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Vinegar Health Tips

Since as early as 400 B.C. when Hippocrates started using vinegar to treat his patients, vinegar has been celebrated for its homeopathic properties. Modern homeopathic practitioners, individual medicinal vinegar users and a 2009 scientific study suggest vinegar's usefulness in promoting health. Like many forms of homeopathic medicine, vinegar's effectiveness is often disputed by medical professionals because it has not been extensively studied and its benefits remain mostly unproven.

  1. Apple Cider Vinegar

    • Use unfiltered apple cider vinegar, as proponents of vinegar's health benefits generally consider it to be the best vinegar for homeopathic medicine. Unlike most grocery-store bought apple cider vinegars, unfiltered apple cider vinegar has a cloudy, brown color with a spider web-like substance called the "mother" that floats within it. Acquire unfiltered vinegar at a health food store or make it yourself at home.

    Skin Irritation

    • Use vinegar as a natural antiinflammatory and bactericide. According to Debbie Gisonni of The Portland Examiner, apply vinegar to cuts, scrapes, skin abrasions and insect bites to kill bacteria and promote healing. Soak a cotton ball in apple cider vinegar and press it gently to the area of irritation for several seconds after first cleaning the skin with soap and water. Do this several times per day until the irritation is alleviated. This treatment also works for other topical ailments such as poison ivy, rashes, sunburns or boils. Avoid sensitive areas like the eyes and genitals.

    Acne

    • According to HomeRemediesWeb.com, apple cider vinegar "cures acne by killing the bacteria and balancing our skin's pH level" and that it "absorbs excessive oil from our skin, which is a leading cause of acne." Mix one part vinegar with three to four parts water to dilute the vinegar for acne treatment. Use a cotton ball soaked with this blend to dab acne spots a few times per day until the skin is clear. For serious acne, increase the ratio of vinegar to water and soak the area overnight.

    Weight Management

    • A Japanese study published in the July 2009 issue of the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry supports vinegar's ability to reduce body fat. Measuring body fat accumulation, the study's researchers compared mice that were given acetic acid and those that were not. Though both groups gained weight, those given the acetic acid gained less than the control group. According to Dr. Andrew Weil, the acetic acid in apple cider vinegar may limit weight gain "by turning on genes for fatty acid oxidation enzymes. These genes produce proteins that can break down fats and therefore suppress body fat accumulation." Drink two teaspoons of apple cider vinegar every day, add it to your cooking or blend a vinegar beverage with honey, water and garlic.

    Other Tips

    • Use unfiltered apple cider vinegar to treat ailments such as colds, headaches, constipation and tiredness. Use vinegar in your homemade salad dressings, stir-fries or detoxification drinks as desired.

    Warning

    • Some people claim that vinegar can be used to treat major diseases like diabetes and cancer. These claims have not been substantiated medically or scientifically and should not be used to the exclusion of proper medical care. Discontinue use and see a physician if using vinegar to treat an ailment causes undesired effects such as deterioration of your tooth enamel or stomach aches.

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