Apple cider vinegar has been considered a home remedy for many years, and for good reason – it really does help ease several ailments that you might suffer from, especially during the cold season. Using this remedy is always a good idea if it means that you can get away with taking less of the OTC medications that might have awful side effects. Here’s what the vinegar can do for you and your family.
How to Use Apple Cider Vinegar for Colds
The vinegar works in two specific ways: it helps thin the mucus that can become quite thick during a cold, and it also helps neutralize the body during periods of sickness. In order to get the most out of the remedy, try drinking a tablespoon of it the moment you notice symptoms starting. However, if drinking it directly is just too much (and for most people, it’s tough to drink it straight!), there are other options:
- Blend it with water. The vinegar is very potent, but that is just one sign that it’s going to work. When a virus invades the body, it puts you into a more acidic state, which makes it difficult for the immune system to work. The vinegar is known to alkalize the body, which means that it balances things out. Blend a tablespoon with water and drink up at the first sign of symptoms, and repeat this several times each day.
- Dilute it for sinus drainage.The vinegar works very well for thinning mucus due to the large amounts of potassium it contains, as well as the acetic acid, which inhibits bacterial growth. To get this benefit, mix 1 teaspoon of the vinegar with water and drink it down.
- Blend it with tea. This great drink works very well to boost your immune system. Brew a large mug of Echinacea tea, add in up to 4 tablespoons of honey, and blend with a couple of tablespoons of the vinegar. Make sure that you are using organic and unfiltered products to get the best benefit. Drink it down 3-5 times each day. Adults might want to even go a bit further and warm things up by adding a touch of whiskey before bedtime.
Apple Cider Vinegar Blend
This blended drink uses the power of the vinegar and cayenne pepper to clear your nose. Blend together ¼ cup of water, ¼ cup of the vinegar, 1 tablespoon of honey and 1 teaspoon of cayenne pepper. Stir well and then add a squeeze of lemon. Drink it and breathe deeply.
Apple Cider Vinegar Salad Dressing
To take advantage of this remedy of apple cider vinegar for colds, mix the vinegar with olive oil (a 1:3 parts ratio), add a spoonful of mustard, a sprinkle of balsamic vinegar, and mix very well. Drizzle it on top of your salad as a way to ward off the colds while you eat something healthy.
What if you’re already super sick? The remedy can still help. It will help ease the cold symptoms, enhance your digestive system, and even help you get rid of a sinus infection if you add the vinegar to a vaporizer at night and allow the steam to ease your body.
What Others Say About Using Apple Cider Vinegar for Colds
Others have had great success with using this remedy:
“My daughter was sick. Her throat was killing her, and she had a really runny nose. I told her to drink the vinegar straight up. She almost threw up because the taste was so strong, but once it was down, she started feeling better almost immediately. Today she is much, much better!”
“I tried all kinds of things, and none of the over-the-counter stuff cut through the mucus. It was so bad that it was hard to breathe or even swallow. So I started drinking the vinegar with water and a bit of lemon. It was really acidic and tasted harsh, but I kept at it. By the next day the mucus was almost gone and the day after that, the aches and pains disappeared.”
Other Natural Remedies for Colds
In addition to using apple cider vinegar for colds, you can also use other home remedies that works well. Use these in conjunction with the vinegar to boost the healing powers.
- Garlic shots. Pour hot water into a shot glass and fill it with 1-2 cloves of minced raw garlic. Drink it down fast. The garlic is antibacterial and antifungal.
- Elderberry tea. Using elderberry syrup or ripe elderberries, brew a tea that you can sip on throughout the day. The elderberries have been used for centuries to treat colds because of its anti-inflammatory properties.
- Coconut oil. Melt coconut oil and use it to cook food while you are sick. It has many antimicrobial properties that can help you feel much better sooner.
- Nasal wash. Get the crusty and sticky mucus out of your nose with a nasal wash made of water or saline. Make sure the water is filtered to help avoid infection with other pathogens.