Cider Vinegar
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In the early 1980s, I opened a clinic – The Margaret Hills Clinic – for arthritics. Treatment is based on the cider vinegar, honey and molasses regime. The results are extremely satisfying: many patients have got rid of their arthritis and other associated symptoms.
A lot of people today are worried about taking drugs. The shocking truth is that the drugs are harming far too many of us. The side effects can sometimes be horrendous because many of the drugs used are highly toxic. The informed public know this, and are now turning to natural treatments in a big way. Nothing can be more natural than the three products which are the subject of this book – apple cider vinegar, honey and crude black molasses.
Ignore not the Apple
The poets know, and so do we,
That simple truths will always be
Those that matter to us most;
And so the apple can surely boast
To be at the top of the healing tree.
So reach up high, my friend,
And pluck the fruit I recommend.
It will be pressed, fermented; nothing added
But yeast and time: they’ll do their best.
Our native fruit; it gives nectar,
And is known from East to West;
And when the vats are fully emptied,
And bottles, filled, and juice is sold,
The orchards of acetic acid
Transformed into liquid of precious gold,
It is wise to listen, these words to heed:
‘Good health is yours’. From a seed
Has grown a tree. Its abundant harvest
Must be to us the very best.
Cider – cyder – there’s no difference.
Ignore not the apple, its juice is pure.
As cider vinegar it makes good sense.
Your efforts will bear fruit, I’m sure.
My friend, take heart if you’re in pain,
And simply aim for peace again.
Try to smile; not be too low,
And to the health shop quickly go.
Then with your juice please persevere –
And always know – good health is near!
(Margaret Issitt, September 1996)
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Getting a proper diagnosis
Common problems – such as a headache, back trouble or aches and pains – affect most of us at some point. Usually we know they will clear up by themselves, and we don’t want to make a fuss. Sometimes, though, apparently minor symptoms could be the early warning-signs of a more serious disease. It is important not to ignore them because, in many cases, an early diagnosis can make all the difference to successful treatment. However, it is not always easy to tell when a trivial complaint could become more serious. People vary – what is harmless in one case could be serious in another. The main point is to keep an eye open for any change in what is normal for you. Having said that, use your common sense. If in doubt, call the surgery and ask the doctor if your symptoms warrant an immediate appointment.
The following are some of the most common problems that should not be ignored.
1 Unexplained weight loss
The time of the month (for women), the season, and the amount you eat or exercise, can affect your weight. However, drastic weight-loss can be serious. If your clothes feel loose or people comment on your weight loss and you have not been dieting, find out why.
Weight loss – together with thirst, frequent urination, undue tiredness and genital itching – can be a sign of diabetes. It can also indicate an over-active thyroid gland. This problem affects one in ten women, and symptoms include (as well as weight loss) sweating, inability to relax, weakness, exhaustion, bulging eyes, recurrent diarrhoea, constipation, abdominal pain, nausea or vomiting of blood. Blood in the faeces may mean a digestive tract problem, such as Crohn’s Disease or a peptic ulcer. If your weight loss occurs with a loss of appetite and abdominal pain or any change in your bowel habits, then get a proper diagnosis from your doctor.
2 Indigestion
Wind, flatulence, belching, bloating, heartburn, nausea or abdominal pain often occur after eating – in other words, indigestion. This is likely if you have been under stress, eating rich, spicy or fatty foods, or are rushing around after meals. A peptic ulcer can also cause indigestion. In this case you can gain temporary relief by eating something or taking an antacid – but the discomfort will come back. However, indigestion which comes out of the blue, especially if you’re over 45, can be a sign of stomach cancer, which is important to catch early. If you regularly have to take antacid drugs, or if your abdominal pain lasts for more than eight hours and you experience loss of appetite or prolonged vomiting, or if there is blood in the vomit or you have dark stools which indicate blood being present, it is very important to make an appointment and get a diagnosis.
3 Sore throat or hoarse voice
Most attacks of sore throat and hoarseness clear up of their own accord. However, if these conditions persist for more than a couple of weeks, investigation by a doctor is necessary. As a rule, the condition is due to smoking or drinking, or an infection due to bronchitis or rhinitis – but the cause could be more sinister, like cancer of the throat. It is very important to get it investigated.
4 Fever
Fever is a sign that the body is fighting infection. Most people’s body-temperature is normally 98.6 degrees Fahrenheit (37 degrees centigrade) but elderly people may suffer infections while their temperature stays normal. This is a sign that the body’s ability to fight infection has lessened. If the patient has severe shivers, shakes and has chattering teeth (a condition known as a rigor), call a doctor immediately. These can be symptoms of pneumonia, kidney infection or malaria.
Fever, when accompanied by breathlessness, wheezing or blood phlegm, could mean a chest infection. A severe headache, nausea, vomiting, or an aversion to bright lights, stiff neck, breathlessness or abdominal pain – all could be signs of meningitis. Call the doctor without delay. Prompt treatment could mean the difference between life and death.
