USEFUL VINEGAR

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Vinegar folklore is as colorful as it is practical. Legend states that a courtier in Babylonia (c. 5000 BC) "discovered" wine, formed from unattended grape juice, leading to the eventual discovery of vinegar and its use as a food preservative. Hippocrates (c. 420 BC) used vinegar medicinally to manage wounds. Hannibal of Carthage (c. 200 BC), the great military leader and strategist, used vinegar to dissolve boulders that blocked his army's path. Cleopatra (c. 50 BC) dissolved precious pearls in vinegar and offered her love potion to Anthony. Sung Tse, the 10th century creator of forensic medicine, advocated hand washing with sulfur and vinegar to avoid infection during autopsies. Based on the writings of US medical practitioners dating to the late 18th century, many ailments, from dropsy to poison ivy, croup, and stomachache, were treated with vinegar,[1] and, before the production and marketing of hypoglycemic agents, vinegar "teas" were commonly consumed by diabetics to help manage their chronic aliment. This review examines the scientific evidence for medicinal uses of vinegar, focusing particularly on the recent investigations supporting vinegar's role as an antiglycemic agent. Epidemiologic studies and clinical trials were identified by a MEDLINE title/abstract search with the following search terms: vinegar, glucose; vinegar, cancer; or vinegar, infection. All relevant randomized or case-control trials were included in this review.---------------------------------Vinegar:

Good for What Ails You John was plagued with heartburn and stomach pain for as long as he could remember. He had undergone numerous diagnostic tests, but they couldn't find anything to explain his stomach problems. His doctor prescribed Zantac, an acid-blocking drug, which helped, but he didn't like the idea of taking a drug every day. A friend suggested that John give vinegar a try. After just one week of drinking a daily vinegar cocktail (one teaspoon of apple cider vinegar and one teaspoon raw honey in warm water), his heartburn and stomach problems were gone - and he hasn't taken Zantac since. An Oldie But Goodie This is pretty strong testimony for so lowly and inexpensive a product as vinegar, but stories like this abound. Vinegar has a solid and respected place in folk medicine, with references dating back to Hippocrates. Furthermore, a growing number of studies support its therapeutic use. In the April issue of Health & Healing, I told you about a recent study which showed that vinegar helped with weight loss. Here are some other things vinegar aficionados swear by.

Taken Orally(One teaspoon to two tablespoons a day, mixed in water, with or without the addition of an equal amount of honey):
Relieves stomach pain
Improves arthritis pain
Relaxes leg cramps
Reduces urinary problems
Assists with weight loss
Improves insulin sensitivity Applied Topically(Equal parts vinegar and water, or as indicated):
Helps clear up swimmer's ear and ear infections (flush ears)
Relieves athlete's foot (soak feet)
Softens corns and calluses (soak feet)
Eliminates dandruff (and makes a good hair rinse)
Improves sinusitis symptoms (gargle with one tablespoon in half a glass of water)
Relieves jellyfish stings
Soothes sunburn and rashes (dampen a gauze pad and apply to affected area)
Banishes foot and underarm odors For a stuffy nose, eat 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon fresh grated horseradish. Mix it with a little vinegar to enhance absorption.Quality is ImportantAll vinegar is not created equal. Comparing raw, organic apple cider vinegar to distilled or synthetic vinegar is like comparing fresh-squeezed organic orange juice to Kool-Aid. The former is made from fresh, crushed organic apples and then matured in wooden barrels. It's a brownish-gold color and slightly cloudy when held up to the light, and it tastes vinegary, but smoother and less caustic than other vinegars.

Look for raw, unpasteurized, unfiltered vinegar made from certified organic apples. Good brands include Bragg Apple Cider Vinegar, available in most health food stores and Omega Nutrition, also sold in health food stores.

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