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75 medicinal uses of Vinegar

Vinegar is a liquid solution that contains acetic acid and trace chemicals derived from fermenting ethanol or other sugars by acetic acid bacteria. Different materials make different types of Vinegar.

The word vinegar was adopted to English in the Middle ages from the old French word, vyn egre, meaning ‘sour wine’ which in turn was derived from the Latin word ‘Vinum’ or ‘wine’ and ‘Acer’ or  ‘sour.’

According to Wikipedia, the first documented evidence of vinegar making was by Ancient Babylonians who, around 3000 BC started fermenting Vinegar from dates, figs, and beer. It was and still is mostly used for culinary and medicinal purposes.

The Chinese professionalized vinegar production during the Zhou Dynasty. Nobles and royal households had a “vinegar maker,” a position held by a person trained in the art of vinegar making. Many kinds of Chinese Vinegar and their uses for culinary and medicinal purposes were written down in a manual titled Qimin Yaoshu.

Many other cultures adopted vinegar making. The Greeks and Romans frequently used Vinegar made from wine. Columella, the Roman researcher in his research work titled Res Rusticana, described the ingredients and process for making several types of Vinegar in his research work.

During the Middle Ages, many Islamic scholars such as Geber researched on Vinegar. They isolated acetic acid by distilling Vinegar. Vinegar making slowly became a professional in the rest of Europe. The French city of Orléans became famous for the quality of its Vinegar through a formalized fermentation and ageing process later known as the Orléans process.

Today Vinegar is a must-have in most kitchens across the globe. In the Kitchen, Vinegar is used for salad dressings, soups, sauces, hot drinks, etc. Its other uses include cleaning, cooking, hair cleaning, skin toning, disinfecting, food preservation, and, most importantly, medicinal use.

There are different types of Vinegar, for example, rice wine vinegar, apple cider vinegar, white distilled Vinegar, balsamic Vinegar, and fruit vinegar. Different types of Vinegar have different levels of acidity.

 

Here are 75 Medicinal uses of Vinegar:

1. Treating Wounds

From medieval times, Vinegar has been used for the treatment of wounds; its acidic properties act as a disinfectant to sterilize and heal injuries. It is effective at inhibiting the growth of Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa on wounds as a surface cleaning solution.

2. Treating ear infection

When Vinegar is diluted percent to a pH of 2, it can be used to effectively treat ear infections, which occur as otitis externa, otitis media, and granular myringitis.

3. Treating Type II Diabetes

Vinegar improves post-meal insulin sensitivity by more than 30%. Improving insulin sensitivity In patients with type II diabetes by 19 percent. When added to a high glycemic meal, it significantly reduced post-meal blood sugar.

4. Disinfecting fresh vegetables


Vinegar can be used to clean vegetables and kill harmful microbes from fresh vegetables even as it acts as a preservative. 

5. Treating Human Papillomavirus

In remote areas, Vinegar is used as a mechanism for screening women for Human Papillomavirus (HPV) infection. When the acetic acid in Vinegar comes in contact with the viral lesions associated with HPV, they are altered, midwives can detect disease with 77 percent accuracy.

6. Treating Genital Warts

The acetic acid in Vinegar is used to rapidly neutralize and treat multiple genital warts in women with an acceptable rate of recurrence of 13.3 percent.

7. Treat Yeast infection

Vinegar may help fight candida vulvovaginitis and oral candidiasis that cause yeast infection in women. 

8. Weight Control

Vinegar may increase the feeling of being satisfied. This feeling of fullness and satisfaction curbs the desire to eat, helping manage weight in obese people. 

9. Reducing Obesity

A clinical study showed that vinegar intake reduced body weight, body fat mass, and serum triglyceride levels in obese people. A daily intake of Vinegar may be helpful in the prevention of metabolic syndrome by reducing obesity.

10. Managing Hypertension

The acetic acid in Vinegar significantly reduces blood pressure and renin activity associated with blood pressure helping treat hypertension.

