Cider Vinegar

by Margaret Hills

  High blood pressure is called hypertension and low blood pressure is called hypotension. It is generally accepted that the highest appropriate reading is 100 plus your age, over 90. For instance, a 70-year-old with a reading of 170/90 is not considered to need treatment.

  Hypotension (abnormally low blood pressure) is, in my opinion, just as bad as high blood pressure. The heart is not performing as it should be, and usually the patient is either anaemic or has a malfunctioning thyroid. When I find a patient with very low blood pressure I ask the patient’s doctor to test for anaemia and/or a thyroid problem.

  Stress is a very common factor in the development of high blood pressure, but the following can all have a devastating effect on the blood pressure:

  eating too much salt;

  taking too little exercise;

  drinking too much alcohol;

  taking the contraceptive pill;

  smoking;

  taking steroids and other drugs for arthritis;

  kidney disorders;

  HRT (hormone replacement therapy), which sometimes causes weight-gain and raises the blood pressure;

  hardening of the arteries (in older women and men).

  Men and women with responsible positions at work sometimes have high blood pressure due to the nature of the job and their responsibility for others. The number of such sufferers is rapidly increasing. High blood pressure is an associated factor in deaths due to heart and kidney disease.

  The heart is the hardest-working muscle in the whole of the body, so it must have a constant supply of power and energy to enable it to continue beating night and day. It is very difficult to determine whether high blood pressure is a symptom of a disease, or a disease in itself.

  The first blood pressure reading taken at my clinic is apt also to be the highest, because of the patient’s apprehension and anxiety – sometimes we take it again before the patient leaves, only to find that it has returned to normal as the tension has disappeared.

  The treatment for high blood pressure should consist of a diet rich in fresh salads and carbohydrates. Eating protein is quite in order, if it is offset by an increased acid intake such as cider vinegar, apples, grapes, cranberries or their juices. The blood is always alkaline, but its alkalinity can be increased or decreased. Increased alkalinity thickens the blood, which sometimes results in an increase in blood pressure. Therefore it is most important to balance our intake of protein (which is alkaline) with an acid drink – and there is nothing to touch a glass of water with two teaspoons of cider vinegar, two or three times daily.

  Cider vinegar gives to the heart that powerful mineral potassium, which strengthens the heart muscle. Potassium dissolves the body-acids thereby preventing the blood from thickening. Many drugs, including the contraceptive pill, raise the blood pressure; smoking narrows the arteries which again contributes to high blood pressure – the pill and smoking should be avoided. Restricting the intake of alcohol, losing weight, and taking regular gentle exercise are all important in maintaining healthy blood pressure.

  Cider vinegar for kidney stones

  Most people are born with two kidneys which filter waste products from the blood into the urine. The urine then passes to the bladder and from there, out of the system. The kidneys are two very important organs which play a vital part in maintaining the body’s fluid balance.

  Various disorders can affect the kidneys, the most common being kidney stones which usually contain uric acid and calcium. When the stones are in the kidneys they cause no pain, but when they become dislodged and start to travel down the urinary tract, the pain they can cause is second-to-none. Sometimes stones block the urinary tract, causing severe back-pain in the kidney region, and spreading round to the abdomen and into the groin. Very often the patient gets pain on passing urine, and blood may be present in the urine.

  Most kidney stones can be dissolved with cider vinegar, which is excellent in combating uric acid. I would suggest one dessertspoon of cider vinegar in a glass of cold water daily, with or without one teaspoon of honey. Cider vinegar should be used freely on all green salads; it is also important to eat beetroot, parsley, celery, cucumber, carrots and green onions, which are all wonderful body cleansers. Nettle tea, too, is a great cleanser. Bladder and kidney infections may also be treated in the same way.

  Cider vinegar for cramps

  Cramps are muscular spasms. They usually affect the legs, feet, toes and fingers. Whenever it occurs, it is an excruciating pain at the time – and leaves residual pain in the muscle, sometimes for days afterwards. Typists, gardeners and athletes are very prone to cramp in the muscles which get repeatedly used; people who do a lot of writing can get writer’s cramp.

