Uses for Apple Cider Vinegar…From Cleaning to Health & Beauty Benefits

I know several women who use apple cider vinegar (ACV) in their beauty regimen which made me want to research it and find out if there were any other uses for it. I was amazed at the hundreds of sites touting the benefits of apple cider vinegar, ACV, which included curing everything from cancer to warts to head lice to diabetes. Another thing that amazed me were the “facts” on the sites claiming the miraculous benefits of ACV without actual studies or medical research. There were dozens and dozens of articles with longs lists of how ACV could cure anything and everything but the articles didn’t actually say if the writers had tried any of the remedies or if there were side-effects. I honestly try to research as much as I can and to personally try what I write about to see if it actually works. Health, beauty and cleaning tips are easy for me to experiment with. Medical “claims” aren’t so easy to vouch for since I don’t have cancer, gout, head lice, etc., and I’m not a doctor. As ALWAYS, before you try to cure a medical ailment, we highly recommend you check with your doctor first, especially if you have medical problems. It was also interesting to read some “cures” that contradicted one another. Sites selling the products they claim have miraculous results are ones I take with a grain of salt since they of course say their products are the best. I probably spent at least 10 hours researching this article but again, I’m not a scientist or doctor so I really don’t know if these claims (when it come to medical issues) actually work.

WHAT IS APPLE CIDER VINEGAR?

First of all, as I talk about ACV, I’m talking about raw, unfiltered, organic, unpasteurized vinegar. Bragg Organic Raw Apple Cider Vinegar is what I’ve found to be the most widely used product and is what I experimented with. ACV is completely natural, made from apple juice and fermented to hard apple cider. It’s then fermented again to apple cider vinegar. The main ingredient is acetic acid, along with vitamins, mineral salts and amino acids. When purchasing ACV, shake the bottle. You should see the strand-like sediment floating at the bottom, which is called “the mother”, and contains raw enzymes and gut-friendly bacteria that promotes healing.

THROUGHOUT HISTORY…

In 400 B.C. Hippocrates, the Father of Medicine, used ACV for its amazing natural cleansing, healing, and energizing health qualities. It has long been used as a folk remedy but became well-known in the U.S. in the late 1950’s when promoted in the best-selling book “Folk Medicine: A Vermont Doctor’s Guide to Good Health” by D.C. Jarvis (which I have not read.)

APPLE CIDER VINEGAR IN YOUR HEALTH & BEAUTY REGIMEN…

These were the easiest for me to research and try myself.