11. Antioxidant

Vinegar has polyphenols, which are antioxidants and defend against oxidative stress. Both grain and fruit vinegar have the potential of reducing oxidative damage.

12. Reducing Cholesterol

Chlorogenic acid found in the Vinegar helps prevents LDL cholesterol particles from becoming oxidized, helping to lower LDL levels and cholesterol. Apple cider vinegar significantly reduces hemoglobin A1C (and lowers low-density lipoprotein cholesterol and triglycerides and increases high-density lipoprotein cholesterol.

13. Aids Digestion

Consumption of Vinegar with food increases the number of minerals and vitamins absorbed from food because several vitamins and minerals are better absorbed at lower pH, which is higher acidity.

14. Helps manage Dementia


This study found that Vinegar helps in the production of proteins like HspA1A, a protein that helps reduce amyloid formation in the brain. A study found that vinegar consumption might improve cognitive function and support in managing Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias.

15. Help reduce esophageal cancer

A case-control study demonstrated that vinegar ingestion was associated with decreased rates of esophageal cancer. A study done on mice showed that Vinegar stimulated cytotoxic activity (toxicity) in natural killer cells and stopped tumour growth.

16. Helps treat Leukemia

A study also showed that certain types of Vinegar stimulated natural killer cell cytotoxic activity against human leukemia cell lines. The antitumor effect of Vinegar can induce apoptosis in human leukemia cells.

17. Helps treat Colon Cancer

A study also showed that certain types of Vinegar stimulated natural killer cell cytotoxic activity against colon cancer cell lines. vinegar containing ethyl acetate inhibited azoxymethane-induced colon carcinogenesis. 

18. Help treat Lung Cancer

A study also showed that certain types of Vinegar stimulated natural killer cell cytotoxic activity against Lung Cancer cell lines as well as inhibit the proliferation of the cancer cells

19. Help treat Prostrate Cancer

A study also showed that certain types of Vinegar stimulated natural killer cell cytotoxic activity against Prostrate Cancer cell lines.

20. Promotes a healthy gastrointestinal tract

The acetic acid in Vinegar has beneficial effects. It alters metabolism in the gastrointestinal tract and the liver.

21. Food Preservative


Vinegar is an active food preservative. It makes food more acidic, which deactivates its enzymes and kills any bacteria in the food that may cause spoilage.

22. Eliminate body odour

Many people mix Vinegar with water and cleanse parts of bodies that sweat mostly to eliminate bad body odour. It acts as a natural deodorant. It can also be combined with water and Epsom salts to make a foot soak, which helps kill bacteria and gets rid of bad odour from your feet.

23. Treat Sore Throat

Vinegar is a natural remedy for sore throats; its antibacterial properties are believed to kill oesophageal bacteria that cause sore throat. Vinegar is mixed with warm water and gaggled to clear the infection. Caution should be exercised though, too strong, and may damage the throat.

24. Cleaning Agent

Vinegar can be used as an all-purpose home cleaning agent. It’s a popular natural alternative to commercial cleaning agents. its antibacterial properties kill most of the harmful disease-causing bacteria in the home.

25. Reduce Wrinkles

Vinegar is diluted in water and applied on the face to help tone the skin and treat skin infections, including reducing wrinkles. It acts as an anti-ageing cream.

26. Cleaning pesticides from fruits and vegetables

Pesticide residues are a significant concern for many people. Washing fruits and vegetables before consuming or cooking them help clean off the pesticides and herbicides, making them safer to eat.

27. Trap Fruit flies

Fruit flies are a nuisance to fruit farmers and can be a severe economic setback when they cause thousands of fruits to rot. Mixing Vinegar and soap makes a natural fruit fly trap.

28. Cleaning Hair

Rinsing your hair with a solution of vinegar will help to remove product buildup, detangle, and add shine to your hair. The answer should be left for a while before washing. It helps to get rid of dirt, bacteria, and dandruff.

29. Cleaning Dentures

Cleaning dentures can be quite hectic, getting the right solution daunting, Vinegar comes in quite handy, it’s cheap and not corrosive and will leave dentures all shiny and sparkly.

