Home Remedies Using Vinegar

Anytime of the year is a great time to be using vinegar, but summertime has its own special uses for vinegar. Put white vinegar in a spray bottle and use it as a soothing sunburn remedy, and as an antiseptic for insect bites (including bee stings). This remedy is also good for cuts and scrapes. A half-cup of vinegar mixed with a pint of water will also help ease the rash of poison ivy and poison oak.

Plain white vinegar can also be used as a soothing aftershave and it will also help tone the skin of the face as well if mixed with an equal portion of water. If freckles are a problem, vinegar will also help lighten them. Brushing the teeth a few times a week with vinegar will help get rid of bad breath. Brushing with vinegar will also act as a natural tooth whitener. If one rubs vinegar on the fingernails (or toenails) beforehand, nail polish will last longer.

To help relieve a backache pour two cups of vinegar into hot bathwater and soak in it for about a half an hour. For other aches and pains, after boiling some apple cider vinegar with a teaspoon of cayenne pepper, let that cool and then use it as a compress on an affected area or joint. Using vinegar in a compress will also help ease the pain and discomfort of muscle aches, headaches, sprains, and muscle cramps.

For the aged, a teaspoon of onion juice mixed with a couple of teaspoons of vinegar will make age spots fade in a couple of weeks. A good ointment for arthritis consists of two egg whites, a quarter-cup of olive oil, and a half-cup of apple cider vinegar. Apple cider vinegar is also good for osteoporosis because of its mineral content. A general “tonic” for osteoporosis and general good health is two or three teaspoons in a glass of water.

Using vinegar as a tonic of sorts is a great way for a person to try to stay healthy. In addition to the above remedies, vinegar is also a good source of minerals, pectins and flavonoids. The pectin and amino acids in vinegar are also thought to be a viable way of reducing cholesterol. This same tonic will also aid in cancer prevention, colds, constipation, and coughs.

Overall, using vinegar is a great way to help maintain good physical health. Vinegar, either white vinegar or apple cider vinegar, has scores of useful and beneficial properties. All of them are safe, effective, and easy to use, no matter the age or health of the particular individual. Anyone from infants to the elderly can use and benefit from using vinegar.