20 Fantastic Uses for Raw Apple Cider Vinegar
Did you know that raw apple cider vinegar (commonly known as ACV) is one of the most versatile herbal foods to have in your home and preparedness kit? I’d like to share 20 excellent ways to use raw apple cider vinegar, and why it’s such a good idea to always have some on hand.
But first, a word on what I mean by ‘raw apple cider vinegar’. For the best results nutritionally and therapeutically, you only want to use apple cider vinegar that-
- Is made from whole organic apples
- Is cold-pressed and raw
- Is chemical and preservative free
- Is NOT pasteurized, refined or filtered
- Contains “the mother”, or a natural gelatinous substance formed from the pectin and apple residue during fermentation. It is the living nutrients (enzymes) and gut-friendly bacteria that promote healing.
If your ACV doesn’t meet all these standards, it has gone through processing to make it look better, but it isn’t really doing you any good. Processing destroys the nutrients and therapeutic actions of apple cider vinegar, leaving it almost worthless.
Most, if not all, apple cider vinegar on the market is diluted to 5% acidity, which is fine, as long as you’re getting the “good stuff” (list above). But if you want some serious therapeutic action in an apple cider vinegar that takes off the kid gloves, you might want to try Wholistic Botanicals’ Organic Raw Apple Cider Vinegar, being very unique since it isn’t diluted at all. I talked to Riley at Wholistic Botanicals about their product and he said,
“Because our apple cider vinegar is raw, unpasteurized, organic, AND undiluted, it carries the full potential for quicker, stronger, and more efficient healing abilities.”
And from my own research, I’ve found that undiluted ACV works better in certain situations that I’ve notated in the list below.
But even if you were to use ACV in water, which is the most common use, it’s still delivering powerful health benefits because of the malic acid, acetic acid, pectin, and many nutrients. Just put 1 tablespoon into a glass of distilled or filtered water along with 1 tablespoon of raw honey. Sip this 3 times a day, usually 15 minutes before meals. If you want an even healthier drink, add a little bit of unsulphured black strap molasses and some cayenne. Wake up time!
So let’s take a look at 20 fantastic ways to use raw apple cider vinegar!
1. Natural cleanser and home detoxifier
Pour apple cider vinegar into the toilet, and let it sit overnight. Use it in dishwashers or as a household cleaner by mixing 1/2 cup of ACV with 1 cup water in a spray bottle. You can even use a mixture of 2 tablespoons vinegar in 1 quart water to rinse vegetables.
2. Herbal preparations
Mix it into the tea when making a fomentation, or mix it with the herbs you’re using for a poultice. A fomentation of ACV alone helps reduce pain from arthritis and rheumatism. It’s also common to make tinctures with ACV, although they don’t last as long as tinctures made with alcohol.
3. Cleansing of Candida and toxins
Because ACV balances the body’s pH, it helps create an overall detoxification of the body, especially of the lymphatic system and liver. ACV is also rich in natural enzymes that can help rid the body of Candida, while at the same time, promote the growth of healthy gut bacteria.
4. Heart and circulatory system
ACV strengthens the arteries, veins, heart and circulatory system, while also cutting mucus from the system. It helps lower blood pressure and cholesterol, helps angina, atherosclerosis, coronary artery disease, and arterial plaque. The alkalinizing properties help the heart relax.
5. Breaks up mucus
Use ACV and raw honey in water 3 times a day to cut mucus loose and expel it from the body. Excess mucus often results from a nutritional shortage of potassium chloride, which helps keep the blood balanced. ACV is an excellent source of potassium chloride.
6. Increases the alkalinity and lowers the glucose levels in the body
Despite being so acidic, ACV actually promotes alkalinity in the body, and in fact becomes alkaline as soon as you mix it with your saliva. This is why it’s not a problem to use Wholistic Botanicals’ undiluted ACV. An alkaline environment in the body helps lowers your risk for disease. ACV also lowers glucose levels, and may be helpful for diabetics.
