Apple cider vinegar as a home remedy

Sabine Schrör is a freelance writer for the medical team. She studied business administration and public relations in Cologne. As a freelance editor, she has been at home in a wide variety of industries for more than 15 years. Health is one of her favorite subjects.

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Hardly any other home remedy has such a broad spectrum of activity as apple cider vinegar: Whether metabolism, blood sugar, liver, intestines, skin or hair - according to naturopathy, our body can benefit from the stimulating and healing power of apple cider vinegar in many areas. Read everything you need to know about apple cider vinegar: Ingredients, production, mode of action - and whether drinking apple cider vinegar can help you lose weight.

What is Apple Cider Vinegar?

Apple cider vinegar is healthy: Due to the fermentation process in which it is created, it contains numerous other valuable vitamins, minerals, trace elements and enzymes in addition to the many nutrients in apples. The most important ingredients include:

• Vitamins A, B1, B2, B6, C and E.
• Beta-carotene (precursor of vitamin A)
• Folic acid (vitamin B9)
• potassium
• magnesium
• iron
• sodium
• Calcium
• phosphate
• fluorine
• iodine
• zinc
• copper
• selenium

Apple cider vinegar has a long history as a home remedy. Even the Romans used it, for example, to disinfect wounds. In the Middle Ages, the acidic remedy was used to fight the plague - disinfecting washes with apple cider vinegar were supposed to protect healthy people from infection with the deadly pathogen.

Today naturopaths appreciate this fruit vinegar in a wide variety of areas as an alternative or accompanying treatment to classic conventional medical therapies. Apple cider vinegar is also considered a natural beauty product for pure skin and shiny hair.

How does apple cider vinegar work?

The many vitamins, minerals, trace elements and enzymes contained in apple cider vinegar are essential for the structure and function of the body. The apple cider vinegar effect is said to be as varied as the ingredients.

However, this is not scientifically proven beyond any doubt. Rather, the positive mechanisms of action are based on centuries of experience.

As a result, apple cider vinegar can:

• increase blood flow
• boost your metabolism
• strengthen the immune system
• detoxify (stimulating apple cider vinegar effect on the liver and kidneys)
• Lower blood sugar and blood fat levels
• Fight putrefactive bacteria in the intestines
• promote wound healing
• Prevent calcification
• keep hair shiny and supple
• improve blemished, inflammatory skin
• Relieve itching
• reduce sebum production in the skin
• Inhibit inflammation

How is apple cider vinegar made?

Organic apple cider vinegar is obtained from the must of whole organic apples to which bacterial cultures are added. These set a fermentation process in motion, in the course of which the alcohol is converted into acetic acid.

In contrast to organic apple cider vinegar, conventionally produced apple cider vinegar is made from apple residues. In addition, the acetic acid is not created naturally by vinegar bacteria, but is artificially added to the apple must.

Organic apple cider vinegar is usually recommended. Thanks to the use of whole apples, the natural fermentation process and the lack of pasteurization for preservation, this has more of the valuable ingredients.

You can also buy apple cider vinegar in tablet or capsule form. This can be a good alternative for people with sensitive stomachs. Everyone else should choose the liquid form, as it is much cheaper and works just as well.

Make apple cider vinegar yourself

You can also make apple cider vinegar yourself if you want. To do this, you need a large glass flask and a so-called vinegar nut. You can get this by filling the glass flask halfway with apple cider and "inoculating" it with a little apple cider vinegar. Cover the flask with a thin cotton cloth, place it in a quiet, warm place and shake it daily.

After a while, the mother vinegar settles as a jelly-like, relatively solid mass on the finished apple cider vinegar. You can use the mother vinegar again and again to make apple cider vinegar. Simply enrich the mother with a little ready-made apple cider vinegar and let it steep in the glass flask. After a while, you can skim off the apple cider vinegar and fill it into bottles.

How is apple cider vinegar used?

Depending on the desired effect, apple cider vinegar can be used externally or internally.

External use

Apple cider vinegar for disinfection and against itching

Wounds can be effectively disinfected with undiluted apple cider vinegar. It can also be used to relieve itching (for example, from insect bites or healing injuries).

Apple cider vinegar toner

You can also use apple cider vinegar to gently and sustainably cleanse the face. To do this, make a tonic from apple cider vinegar: Mix a teaspoon of apple cider vinegar with a cup of cold water. Soak a cotton ball or facial tissue with this mixture and then gently rub it over the skin of your face. Then use the usual care products.

Apple cider vinegar rinse

Apple cider vinegar for the hair is another well-known tip: It is recommended for hair that greases quickly and for dry, itchy scalp. Apple cider vinegar is also effective against dandruff. You can use it like a conditioner by rinsing your hair with apple cider vinegar after you wash it. To do this, put a teaspoon of apple cider vinegar with a cup of water in an empty shampoo bottle, shake and apply to the hair. Let it work in for a short time and then rinse with clear water.

Apple cider vinegar foot bath

Sweaty feet: A foot bath with apple cider vinegar helps against sweaty feet - the apple cider vinegar kills the bacteria that are responsible for the odor. The added salt has a sweat-binding effect and is supposed to support the acetic acid effect. To do this, add a cup of apple cider vinegar and half a cup of salt to a liter of warm water. Soak your feet in it for five to ten minutes.Repeat the foot bath at least twice a day.

