APPLE CIDER VINEGAR - So Many Uses!

 

1. Treatment for Healthy, Shiny Hair

Repair damaged hair and get naturally shiny and healthy locks with apple cider vinegar. In a glass jar with a lid, mix 2 cups apple cider vinegar with 10 drops essential oil (of your choice). Let the mixture blend for one to two days. To use: Rinse hair after shampooing with 1/2 teaspoon vinegar mixture and 1 cup water.

2. Medicinal Extracts
Apple Cider Vinegar is not as potent as alcohol-based extracts, but it is good for infusing medicinal herbs as a great alternative for children or those with alcohol sensitivities. Medicinal extracts treat a variety of ailments depending on the herb used.

How to Make Medicinal Vinegar Extracts

1. Chop or grind your dried herb to a coarse powder. You can also find many powdered medicinal herbs available online or at your local health food store. Fill 1/5 of your sterilized jar with the herb. Pour organic apple cider vinegar over the herb until the jar is filled to the top. Cover tightly and allow to extract for 14+ days in a cool, dark place. Be sure to shake the jar daily.
2. After 2 weeks, strain the herb through cheesecloth. Set the strained liquid in a capped jar on a shelf and allow the sediment to settle overnight. Decant the clear liquid layer into another sterilized jar using a strainer. Cap tightly, label and store for up to 6 months in a cool, dark place. You can also refrigerate the vinegar if you'd like.
3. If you are infusing the vinegar with roots or barks, there is one more step you might want to take. Once the mixture has extracted for 2 weeks and the herbs have been strained out, heat the infusion just short of boiling and filter through cloth while hot. The heat will help congeal albumin in the solution that can then be removed when straining. Excess albumin can encourage your extract to spoil quickly.

3. Skin Toner
Beneficial for all skin-types, this toner will help restore acidity to the skin and help resist infection. Mix 3 tablespoons fresh mint leaves, 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar and 1 cup distilled water. Let sit for three days. Strain out the solids into a bottle with tight-fitting lid. To use: Apply to skin with cotton pad.

4. Acid Reflux Relief
Because acid reflux is actually due to too little acid in the stomach, adding 1 teaspoon of apple cider vinegar to water will provide the acidic environment your stomach needs to help break down food.

5. Relaxing Bath
Relax and unwind in this herbal vinegar bath. 
This slightly acidic bath helps rinse away soap residue on your skin and reinstates your own natural acid balance. For women, it is also a good way to counteract yeast infections because the acidic environment will kill harmful bacteria. The combination of herbs gives your bath an uplifting scent that helps reduce stress.
• 1 cup apple cider vinegar
• 1 cup water
• 1 tablespoon fresh rosemary (or 1 teaspoon dried)
• 1 tablespoon fresh tarragon (or 1 teaspoon dried)
• 1 tablespoon fresh mint (or 1 teaspoon dried)
• 1 1/2 teaspoons fennel seeds
Mix together all ingredients in a small saucepan or microwave container and heat gently until just boiling. Let the mixture cool completely and then strain off all solids.
To use: Pour the entire mixture into a warm bath and soak for 15 to 20 minutes.

6. Salad Vinaigrette
Apple cider vinegar adds a tasty kick to salad dressings. Dress fresh spring greens, such as:

Arugula, Pear, Pecan and Blue Cheese Salad with Apple Cider Vinaigrette
Serves 6
6 cups arugula
2 ripe pears (or substitute Granny Smith apples)
1/2 cup crumbled blue cheese
1/2 cup toasted pecan pieces
Apple Cider Vinaigrette
1/4 cup honey
1/2 teaspoon dry mustard
1/2 cup apple cider vinegar
1 teaspoon kosher salt
1 cup extra virgin olive oil
1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
To prepare salad
1. Wash and dry arugula. Place greens in large salad bowl.
2. Slice pears and add to greens.
To prepare vinaigrette
1. Combine all ingredients and stir.
To serve
Toss salad with vinaigrette.
Top with pecans and blue cheese.

7. Treat Swimmer’s Ear
The acidity of vinegar helps kill bacteria and clear infection. To help treat swimmer’s ear, lie on your side with the infected ear facing up and place a few drops of apple cider vinegar in the ear with an eye dropper. After a few minutes, get up and let the vinegar drain from the ear.

8. Get Rid of Ants
If you have a problem with ants, try deterring them with apple cider vinegar. To use: Spray undiluted on ant routes. The vinegar will cover their invisible pheromone tracks, preventing them from finding their way back to their foraging sites.