History of Apple Cider Vinegar: The use of vinegar as a preservative and healing agent dates
back 5,000 years. The Babylonians used it as a pickling agent and made vinegar
from fruits, vegetables and dates. Egyptian vases and urns have also been found
with some residual vinegar preserved. In 1200 BC, the first book in recorded
history on the uses of vinegar as a healing agent was written in China. The
father of medicine, Hippocrates, created his own blend of apple cider vinegar (AVC)
in 400 BC together with honey, and used it for treating cough and cold. The
extract is now being used all over world owing to its ever increasing health
benefits (Rose, 2006).
Major Healing Qualities and Health Properties: A number of health benefits and healing qualities of AVC have been reported over the years, many of which have been proven by scientific research. Now let’s have a look at the most commonly reported benefits of the AVC.
1. Weight loss: Research studies have indicated that AVC can allow you to control your weight by making you feel fuller. We gain weight when our calorie intake is in excess. This can be controlled by the help of ACV tonic, as it allows you to feel satiated for longer (Östman, Granfeldt, Persson & Björck, 2005).
2.
Regulation of Diabetes: ACV has been reported to treat various symptoms associated
with the development and progression of diabetes. Acetic acid found in AVC can
control the blood glucose levels and can also increase the insulin sensitivity
among diabetes patients (Liatis, et al. 2010).
3. Cardiovascular Benefits: AVC can lower the blood pressure and increase absorption of calcium. Factors that can result in fatal ischemic heart disease can also be minimized (Hu, et al. 1999; Kondo, Tayama, Tsukamoto, Ikeda & Yamori, 2001). Still, further research is needed to ascertain AVC’s cardiovascular advantages.
4. AVC as Disinfectant: AVC acts as a disinfectant and detoxification agent for the urinary system and the gut. This helps restore the excretory and digestive functions of the body to optimal function by eliminating the harmful agents present within the body (Grandics, 2003).
5. Treatment of Diseases & Illness: Although studies regarding the treatment of illness via AVC have not scientifically proven any positive results, AVC can allegedly reduce risk of colds, flu and other illnesses by inhibiting the progression of conditions that can trigger any formation of disease (Grandics, 2003).
6. Treatment of Ear Infections: Diluted form of AVC can also treat ear infections, but the pH of the vinegar in AVC can potentially damage the outer hair cells and cause irritation (Jung, Cho, Yoo, Lim & Chae, 2002).
7. Treatment of Jelly Fish Sting, Head Lice and Warts: Instantaneous application of AVC can cure jelly fish sting (Silfen, Vilan, Wohl, & Leviav, 2003), head lice can be killed via AVC as well. Warts can also be treated to some extent by applying AVC (Conzuelo-Quijada, Rodríguez-Cuevas & Labastida-Almendaro, 2003; Takano-Lee, Edman, Mullens & Clark, 2004).
For
more information about the topic in this article, please visit http://www.phountainmedia.com. The
Phountain Lifestyle and all written materials are copyright © 2015 Phountain Franchise
Inc. All Rights Reserved.
References
Conzuelo-Quijada, A. E., Rodríguez-Cuevas, S. A.,
& Labastida-Almendaro, S. (2003). Treatment of large lower genital tract
condylomata acuminata with local excision plus topical acetic acid. A
preliminary study. The Journal of reproductive medicine, 48(7), 506-508.
Hu, F. B., Stampfer, M. J., Manson, J. E., Rimm, E.
B., Wolk, A., Colditz, G. A., ... & Willett, W. C. (1999). Dietary intake
of α-linolenic acid and risk of fatal ischemic heart disease among women. The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 69(5), 890-897.
Johnston, C. S., & Gaas, C. A. (2006). Vinegar:
medicinal uses and antiglycemic effect. Medscape General Medicine, 8(2), 61.
Jung, H. H., Cho, S. D., Yoo, C. K., Lim, H. H., &
Chae, S. W. (2002). Vinegar treatment in the management of granular myringitis. The Journal of Laryngology & Otology, 116(03), 176-180.
Kondo, S., Tayama, K., Tsukamoto, Y., Ikeda, K., &
Yamori, Y. (2001). Antihypertensive effects of acetic acid and vinegar on
spontaneously hypertensive rats. Bioscience, biotechnology, and biochemistry, 65(12), 2690-2694.
Liatis, S., Grammatikou, S., Poulia, K. A., Perrea,
D., Makrilakis, K., Diakoumopoulou, E., & Katsilambros, N. (2010). Vinegar
reduces postprandial hyperglycaemia in patients with type II diabetes when
added to a high, but not to a low, glycaemic index meal. European journal of clinical nutrition, 64(7), 727-732.
Östman, E., Granfeldt, Y., Persson, L., & Björck,
I. (2005). Vinegar supplementation lowers glucose and insulin responses and
increases satiety after a bread meal in healthy subjects. European journal of clinical nutrition,59(9), 983-988.
Rose, V.
(2006). Apple Cider Vinegar: History and Folklore-Composition-Medical
Research-Medicinal, Cosmetic and Household Uses-Commercial and Home Production.
iUniverse.
Silfen, R.,
Vilan, A., Wohl, I., & Leviav, A. (2003). Mediterranean jellyfish
(Rhopilema nomadica) sting. Burns, 29(8),
868-870.
Takano-Lee, M., Edman, J. D., Mullens, B. A., &
Clark, J. M. (2004). Home remedies to control head lice: assessment of home
remedies to control the human head louse, Pediculus humanus capitis (Anoplura:
Pediculidae). Journal
of pediatric nursing, 19(6),
393-398.
