening agents, and can be applied directly to your teeth with your finger. Mix with a glass of water and rinse to combat bad breath. Many people find that it provides safe and effective relief for heartburn or other stomach upsets.

External Uses for Baking Soda

• Baking soda helps deep-clean the skin and is safe to add to your bath water.

  Apply baking soda to your underarms for a safe and effective odor-absorption ingredient. You can add it to your bathwater as an aid to cleaning oil and perspiration; use it with your shampoo to remove residue from styling products; dilute with water and exfoliate your skin; and use as a foot soak. It is also effective on ground-in dirt on your hands, and can be used to soak oral appliances such as dentures and dental retainers.