Cider Vinegar

Why I'm taking it

I am 35 and have just been diagnosed with arthritis. I don’t know what type cos I wouldn’t let my doctor stick me for a blood test as I’m supremely phobic. I’m ok with injections, tattoos and piercings but for some reason, drawing blood leaves me giddy and passing out. I have noticed that for some time, my hands cramped up when carrying the shopping bags or if I’ve been on the motorbike for a while. I have double jointed thumbs too and in the last couple of months, one of them felt ‘tight’, then like the bone was in a vice. Not much I can do other than put brufen gel on it. It is also worth mentioning that I am classed as morbidly obese – so the extra weight is not helping either. I have had knobbly growths on the back of my knee caps that cause them to flare up occasionally. This has occurred since I was 14 years old (wasn’t overweight then) and it’s excruciating. When walking up/down stairs the right one sounds like bubble wrap popping lol. Other factors to consider are that I have IBS, acid reflux, sliding hiatus hernia and polyps on my gall bladder. So I have a serious need to turn my health around or face spending the rest of it in pain.

Cider vinegar healing properties

I had seen a booklet in the chemists about cider vinegar a few years ago and also researched it on the internet for my mum. She has osteoarthritis and cannot lift her arm about her shoulder. Also overweight for most of her adult life with huge boobs, she has groves in her shoulders from the bra straps. That is me in the not so distant future. Time to change. So the best way forward is to look back at one of the oldest remedies out there – cider vinegar. So I ordered a copy of Margaret Hill’s booklet and started to read. It’s so simple and has amazing results. Margaret had arthritis and cured herself by taking this stuff. She was so successful, that she started up the Margaret Hill clinic and has many success stories. During my internet research, I was amazed to read that people like Sir Ranulph Fiennes endorses cider vinegar as his savour from his ailments. It really is amazing stuff!

Raw, unpasteurised, unfiltered apple cider vinegar contains powerful enzymes and life giving minerals such as potassium, phosphorus, magnesium, organic sodium, copper, iron, sulphur, chlorine, fluorine, silicon and other trace elements of minerals including malic acid which is very important in fighting toxins in the body.

1) It’s considered a perfect body cleanser acting on the liver and disposing of poisons.

2) It closely resembles the gastric juices and helps with digestive disorders.

3) Contains loads of vitamins and trace elements.

4) It improves metabolism and deals with excess fat in the body.

5) It aids digestion and absorption.

6) It relieves laryngitis, coughs, asthma and sore throats if used as a gargle.

7) It is invaluable in the treatment of arthritis and rheumatic complaints.

8) Liver and kidney problems such as cystitis also respond to it.

The stuff you get from the supermarket is not suitable as it does not contain the ‘mother’ (like a silt) and all the goodness has often been filtered out. Rule of thumb is the darker the better. In her book, Margaret states that some vinegars are made from the peelings but the one to get is the stuff made from whole crushed ripened apples – not heated, filtered or treated. Modern methods kill the goodness that is in cider vinegar. The best place to get the raw stuff is from a health food shop or the internet. Be warned though, some places charge silly money - 330ml for £6.50! I found a 500ml bottle for about £2.30. If you live near a cider farm, see if they have any in the shop, it will save on postage.

About Margeret Hills

Margaret Hill S.R.N was a trained nurse and her medical training comes through foremost in her book. She herself was introduced to cider vinegar after she suffered rheumatic fever which caused her to be nearly crippled a few years later with arthritis. Still a young woman, she started taking cider vinegar and was amazed to be cured within a couple of years. She went on to have a big family and continued her work as a nurse, also opening her own clinic, which is still in operation to this day. In her book, she addresses each ailment holistically. Using her medical training she advises what to look out for, what the cider vinegar will help and how. Whilst it is a perfect food, she states that it does not mean you should not seek medical advice and treatment. This statement is true of all home remedies.

Uses

Illnesses/conditions covered in her book that can be treated with cider vinegar include: oedema; sore throats; overweight; prostate gland; arthritis; headaches; high blood pressure; kidney stones; cramps; corns and calluses; dry scalp and dandruff; sleeplessness; varicose veins; constipation; insect stings; scalds and burns. Not to mention it is great for cleaning windows and glass! Some of the above conditions are treated with a combination of cider vinegar, molasses and honey. None of it is complicated and it’s so simple you’ll wonder why you aren’t doing it already. The book contains a whole host of recipes from salad dressings, to soups to chutney to pickles to gargles.

Treatment & diet

For arthritis you use 1 teaspoon of cider vinegar and 1 teaspoon of honey in a glass of water once a day. For weight loss you use 2 dessertspoons of cider vinegar in a glass of water (warm or cold but not hot as it kills the enzymes in the vinegar) three times a day. It is also suggested that you reduce/cut out the lactic acid from your diet, this is found in hard cheese, butter, whole milk and cream. Other things to avoid/cut out are red meat such as beef and pork. Cider vinegar is a powerful diuretic and you will have to expect to go to the loo more as the excess fluid leaves your body. Citrus fruits contain lots of uric acids, which causes crystals to form in the joints and can lead to gout. If you have arthritis or swollen joints, avoid citrus fruit! Do eat lots of green vegetables, salad and fruits

Because I'm worth it!

So there you go. A small booklet in the chemist, some research on the internet and a desire to make a change and not live the rest of my life in pain. I shall give it a serious go. By finally shifting this excess weight, I will alleviate the pressure on my joints and heart – my self-esteem will return, my confidence will increase and my quality of life will improve beyond measure. Definitely worth £4!

I have been doing this for three days now. I have been taking a large teaspoon of cider vinegar in a glass of squash once a day. The raw stuff tastes better than the other vinegar – I made that mistake when I bought the one off the shelf in the supermarket. Margaret says that it’s a refreshing summer coolant drink – I wouldn’t drink it in just water, unless diluted in a lot of water but it’s not retched by any means. So far, I have noticed that I do not have to take my strong anti acid tablets as often. I’m adjusting my diet accordingly and will carry on with the plan. As my back has been in a bad way this month, I can’t walk very far without getting twinges. I am trying to be more active though by walking instead of using the car and using the stairs as much as possible.

Give it a go. What have you got to lose? The links below are to interesting articles and things I think are useful if you're seriously considering doing this. Not sure how it's classed as 'commercial' because I'm not selling anything.