Vinegar Power

Vinegar is more than a condiment or preservative. Acetic fermentation of fruits or sugars produces a potent super force that can conquer everything from toenail fungus to morning sickness. Check out these versatile applications:

Chest cold got you down? Add 1/4 cup of vinegar to your vaporizer or inhale a steaming pot of water mixed with several spoonfuls to loosen mucus and relieve pain. Mix honey into the concoction and gargle to soothe a sore throat. When you’re done with your vaporizer or humidifier, soak the reservoir in hot vinegar to dissolve calcium deposits.

Sun baked? Gently apply white distilled or cider vinegar to your burn to promote healing and reduce tenderness. Do the same for a bee or jellyfish sting and dry, itchy hands. An after-shampoo rinse of 1/2 cup vinegar and 2 cups water can even help clear up dandruff.

Can you stomach it? Recent studies suggest consuming small doses of apple cider vinegar may balance out blood glucose, lower blood pressure, and promote weight loss, while enthusiasts tout the healing effects on acid reflux and arthritis. And vinegar’s curative nature may even cross over to cancer. Besides its possible ability to kill cancer cells, a Memorial University of Newfoundland study found that disease-fighting phytochemicals found in fruits are enhanced during the fermentation process that produces vinegar.