30. Cleaning Dentures

Vinegar is a natural mouthwash that helps deal with bad breath and leaves teeth sparkling white. 

31. Cleaning Toothbrush

To have clean teeth, it’s worth considering how clean your toothbrush is. Vinegar can use it as a homemade cleaner for your toothbrush. Make your toothbrush cleaner by mixing Vinegar with, Leave the head of your toothbrush in the mix for 30 minutes.

32. Treating Acne


Dabbing small amounts of diluted Vinegar onto pimples helps get rid of them. However, note, undiluted Vinegar is strongly acidic and putting it directly onto your skin can cause burns

33. Teeth Whitener

vinegar is acidic, some people like to use it to remove stains and whiten their teeth rinse out your mouth thoroughly afterward, as the acid can damage the enamel on your teeth

34. Remove Skin Moles

Dip a piece of cotton in vinegar, place it on the wart, skin tag or mole, cover it and leave overnight.

35. Skin Cleanser

For the same reasons, people like using Vinegar as a homemade facial toner, they also like using it in the bath as a skin cleanser.

36. Skin Warts

As with acne, Vinegar is a natural agent for getting rid of warts due to its acidic nature. However, be aware that this method is painful.

37. Keeping pets free from fleas

Vinegar will help your pet from getting fleas. Spraying a mixture of 1-part water, and 1-part Vinegar to your pet kills the insects.

38. As a Facial Mask

Make a natural face mask by mixing and water and rubbing on your face while Adding honey, If your skin is dry, rinse with warm water.

39. Remove Makeup

Vinegar and water mixture can be used to swipe and remove makeup. 

40. Treating Dandruff

Use diluted apple cider vinegar and massage it into your scalp may get rid of dandruff.

The acid in the Vinegar helps stop the growth of the fungus Malassezia, which contributes to dandruff.

41. Dish Detergent

Rinsing your dishes in water mixed with Vinegar helps kill bacteria while keeping them clean. Some people add Vinegar to their dishwashing water, while others put in the dishwashing machine.

42. Skin Softener

Soaking in bathwater mixed with Vinegar makes the skin soft and tender.

43. Cleaning Menstrual cups

Wash your menstrual sponge in Vinegar and water mixture mixed in soap lather.

44. Treating Sunburn

Soak a piece of cloth in a vinegar solution and place it on the sunburnt area. Vinegar helps Takes the sting out and reduces the redness. 

45. Ant Control

Ants avoid Vinegar like its poisonous it to clean surfaces under attack.

46. Cleaning Humidifiers

Vinegar can be used to clean humidifiers, simply Remove the filter and rinse with water. Then add Vinegar to the tank of the humidifier and let sit for 30 minutes, swishing around occasionally. Rinse and dry.

47. Boosts Chicken immunity


Vinegar in chicken drinking water boosts their protection against viral diseases.

48. Treating Pet Conjunctivitis

You can manage your dog’s Conjunctivitis with Vinegar Dab, a piece of cloth in the vinegar mixture, and apply BELOW the eyes keep reapplying every few hours.

49. Breaks down carbohydrates

Vinegar helps slow the breakdown of carbohydrates this helps in controlling diabetes.

50. Relieve Arthritis pain

Arthritis can cause severe pain in a patent’s joints, drinking water mixed with Vinegar helps relieve the pain.

51. Prevent Mastitis

Drinking vinegar mixed with water on a daily basis helps prevent mastitis 

52. Manage blood glucose levels

Drinking water mixed with Vinegar helps control and manage blood glucose levels

53. Managing Polycystic ovary syndrome

To regulate polycystic ovary syndrome or PCOS as is commonly known, drink water mixed with Vinegar after meals.

54. Managing PMS Cramps

PMS Symptoms and cramps can be excruciating. Vinegar helps with PMS symptoms, mostly cramps.