Athlete's foot: A foot bath with apple cider vinegar should also help against athlete's foot and nail fungus. Alternatively, you can drizzle the vinegar onto a cotton ball and dab the affected area of ​​skin with it. However, the effect of apple cider vinegar against athlete's foot has not yet been scientifically proven.

Internal application

Basically, you can sprinkle apple cider vinegar on all kinds of food and drinks, for example salad dressings, soups or smoothies.

If you drink apple cider vinegar regularly, the effects are even more intense.

Drink apple cider vinegar: dosage

You should always drink apple cider vinegar diluted with water so that the acid does not irritate the mucous membranes in the digestive tract. For example, mix a cup of cold or lukewarm water with two teaspoons of apple cider vinegar and one teaspoon of honey. You can do it without honey, but apple cider vinegar with honey tastes better.

Drinking Apple Cider Vinegar: How Often and When?

If you drink the apple cider vinegar in the morning before breakfast, it is said to boost your metabolism. But be careful: If you have a sensitive stomach, you should eat something first and only then drink the diluted apple cider vinegar. Of course, you can also drink apple cider vinegar in the evening or in between.

Apple cider vinegar regimen

You can also take an apple cider vinegar cure - it is said to have a strong detoxifying and purifying effect. To do this, take diluted apple cider vinegar (see above) daily for a period of a few days to a maximum of two weeks.

Solid foods are not allowed during this fasting phase, but in addition to the apple cider vinegar you should drink plenty of fluids in the form of water, herbal tea or clear broth to avoid dehydration.

Always take the apple cider vinegar mixture instead of main meals and also when you feel hungry. If you get stomach pain or feel otherwise unwell, you should stop the course immediately and consult your doctor.

Which complaints does apple cider vinegar help with?

Whether it is blemished skin, warts or pimples, indigestion, obesity, inflammation of the gums or gout - according to naturopathy, apple cider vinegar can help with numerous ailments.

Apple cider vinegar for skin problems

The pH of apple cider vinegar is very similar to that of human skin. Therefore, this fruit vinegar is very suitable for skin care. It soothes irritated, itchy skin, for example sunburn, and also has an antibacterial effect - this makes it an effective helper for oily, blemished skin.

Many people also use the apple cider vinegar facial toner described above for pimples. The vinegar disinfects the inflamed areas of the skin and ensures that they heal faster. Regular use should also prevent pimples.

Test apple cider vinegar effect on skin first

Especially if you have sensitive, very dry skin, test how your skin reacts to it before using apple cider vinegar. The vinegar may cause skin irritation or a rash. Put a little diluted apple cider vinegar in the crook of your arm and watch your skin react.

Warts

Apple cider vinegar is also recommended for warts. It is believed that the viruses that cause the warts cannot multiply in the acidic environment of apple cider vinegar. In addition, the apple cider vinegar dries out the warts, so that the unsightly horny structures fall off the skin over time. Age warts can also be treated with apple cider vinegar.

For wart treatment, put some apple cider vinegar on a cotton ball and attach it to the wart overnight with a plaster. Repeat this treatment for several days. If the wart does not go away after about a week, you should see a doctor.

You can also remove stem warts with apple cider vinegar. The mostly harmless skin growths (medical fibromas) are found in almost half of the population, often on the arms or legs. If you dab a fibroma repeatedly with apple cider vinegar, it will generally turn dark at first before falling off a few days later.

The wart treatment can severely dry out the surrounding skin. Ask your doctor first before you start self-treatment. The doctor should also clarify in any case that the warts are not malignant skin changes.

Spider veins or varicose veins

Another field of application for apple cider vinegar are varicose veins or spider veins. Varicose veins are noticeably dilated superficial veins that appear in tangles or snakes through the skin. Spider veins are a weaker sub-form of varicose veins - very thin, blue-red veins that shimmer through the skin, especially on the outside of the thighs.

In contrast to varicose veins, spider veins are considered harmless. However, they can indicate general circulatory disorders. Therefore, you should first have spider veins (as well as varicose veins) examined medically.

The fact that apple cider vinegar is recommended against spider veins and varicose veins is based on its blood circulation-promoting effect. To do this, wash the affected areas (mostly lower legs) with undiluted apple cider vinegar every morning and evening. Then do not dry it off, but let the vinegar soak in.

Lipomas

A lipoma is a mostly harmless, bump-like accumulation of fat that can appear on different parts of the body. From a medical point of view, lipomas generally do not require treatment. However, they often bother those affected for cosmetic reasons. Then one can try a lipoma treatment with apple cider vinegar. It is supposed to stimulate the metabolism and blood circulation and thus promote the removal of excess body fat. It is recommended to drink one to three teaspoons of apple cider vinegar in a glass of cold water three times a day. This treatment can be continued until the lipoma has significantly reduced in size or has even disappeared.

Before starting lipoma treatment with apple cider vinegar, you should first see a doctor to make sure that the lipoma is harmless.

