Nature's Remedies - ACV

Since I started this month's blogs with "Throwing Out Soap", I've decided to continue in that same spirit, and make this month's focus on going natural. And, no, I don't mean go natural by buying $60 organic cucumber flavored anti-aging creams. I mean going all the way "Natural".

Rather than start a long confusing list of ailments, remedies, etc, I've decide to pick out a few important passé par toute remedies of interest and do a focus feature on each.

Today's blog star: Apple Cider Vinegar

Everyone should have a bottle at home. It's essential. Aside from being a wonderful addition to any kitchen, used to marinate and soften meat and add flavor to salads and other dishes, it has the capability to remedy a variety of everyday and not-so-everyday ailments. Cheap ACV is good for these, but you might wanna invest in good quality raw ACV for cooking or ingesting, because frankly, the taste is so good and way beyond the cheap stuff.

ACV tonic: 2-3 tsp. ACV in an 8 oz. glass of water:

• Drink before or after a meal for heart burn, indigestion, and diarrhea.
  
• Drink before bed for insomnia.
  
• Drink in the morning to reduce heavy menstrual flow and reduce morning sickness.
• Drink daily for urinary tract infection.

Burns: Apply ACV directly to burns, whether from the sun (I've tried it and it works!) or from a hot surface. It soothes, disinfects, and supplies necessary nutrients to heal faster.

Cough: If you can handle the smell, wet a tissue with ACV and breathe through for a while.

Hair: Dissolve 1 Tbs. in an 8 0z. glass of water and use as a conditioner. (I've also tried this, highly recommended).

Dandruff: Apply ACV directly to scalp and let sit for 1/2 to a full hour before washing it off.

Diaper rash: Use 50/50 ACV and water to kill the bacteria and fungus that cause diaper rash.

Headache: Inhaling the vapors from a bottle of ACV will help soothe a headache.

Insect bites/stings: Apply ACV directly to affected area.

Sore throat: Gargle with 1 tsp of vinegar in 1/2 cup water, 3 mouthfuls every hour.

Warts: those stubborn tumors are caused by human papilloma virus (HPV), often go deep underneath the skin and have connected blood capillaries. They're contagious by touch. This particular ACV remedy has been tested an tried personally.
Tools: cotton ball, band aid, ACV.
Directions: Daily dip a new cotton ball in ACV, place it on the wart and put a band aid on top to keep in place. Leave overnight or for 24 hrs. Do this for 7-10 days. A small black tip will appear while it heals, and it eventually falls off. Mine went away in four days.
Optional: Moisten a Q-tip with Hydrogen Peroxide and rub the affected area. It will hurt like hell, but it dries the affected skin and makes the process faster.