Vinegar was discovered around 5000 BC and has been used throughout the ages to treat a range of ailments including stomach aches, rashes, swellings, respiratory conditions and diabetes. It is very useful for digestive upsets and even thought to assist arthritic conditions.
Hippocrates (c. 420 BC) used apple cider vinegar (ACV) medicinally as an antiseptic topically and a gargle for sore throats. Its cooling properties are helpful to relieve heat in skin conditions such as rashes and sunburn. Traditionally it was made into a compress and used to relieve inflammation and joint injuries.
Raw unprocessed ACV has been said to allay thirst, increase stomach acid, improve the assimilation of minerals, particularly calcium and neutralise excess alkali. It is known as a mild diuretic and expectorant. ACV has been used to soothe the throat in diphtheria and measles and cools a person down during a fever.
The famous Four Thieves Vinegar was used to protect people from the black plague in the middle ages. This was created by infusing herbs into the ACV creating an acetract.
Dr Nat has found ACV soothing and supportive for both the digestive tract and the skin and coat. She has used it for its immune support and health-promoting effects in her products orally and topically for a range of conditions. A little really goes a long way. Its antioxidant properties are probably why it is so useful across such a broad spectrum of conditions from the skin to joint health. Protecting neuro and joints from further damage is a key part of improving health.
Dr Renee from The Natural Vets recommends using ACV topically to help deter fleas and include it as part of a balanced raw diet for dogs.
Dr Clare Middle; another raw diet expert vet recommends feeding ACV to help with digestion and nutrient assimilation.
There are so many uses for apple cider vinegar historically that has been said that ACV is largely undervalued today. Fortunately, science is beginning to catch up and prove how valuable this age-old remedy really is.
Below are some examples of the articles available on pub med that prove ACV to be antibacterial, antifungal, antioxidant and anti-hyperglycemia. Science has shown ACV to be neuroprotective support cardiovascular health and improves immunity, among other health-promoting effects. It is particularly recognised for its ability to suppress obesity.
Sources
- Study concluding that vinegar helps to reduce blood glucose and insulin levels. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28292654/
- Study that looked at the beneficial effects of apple cider vinegar (ACV) supplementation on blood glucose level, hepatic and renal toxicity and antioxidant enzyme activities in normal and diabetic rats. The findings show that ACV possesses significant antihyperglycemic (anti-diabetic) and antioxidant effects in an experimental model of diabetes melitis, by preventing diabetic complications in the liver and kidneys. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31140380/
- Metabolic syndrome is a serious consequence of obesity characterized by increased cardiovascular risk factors such as hypertension, dyslipidemia, and glucose intolerance. While diets enriched with natural antioxidants showed beneficial effects on oxidative stress, blood pressure, and serum lipid composition, diet supplementation with synthetic antioxidants showed contradictive results (nature knows best!). This study looked at the daily dosage of AC) and its effect on cardiovascular risk factors associated with obesity in high-fat diet (HFD)-induced hyperlipidemic rats. Daily doses of ACV were shown to normalise various biochemical and metabolic changes In addition, a modulation in trace element levels was observed when compared with HFD groups. Thus ACV can be beneficial for the suppression of obesity-induced oxidative stress in HFD rats through the modulating antioxidant defence system and it reduces the risk of obesity-associated diseases by preventing the atherogenic risk. Put plainly even when on a terrible high fat diet ACV is very helpful at protecting the body and improving health. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29091513/
- This study investigated whether ACV could ameliorate resistant MSRA and eCoil. ACV was shown to inhibit the growth by penetrating microbial cell membranes and organelles, altering the expression of key proteins. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33473148/
- This study investigates the antifungal properties of Apple cider vinegar against Candida spp. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25219289/
- This study looks at the effectiveness of ACV against neurological complications in comparison with a synthetic flavonoid (Chrysin) and an anti-Alzheimer’s drug (Rivastigmine). All the cellular, biochemical, behavioural, and histopathological data revealed that ACV had high antioxidant potential. The findings suggest that the addition of ACV as a food additive in the daily diet may reduce the threat of multiple neurodegenerative diseases. Therefore, our study could be the precursor of a new pharmacological therapeutic approach via ACV toward cognitive impairments associated with Alzheimer’s disease. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33084094/
- This study supports the use of ACV to boost immunity and other health-promoting effects in fish. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28602743/
- This is another study on goldfish showing that the inclusion of AVC in the diet improves growth and immunity https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32239336/
- This study looks at the beneficial effects ACV has on chickens’ immunity and performance. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33326702/
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