Rosacea and eczema

For those affected by rosacea, apple cider vinegar can also be of great help. The skin disease mostly affects the facial skin, which is permanently reddened and sometimes inflamed. To treat rosacea with apple cider vinegar, you can apply the vinegar internally and externally.

For internal use, you can mix one teaspoon of apple cider vinegar with one teaspoon of honey twice a week. Additionally (or alternatively) you can dab or wash off the affected facial skin with diluted apple cider vinegar.

The same recommendations apply to using apple cider vinegar for eczema. Here, too, the natural remedy can have an anti-inflammatory effect, normalize the pH value of the diseased skin and thus improve the complexion.

wrinkles

Last but not least, apple cider vinegar is said to work against wrinkles. The fruit acid contained stimulates the pores to contract. This is supposed to prevent wrinkles and reduce existing wrinkles. Try it out - for example with the facial toner described above.

Apple cider vinegar for obesity

Apple cider vinegar is said to have an appetite suppressant and weight-reducing effect. Naturopaths therefore recommend an apple cider vinegar diet to make it easier to lose weight.

However, the effect of apple cider vinegar for weight loss has not been scientifically proven. Nutrition experts emphasize that apple cider vinegar alone is not enough to shed excess pounds. Rather, a balanced, calorie-conscious diet and regular exercise are essential for this. In addition, you can try to support weight loss with apple cider vinegar. To do this, drink a glass of the diluted apple cider vinegar drink described under "Applications" before the main meals.

Apple cider vinegar and digestion

Our intestines are colonized by numerous bacteria. Most of them help the digestive organ to break down the food that is fed in into its constituent parts and use it. But there are also harmful bacteria that burden the digestive tract and impair its performance. If there are too many harmful bacteria, digestive problems such as flatulence and constipation can occur.

Apple cider vinegar has an antibacterial effect - it can kill harmful intestinal bacteria. In this way, it contributes to a healthy intestinal flora and alleviates typical digestive problems such as flatulence or constipation.

Apple cider vinegar also works against intestinal fungus, because it supports the development of a healthy intestinal flora - in which fungi can only spread with difficulty.

For the digestive effect you can use the apple cider vinegar internally, as an additive to food, as a drink or in the form of an apple cider vinegar cure (see under “Applications).

In acute inflammatory gastrointestinal diseases, you should always consult your doctor before using apple cider vinegar.

Apple cider vinegar for treating wounds

Because of its antibacterial effect, apple cider vinegar can be used very well to disinfect open wounds. To do this, soak a sterile cloth in undiluted apple cider vinegar and dab the wound with it.

Apple cider vinegar against lime shoulder

In the so-called calcified shoulder, calcium is increasingly deposited in the shoulder, usually on the tendon of the so-called supraspinatus muscle. Inflammation in the shoulder joint and often severe pain also occur.

Apple cider vinegar is said to be able to aid the treatment of a calcareous shoulder. However, it is in no way a substitute for professional medical examination and therapy.

To treat the lime shoulder with apple cider vinegar, it is recommended to use it internally. It is best to drink diluted apple cider vinegar every day, in the morning and in the evening before going to bed. This can have the effect of reducing the calcium deposits in the shoulder or preventing new ones from appearing.

Apple cider vinegar for gout

Treatment of gout belongs in the hands of an experienced medical professional. He will prescribe the right medication for you and provide you with tips about proper nutrition and exercise for gout.

The home remedy apple cider vinegar can only be used in conjunction with gout, if at all. Used internally, it is said to help slow down the inflammatory processes in the joints associated with gout.

Apple cider vinegar for dental problems

Inflammation of the gums (gingivitis) and inflammation of the teeth (periodontitis) are caused by bacteria in the mouth. Normally, these bacteria are fought by the saliva. But sometimes the body doesn't produce enough of it, for example in old age or when taking certain medications.

Regular use of an apple cider vinegar mouthwash can help here. After brushing your teeth, rinse your mouth with diluted apple cider vinegar. Then rinse thoroughly with water to prevent the acid in the apple cider vinegar from attacking the tooth enamel.

Apple cider vinegar for tonsillitis

Painful sores in the throat can also be treated with apple cider vinegar. For example, if you have acute tonsillitis, you can gargle with diluted apple cider vinegar. This should help combat the inflammation on the spot.

When is apple cider vinegar not advised?

Health professionals do not recommend drinking undiluted apple cider vinegar. The acid contained can attack the mucous membranes of the digestive tract.

People with gastrointestinal diseases (e.g. damaged stomach lining as in gastritis) or chronic heartburn should not use apple cider vinegar at all.

You should also avoid apple cider vinegar if you suffer from fructose intolerance or are allergic to the ingredients contained in apple cider vinegar.

Apple cider vinegar is not recommended even if the potassium level is low because it slows the body's absorption of potassium.

Diabetics must be particularly careful when handling apple cider vinegar. Because the natural product influences the blood sugar level and can interact with prescribed diabetes medication. Talk to your doctor if you have diabetes and are planning an apple cider vinegar treatment.

Home remedies have their limits. If the symptoms persist over a longer period of time and do not get better or even worse despite treatment, you should always consult a doctor.

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