Vinegar As A Natural Remedy

For over 10,000 years, vinegar has been used as a natural remedy as well as an ingredient for cooking. This sour wine can be made from molasses, sorghum, fruit, berries, honey and beer. Still produced as it has been in the past, vinegar is made by fermenting the natural sugars into an alcohol and then further into vinegar. Today's varieties include white, apple, cider, wine, balsamic, rice, rice wine, raspberry, pineapple, and flavored vinegars.

Fermenting in a two-step process, apple cider vinegar is one of the oldest and most useful types of vinegar. Made from apples, this vinegar contains vitamins C, E, A, B1, B2, B6, proto-vitamin, and beta-carotene. It also has minerals and trace elements such as potassium, calcium, sodium, copper, iron and magnesium. Although the taste may not suit everyone, apple cider vinegar is known to help relieve allergies to pollen, food and pets and alleviate pain from arthritis. It is also used to treat sinus infections, acne, high cholesterol, and sore throats. Mixing two tablespoons of apple cider vinegar with eight ounces of water and a touch of honey to taste, one should drink the vinegar mixture three times daily.

Cider vinegar similarly treats sore throats, congestion, arthritis and rheumatism. For congestion mix equal parts of cider vinegar and honey. For joint pain, mix the cider vinegar with two teaspoons of honey. Mixed with water, the vinegar can treat chronic fatigue and low-grade fevers.

White vinegar has several uses, also. Gargling one tablespoon of white vinegar mixed in eight ounces of warm water and then swallowing it, one can alleviate the pain of a sore throat. This should be used every hour until relief is achieved. Inhaling steam from a vaporizer with a vinegar mixture will ease chest congestion. Minor cuts and scrapes, along with rashes and insect bites and jellyfish stings, can be treated by rubbing white vinegar on the area to draw out the pain. This works well with sunburns, also. A variety of skin irritations can also be treated with white vinegar. Athlete's foot and toenail fungus should be soaked in the vinegar for three days in a row. Adding two tablespoons of white vinegar in the bath with soothe itchy, dry skin. To fight dandruff, rinse the hair in half a cup of vinegar and two cups of water after shampooing (this also cuts build up from hair care products).

If ingesting vinegar, one should use caution. Diluting the vinegar with water is recommended when regularly ingesting any vinegar to protect the enamel of the teeth from erosion. Rinsing the mouth immediately adds more protection, but do not brush immediately. Using a straw may prevent the vinegar from coating the teeth. Of course, the vinegar may also cause heartburn because of its acidic nature; however, that acidity provides vinegar with an indefinite shelf life.

Refrigeration is not necessary. Over time, the vinegar may develop sediment or haziness, but this does not affect its effectiveness.

Common Herbs And Some Specific Uses

Balm

Also known as Lemon Balm, Sweet Balm or Melissa. Using the green leaves and flowers, balm is a natural deterrent to perspiration, will also bring boils to a head, is useful for stings and toothache as well as flatulence and digestion.

Balm of Gilead

Also known as Poplar buds and Balsam Poplar. Bark and leaves are used to alleviate discomfort of cough colds, lung trouble and kidneys. Secondary, the buds can be used as a tea for gargling making it an excellent remedy for sore throats, coughs and laryngitis.

Balmony

Also known as Bitter Herb, Snake Head, Turtle Head or Turtle Broom. Good for the liver, stomach and used in the treatment of eczema. It is also used in treatment of gall stones, inflammation of the gall-bladder and in jaundice. It stimulates the appetite, eases colic, dyspepsia and biliousness and is helpful in debility.

Barberry

Use to correct liver function and promote the flow of bile. It is also effective for the inflammation of the gall bladder due to gall stones.

Basil

Yes this is the same basil that you use in cooking. Create a tea from the dried herb to treat nausea.