1. As a hair rinse – Mix 1/2 tablespoon ACV with 1 cup cold water. Pour through hair after shampooing and rinse. Use this a couple of times a week for added body and shine to your hair. I have been using this for the past couple of weeks and I actually saw the benefits. The smell dissipates pretty quickly, even though I actually like the scent. You can make up a larger mixture and keep in a squeeze bottle next to the shower.
2. As a facial toner – ACV helps regulate the ph of your skin. Mix 2 parts apple cider vinegar with 1 part water in a container. Shake before each use. Apply with a cotton ball at night and in the morning before moisturizing. This works with all skin types, regulating the ph and can actually help tighten and plump the skin. After just a week’s use, I could see a reduction (just a bit but I could see it and I only used it for a week when I wrote this) in the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles!
3. Blemishes – ACV can help dry and heal blemishes. Apply ACV to acne spots with a cotton ball and leave on overnight. Or apply several times a day to the blemish. I had a pimple starting on my chin and instead of treating it with acne medicine, I used the ACV. It dried it up before it ever actually became a pimple.
4. Fade age/sun spots – Over the counter and prescription creams that fade age and sun spots are expensive and I haven’t had much luck with most of the products I’ve tried. But I haven’t tried any of the prescription creams. I have been applying ACV to one particularly noticeable age spot (I dab a little extra on that spot) and after 1 week, have noticed a slight fading. I’m definitely going to continue using this, at least for the next month so see if it continues to fade. It’s natural and inexpensive so why not?
5. As a deodorant – I personally know a woman who has used ACV as a deodorant for years and she swears by it. It naturally absorbs and neutralizes odors. Simply dab on underarms with a cotton ball. I did notice this didn’t keep me “dry” on a couple of really hot days as I worked in the yard but it did keep me from being “stinky” and even with my usual antiperspirant/deodorant, on really hot days, I still sweat.
6. For sunburn – Add a cup of ACV to your bath and soak for 10 minutes to relieve sunburn. You can also dab it on with a cotton ball for immediate relief. This too worked quite well for me.
7. Dandruff/greasy build-up and itchy scalp – Mix 1 to 2 tablespoons of ACV in a glass of water and apply to your head. Rinse well. I don’t have dandruff or greasy build-up but I have been suffering from an itchy scalp and as I used this as a rinse, I found that not only did it make my hair shinier, it did relieve the itch.
8. As an aftershave – Mix equal parts water and ACV and shake well before applying to the face. Now since I don’t shave my face, I didn’t actually try this. And because I use olive oil when I  shave my legs, I don’t have problems with any rashes or irritations from shaving.
9. Soothe achy feet and hands – This worked for me. My feet taking a beating when I’m gardening because of the way I sit/stoop and by simply rubbing it into my feet at night, I could tell a difference. Again, the smell dissipates pretty quickly.
10. For warts – I read that by applying ACV to warts, it could actually make them fall off. I didn’t try this personally since I don’t have any but I did find this “remedy” on the Mayo Clinic’s site. Soak the wart for 20 minutes with ACV. Gently remove dead tissue with a pumice stone or emery board. Apply petroleum jelly around the wart to protect the skin. Cover the wart with a cider-soaked cotton ball and cover with a bandage. Repeat till the wart falls off. (This may take a couple of days). Once the wart falls off, continue treatment for a couple of days. *Your skin may swell some as it reacts with the solution.
11. Teeth stains – I read on numerous sites that by rubbing ACV directly on your teeth and then rinsing with water, you can get rid of tooth stains. This is DEFINITELY something I would check with your dentist first! ACV is highly acidic, which to me, implies it could damage tooth enamel. I didn’t try this.

FOR PETS –

I read that if you apply 1 part vinegar/1 part water to your pet’s coat, it can rid and repel your pet of fleas. I didn’t try this since we don’t have this problem but I did see numerous reports from people who claimed this really did work on their pets. Mix up the solution in a spray bottle, shake, and spray on your pets. Saturate the coat, rub it in and apply every day for a couple of days to a week.

CLEANING –

1. Toilets – Pour ACV into your toilet bowl and let sit overnight. It naturally cleans and deodorizes. I tried this and it pretty much got rid of all the stains in the toilet but for the most part, when I’m cleaning, I want immediate results! If you can remember to do this at night, it does work.
2. All-purpose cleaner – Mix 1/2 cup ACV with 1 cup water in a spray bottle. Always shake first before using. You can use this on the microwave, kitchen surfaces, windows, glass and mirrors, and floors. ACV has antibacterial properties and absorbs odors so it’s easy to see why this would work. I experimented on the microwave, kitchen floor and windows. It worked great on the glass but my pictures just weren’t that great with the way the sun was hitting and I couldn’t get pics without my shadow in them! With the microwave, I sprayed it on our gunk-covered inside door, waited a minute and it all simply wiped off! I also had great results on our kitchen floor. On really tough stains, you can increase the ACV to 1 cup with the 1 cup water. I used the 1/2 cup ACV solution in testing. *I could say I purposely let certain areas of the house get dirty just so I can experiment with cleaners but I’ll be honest and just say, our dirt and grime comes naturally with four cats and lots of cooking!