5 Breathing difficulties
Anything that affects the flow of air into or out of our lungs can cause breathlessness and sometimes pain. Unfit and overweight people become breathless more frequently. Smoking can be a prime cause of breathlessness, and asthma-sufferers, along with those who have allergies to house-dust or animals, can become very breathless. Anaemia, too, can cause breathlessness, as can stress and anxiety. If your breathlessness is accompanied by a cough, high temperature, pain in the chest and weight loss, it is imperative that you have your doctor’s opinion on the cause.
6 Change in bowel habits
Sudden constipation or diarrhoea may be harmless, but could be the result of a digestive disorder such as an irritable bowel. The symptoms of this condition come and go, and there may be many years of respite between bouts. However, in some cases it can persist for months or years, even with treatment. The condition is also known as spastic colon or mucous colitis; it is thought that stress may play a significant role in many cases.
Any change in bowel habits other than diarrhoea could be harmless, and could be due to stress, anxiety, food poisoning or infection. Constipation could be a sign that something else is going wrong. If you notice bright red blood on the toilet paper, you probably have haemorrhoids and, though uncomfortable, these are not serious and can be treated. Blood mixed in with the stools can be a sign of bleeding somewhere along the digestive tract, and needs attention.
On the other hand, a dark bowel-movement may mean that you are taking an iron supplement, or perhaps you have drunk red wine or eaten beetroot. The danger-signs here are a change in your bowel habits that persists for two weeks or more, especially if accompanied by abdominal pain, bleeding or dark faeces. Contact your doctor.
7 Children’s ailments
There are no hard-and-fast rules as to when to take your child to the doctor. In babies, breathing difficulties, persistent coughing, vomiting and diarrhoea should all be taken seriousl
y. Children need constant care and watching. A mother can usually tell if her child is off-colour. If it persists, see your doctor. High temperature accompanied by pain, and crying, are good reasons for calling in the doctor.
8 Chest-pain
Chest-pains can be due to all sorts of conditions – not always heart problems as most people think. When the pain is in the front of the chest-wall and worsens on movement, or if you press on it, this can be due to inflammation. The doctor may prescribe an anti-inflammatory drug. Angina causes a crushing pain which usually comes on during exertion and disappears with rest.
Indigestion may be the cause of your chest-pain – that usually comes on after a meal – or you could have been exercising and pulled a muscle. A severe, crushing pain in the centre of the chest could be a heart attack. Chest-pain with breathlessness, if you have had an operation or illness that has kept you in bed, could be an embolism – call your doctor.
9 Vaginal bleeding
Bleeding could be from the uterus, cervix or vagina itself. Causes could include infection, growths like polyps or fibroids, or if you are pregnant, could indicate a miscarriage or placenta problems. Another cause is the contraceptive pill which can cause spotting between periods. You may do better by changing to a different type of pill. Discuss this with your doctor.
Bleeding between your periods or after sex could be a problem. If this occurs, or if there is a blood-stained vaginal discharge after the menopause, see your doctor.
10 Persistent fatigue
Tiredness is usually easy enough to trace back to sleepless nights, overwork, illness, pregnancy or looking after small children. In such cases it is not worth bothering the doctor – though you should make an effort to get more rest.
Persistent fatigue lasting for more than a month may need medical treatment. One common cause is an underactive thyroid, which often develops after the birth of a baby. If your fatigue is accompanied by feelings of cold, hair-loss or thinning of hair, weight-gain or dry skin, it is worth having your thyroid gland checked.
Anaemia is another common cause of fatigue, and is usually accompanied by paleness, faintness, breathlessness and palpitations. Depression too can result in persistent fatigue – other symptoms include weepiness, lack of concentration and interest in life, and a constant low mood. It is imperative that you contact your doctor and find the cause of your problems.
Help your doctor
Your doctor cannot help you if you are not totally honest with him or her. Before visiting the surgery, think over how you have been feeling lately, and whether there has been any significant change in your eating or sleeping habits. Take special note of any other symptoms, even though they may appear to be unrelated to your illness. Keep a diary of when your symptoms occur, how long the problem has lasted, and any possible trigger-factors which you may have noticed.
Try to provide your doctor with as full a picture as possible of your symptoms. For example: do you feel worse at night? What makes you feel better? Can you pinpoint when your symptoms started? If in doubt, get in touch with the surgery beforehand to ask for advice on whether a visit is really necessary.
If your visit is necessary, your doctor will advise you on what to do about your symptoms. That advice could include diet, rest, exercise, physiotherapy or the prescription of a certain drug. On the other hand, the doctor may not be able to diagnose your problems without doing various blood tests. In this case, a blood sample will be taken and sent to the laboratory for testing. The doctor may decide that you need a barium enema or a barium meal, or maybe X-rays of a particular organ or joint. These are excellent diagnostic aids for the doctor.