7. Skin
Skin can be smoother, toned, and receive help balancing its pH, when ACV is used topically as an astringent or toner. It also helps acne, warts, sunburn, age spots, and can be used as a natural aftershave mixed with water. I have used it as a base for bentonite clay facial masks and it’s wonderful! It helps rid toxins off the skin if used with cold water sponging.
8. Hair
Because ACV helps balance your hair’s pH, it helps seal the cuticles and make the hair smoother and shinier. Several times a week, mix 1 tablespoon of ACV with 1 cup of water and rinse your hair with it after shampooing. It also helps greasy build-up and irritation. For dandruff, massage undiluted ACV into the roots of the scalp and leave on for 15-20 minutes. Use a good biodegradable shampoo to keep the pores clear and clean.
9. Immune system, colds, flu and fevers
Dr. Christopher’s products uses Wholistic Botanicals’ ACV in their Super Garlic Immune Formula because of its powerful immune-stimulating and infection-fighting abilites. Also helpful during illness is to wrap the feet with a cloth soaked in ACV, sponge the body down with equal parts of ACV and distilled water, or putting ACV in a steam bath to inhale to clear congestion.
10. Gallbladder
Drink 1/4 cup of ACV to allay pain during a gallbladder attack. Drink ACV regularly to lower risk of gallstones.
11. Weight loss
ACV speeds up the metabolism, reduces water retention, breaks down fat, and can help with a natural weight loss program.
12. Cooking
I have used ACV in a few different recipes, including salad dressings, raw pâté, smoothies, and dips. It’s a wonderful alternative to store-bought processed dressings when mixed with the right ingredients like olive oil and some herbs. Easy, healthy dressing!
13. Digestion and heartburn
Drinking a glass of water mixed with raw honey and ACV 15 minutes before every meal will get the hydrochloric acid flowing well. Undiluted ACV also helps heartburn quickly. Swish a little in your mouth and swallow, and heartburn disappears within seconds.
14. Sciatica
In addition to drinking ACV, bathing the feet in hot ACV will help sciatica. For even faster action, place the right foot into a pan of chopped garlic and the left foot in the hot ACV. This will start a fast-acting circulatory movement.
15. Strep/sore throat, tonsillitis, laryngitis
Gargle with a mixture of 1 teaspoon ACV and 1/2 cup water, three times an hour.
16. Foot baths
Twice a day, soak the feet in hot undiluted ACV to help with things like athlete’s foot, calluses, infections, stinky, or sore feet.
17. Vaginal yeast infection
Mix ¼ cup ACV with 1 quart of distilled water. Fill a bladder bag with 2 cups of the warmed mixture. Use the vaginal tip of the bladder bag and insert into the vagina. Release the clamp as you sit on the toilet, allowing all drainage to drain out. Do this 2-3 times a day until symptoms have disappeared, but not longer than 5 days.
18. Ear infections and swimmer’s ear
Place a dropperful of a 50/50 warmed mixture of ACV and distilled water into the ear. Leave in for 10 minutes a few times daily. This is also a good flush for the ears using an ear syringe.
19. Allergies and hay fever
ACV helps reduce the symptoms of allergies because it cuts mucus and sinus congestion. For stubborn hay fever, chew and swallow a thick pulp of grated horseradish root soaked in ACV three times a day.
20. Fleas and lice
Daily for up to a week, spray 1 part ACV and 1 part water on your pet’s fur, saturate the entire coat and rub it in well to help with fleas. To help with lice, bathe the affected areas with undiluted ACV and oil of garlic. To help stop the infestation, for the laundry, use a good biodegradable soap with 1-2 cups of ACV added to each washerful of clothes.
It’s easy to see how useful a bottle or two of raw apple cider vinegar can be for your daily life, and how important it would be to keep in your preparedness kit for all sorts of conditions and situations. If you have a bottle sitting on the shelf, now is a great time to pull it out and start using it. And if you don’t have any, I would suggest that it would be an excellent asset to your household.
-Rebecca
This is an archive of: http://essentialsurvival.org/20-fantastic-uses-for-raw-apple-cider-vinegar/