MEDICAL CLAIMS –

Ok, here’s where I was reading tons of “medical” ways ACV can help your body and physical ailments. Where I found research that backed up the claims, I’ve included that. I have read many accounts of people who drink ACV alone for “quick and effective” energy bursts but pure ACV can damage not only tooth enamel but tissues in the throat and mouth so I would personally NEVER drink this unless it was diluted in water, tea or juice. According to Web MD and the Mayo Clinic, long-term use could also cause low potassium levels and lower bone-density so if you already have problems with these, CHECK WITH YOUR DOCTOR FIRST. You can also buy ACV in supplement form but because these are not regulated by the FDA, you never actually know what’s in those supplements. The ratio of ACV and water/juice/tea (in most cases) varied from 2 teaspoons to 1 tablespoon of ACV to 16 ounces of water. I would personally start with the lower amount of ACV when experimenting with any of these.

1. Weight-loss – Sipping 2 teaspoons of ACV mixed with 16 ounces of water throughout the day can help with weight-reduction.
2. Healthy alkaline ph levels – Drinking a mixture of ACV and water can help the body maintain a healthy alkaline ph level. Research shows that higher acid levels (lower ph level) leads to a lack of energy and higher incidences of infection. This ACV and water mix can help create an overall detoxification of the body. It can also help stimulate cardiovascular circulation and help detoxify the liver.
3. Mucous – Helps break up mucous throughout the body and cleans the lymph nodes. Can also help with allergies because of its ability to reduce mucous and sinus congestion.
4. Candida – Rich in natural enzymes that can help rid the body of candida (yeasts that are attributed to thrush in humans). Candida creates symptoms of fatigue, poor memory, sugar cravings and yeast infections. Supposedly drinking a mix of the ACV and water, this can help with these symptoms.
5. Heartburn – One teaspoon of pure ACV followed by a glass of water can help reduce heartburn and you’ll feel quick relief. If heartburn is caused by an ulcer, this will not work.
6. Gas and bloating – Drinking one tablespoon of ACV mixed with water before meals can help with gas and bloating.

SCIENTIFIC EVIDENCE BASED ON VARIOUS STUDIES….

1. High cholesterol – A 2006 study showed evidence that ACV could lower cholesterol. This study was done on rats though and not humans.
2. High blood pressure – Another study done on rats found that ACV could lower high blood pressure.
3. Cancer – A few laboratory studies have found that ACV may be able to kill cancer cells or slow their growth. Observational studies of people though have been confusing. One found that consuming ACV was associated with a decreased risk of esophageal cancer but another associated it with an increased risk of bladder cancer.
4. Arthritis – According to the Mayo Clinic, ACV can help arthritic hand and foot pain. I personally tried this on my hand and knee and found relief! Soak arthritic hands or feet in a hot solution of one-quarter cup ACV to 1 1/2 cups of hot water. Soak 10 minutes 2 to 3 times a day. You can also make a poultice by soaking a cloth in the above mixture. Wring the cloth out and wrap around the joint (this is what I tried). Secure with a dry cloth to retain the heat. When the cloth has cooled down, wring out and apply again. Repeat several times, twice daily for pain relief.
5. Diabetes – The effect of ACV on blood sugar levels is perhaps the best researched and most promising of ACV’s possible health benefits. Several studies have found that vinegar may help lower glucose levels. A 2004 study cited in the American Diabetes Foundation’s publication “Diabetes Care” found that taking ACV before meals significantly increased insulin sensitivity and dramatically reduced the insulin and glucose spikes that occur after meals. The study group was divided into 3 groups, with 1/3 having been diagnosed with Type 2 Diabetes, 1/3 with prediabetic signs, and 1/3 healthy. All 3 groups had better blood glucose readings, those with the prediabetic signs benefitted the most by cutting their blood glucose concentrations by nearly half, those with diabetes improved their blood glucose levels by 25%. A follow-up study geared at testing vinegar’s long-term effects yielded an unexpected side effect…moderate weight loss. Participants taking 2 tablespoons of ACV prior to two meals per day lost an average of 2 pounds over the 4-week period. (Some lost 4.)

Again, I can’t personally vouch if ACV actually helps in medical ways and seriously, check with your doctor, especially if you have any medical conditions. If you’ve tried any of these apple cider vinegar alternative uses or have your own tips, we’d love to hear about them.