Having decided what your problem is, your GP may pass you on to a consultant, who will decide what treatment you should have, and for how long. The consultant will probably need to see you more than once, as an outpatient, to evaluate how you are feeling. Depending on how satisfactory your progress has been, the consultant may discharge you with advice for the future, or may wish to do further investigations.
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Pure, natural cider vinegar
What is cider vinegar?
Pure, natural cider vinegar must be made from freshly crushed whole apples which have been allowed to ripen or mature, and it should be unpasteurized – do check the label for both these points before you buy. Cider vinegar should be a dark colour and have a heavy pungent odour. It contains powerful enzymes and life-giving minerals: potassium, phosphorus, magnesium, organic sodium, copper, iron, sulphur, chlorine, fluorine, silicon and many other trace minerals – as well as natural malic acid which is so very important in fighting body toxins.
Malt vinegar must not be confused with cider vinegar. Malt vinegar is a refined, processed vinegar which has none of the qualities of natural cider vinegar. Wine vinegars, too, are produced differently and must not be confused with or compared to pure, natural cider vinegar, which is not a mixture of cider and vinegar, as some people think. Taking cider does not have the same beneficial effects on health: cider is a very acidic product, and can be very injurious to a person suffering from rheumatoid arthritis or osteoarthritis – or any disease connected with there being too much acid in the body: migraine, bronchitis, stomach ulcers, Crohn’s Disease, diverticulitis, nephritis, cholecystitis or indeed any ‘-itis’. An ‘-itis’ is an inflammation of a particular organ – often caused by too much toxic acid in the body. Cider adds even more acid, thus adding to the patient’s problems. The same applies to malt vinegar: it also is very acidic, and would make any inflammation worse.
Pure, natural cider vinegar can really be called one of nature’s more perfect foods. It helps tremendously in reducing overweight. It purifies the cells, ridding the body of poisons. It relieves headaches and migraines, and is wonderful for clearing sore throats (it actually kills the virus which causes them). It fights kidney stones and bladder infections. All these benefits – and many more – can be attributed to the effects of cider vinegar in the body. Day after day, my patients report its many beneficial results. They are amazed – and so am I!
Many doctors don’t understand what cider vinegar is, and tell their patients not to take it. This is very sad. In fact, they are building up trouble for their patients in the form of the various diseases which could be avoided or healed with the use of cider vinegar.
Since I opened my clinic in 1982, it has gone from strength to strength: we now treat patients in many countries of the world, the vast majority of whom are helped at a distance, by post! We specialize in arthritis (rheumatoid and osteoarthritis) and the many toxic conditions which are related to an excess of uric acid in the body. The clinic has flourished largely through recommendations. Today’s public are educated. They ask questions. They are very worried about the side effects of drugs, and are turning to natural treatments when they possibly can.
Arthritis is the curse of modern society, reducing people to such a debilitated state that they can’t enjoy a productive life. They spend day after day trying to keep pain at bay with the use of the many available drugs: different anti-inflammatories or steroids – all producing various dangerous side effects, some of which are irreversible.
I give thanks for the day I discovered cider vinegar. I got rid of my arthritis 36 years ago, by taking cider vinegar as part of a good diet containing natural vitamins and minerals, essential for the good health of all.
It is helpful to know precisely what cider vinegar does in your digestive tract, and how and why two teaspoonfuls of cider vinegar in a glass of water at each meal is so good for maintaining bodily health.
The composition of cider vinegar is such that it destroys the harmful bacteria in the digestive tract and also normalizes bodily acids.
Cider vinegar has very special qualities:
1 It is considered a perfect body-cleanser, acting on the liver and disposing of poisons.
2 It closely resembles the gastric juices and is, therefore, helpful in digestive disorders.
3 It cont
ains many valuable vitamins and trace elements.
4 Because it improves metabolism, it 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 arthritis and rheumatic complaints.
8 Liver and kidney troubles (e.g. cystitis) also respond to it.
The humble apple
People have eaten apples for thousands of years. The saying, ‘An apple a day keeps the doctor away’, is very familiar. The apple is one of God’s great foods. It is one of the richest sources of potassium – a mineral which has a wonderful effect on the arteries, keeping them flexible and resilient. A lot of older people today suffer from hardening of the arteries. This can be a very painful condition which robs the sufferer of the benefits and joys of later years. Potassium also fights dangerous bacteria and viruses – it is indeed a powerful mineral that is found in the humble apple.
Potassium deficiency can be a problem for older people, a lot of whom consume vast amounts of salt and eat very little of the potassium-rich vegetables and fruits, particularly apples. Due to denture problems they do not eat apple-skins or potato-skins, both of which are rich in potassium, and older people, as a rule, do not get much exercise and sit for long periods of time. This contributes to oedema of the tissues (particularly in the legs), high cholesterol and hardening of the arteries.