55. Build Immunity

Vinegar tea made from cinnamon, Honey, Vinegar, and water helps build the Immune system

56. As an Energy Drink

A teaspoon of vinegar in water. With a tablespoon of honey, a splash of lemon juice, and a dash of ground ginger. Mixed and drank before every meal is an excellent energy drink

57. Lower Cholesterol

Vinegar helps Lower cholesterol. The acid is an excellent fat burner and stabilizes sugar levels in the body to help keep low your cholesterol.

58. Balancing PH

Vinegar Can also help regulate your body’s pH, which can is a good thing since it improves your body’s immunity and helps you to fight diseases.

59. Dealing with Heartburn

Pregnancy induces Heartburn, which may be severe, Vinegar helps in fighting pregnancy-induced Heartburn.

60. Indigestion

Indigestion and upset stomach can be managed by drinking flavoured water mixed with a tablespoon of vinegar daily.

61. Toenail Fungus and Ring Worms


Soaking your feet in warm vinegar solutions helps kill toenail fungus and treat ringworm infection.

62. Managing Candidiasis

Candida develops on the skin, causing infection. This condition known as candidiasis affecting the skin is called cutaneous candidiasis. It causes a red, rashes that itch most appears commonly in the folds of the skin. Vinegar solution helps get rid of candida growth.

63. Treating Dermatitis

Dermatitis has many causes, it occurs in many forms. usually involving itchy, dry skin, or a rash on swollen, reddened skin. Or it may cause the skin to blister, ooze, crust, or flake off. Washing with a vinegar solution helps treat dermatitis.

64. Clearing blocked Sinusitis

Sinusitis causes swelling of the tissue lining the sinuses when sinuses become blocked they fill with fluid and allow germs to grow which causes infection Boiling a mixture of Vinegar with water and inhaling the vapor, helps clear sinuses.

65. Common Cold and Fever

Vinegar mixed with honey, lemon, cinnamon, and sometimes garlic is a perfect remedy for the common cold. 

66. Treating Baby Diaper rash

Diaper rash affects little babies. It appears as bright red spots on the baby’s bottom. Diaper rash is often related to wet or infrequently changed diapers, skin sensitivity, and chafing. Drops of Vinegar in baby’s bath water helps soothe and treat diaper rash.

67. Treating Thrush in babies

Thrush, also is known as oropharyngeal candidiasis, is a medical condition that affects babus mouths. A yeast-like fungus called Candida albicans grows in the mouth and throat to clear baby’s thrush mix water and Vinegar and swab the nipples before breastfeeding the baby.

68. Preventing gallbladder blockage

Drinking A tablespoon of Vinegar before every meal will keep your gallbladder healthy.

69. Treating Nausea

Drinking Vinegar mixed in water with honey helps relieve nausea symptoms and prevents vomiting. 

70. Treating Bursitis

Bursitis is a condition that affects the small, fluid-filled sacs called bursae that cushion the bones, tendons, and muscles near the joints. Bursitis can occur when the bursae become inflamed. Common locations affected by bursitis are the shoulders, elbows, and hips drinking two tablespoons of Vinegar in warm water to help treat bursitis.

71. Natural Antihistamine

Vinegar is a natural antihistamine that helps combat allergic reactions. 

72. Treating cradle cap

Cradle cap is a scaly rash that appears on young infant’s heads. It generally appears within the first 3 months of life and is mostly safe. It rarely causes the infant any discomfort. Applying vinegar solution kills bacteria that causes cradle cap.

73. Managing Fibroids

You can help fibroids to Shrink by drinking vinegar solution in warm water. 

74. Treat Earache

Earaches can affect one or both ears, however, it mostly affects one ear. Pains can develop from ear infections, or injury drops of diluted Vinegar is a natural home remedy for earaches.

75. Relieves Respiratory Problems


Vinegar is an excellent remedy for respiratory problems like colds, asthmas, bronchitis, etc. put it in the mix it with distilled water and put in the humidifier.

These are by no means the only diseases and conditions treated by Vinegar. Vinegar helps to manage, relieve, and help treat myriads of sicknesses illnesses and conditions, its a wonder solution for everyday use. 

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