  I worked in factory surgeries for some time and, especially in the hot weather, men would come to the surgery with severe cramp. Because of the heat in the foundries, it was nearly always caused by a lack of salt – because of the salt lost through sweating. If a man came to the surgery frequently with cramps we would suspect a more serious cause, and have him checked out by the factory doctor – because cramps can have many causes, e.g. circulation problems, or a lack of calcium or other minerals. A lot of people get night-cramps, usually in the legs. Some have to jump out of bed and put their foot in warm water until the pain goes. Massage can also help. Cramp in the leg is very painful, but cramps can also be experienced in the heart muscle, stomach and intestines – and this is very frightening.

  The only long-term solution is a diet rich in vitamins and minerals, with no dairy products and animal fat, and with plenty of green salads – and including two teaspoons of cider vinegar in a large glass of water twice daily. This treatment dissolves the acid crystals in the blood and passes them out through the kidneys; it also supplies to the body the all-important minerals such as potassium and calcium.

  Cider vinegar for corns and calluses

  Corns and calluses usually affect the feet, and can be very uncomfortable. First soak the feet in warm water, to which has been added half a cupful of Epsom salts (otherwise known as magnesium sulphate salts). Dry the feet. Soak a piece of lint in neat cider vinegar and cover the affected parts. Leave for approximately 30 minutes. Wash the cider vinegar off and dry the feet well; then rub briskly with a rough, dry towel.

  Cider vinegar for dry scalps and dandruff

  Those little white flakes which appear on the scalp and hair can be so embarrassing and irritating. Nobody knows the real cause but my opinion, as a nutritionist, is that the condition is systemic and first and foremost, the sufferer should adopt a diet of fresh fruit and vegetables, wholemeal bread and a high-protein content of nuts, beans, chicken, and lean meat. A high-protein diet should always be accompanied by an acid drink – cider vinegar. It is the best of all acid drinks because of the large amount of minerals it supplies to the body. Sugar and starch products, fatty and highly spiced foods, should be avoided. When the hair is washed, a final rinse of lukewarm water, to which half a cup of cider vinegar has been added, is very beneficial. A good multi-vitamin supplement is also desirable.

  Cider vinegar for sleeplessness

  It is very important to get a good night’s sleep. If you get a good night’s sleep, you can tackle any hard work the next day. For most people, a good night’s sleep works wonders. Almost everyone experiences sleeplessness from time to time, for one reason or another. There are no rules about how much sleep is necessary but, for an adult, eight hours each night is accepted as normal. Lack of sleep causes irritability, nervousness, lack of concentration. Everything becomes an effort, and overtiredness leads to exhaustion and depression. Stress and tension can be the cause, and prolonged stress leads to a very depleted nervous system.

  It is very important to remember that drugs do not cure sleeplessness – in fact, some sleep-inducing tablets have an effect whereby the more one takes of them, the less effective they are. There is also fear of addiction, which is most undesirable.

  For the treatment of insomnia (sleeplessness):


   1 Fresh air and exercise are very important, as is a good diet and perhaps a good multi-vitamin supplement.

   2 Listening to music can be very beneficial and relaxing before bed-time.

   3 Take a warm bath containing rosemary oil, or some other relaxing oil.

   4 Make sure your bed is comfortable.

   5 Keep regular sleeping hours.

   6 Never take tea, coffee or any alcoholic drink before going to bed.

   7 Make sure your room is well-ventilated, quiet and peaceful.

   8 Have a light snack before going to bed, but never have a big meal.

   9 Have some honey, which is a wonderful relaxant, soothing and feeding the nerves.

  Before going to bed, heat half a tumbler of water and dissolve two teaspoons of clear honey in it. To this, add two teaspoons of cider vinegar and put the drink by your bed. Take a few sips as you get into bed. Then lie down in peace, thanking God for all that he has given you and asking for his blessing. It never fails to bring peace to me. If you wake in the night, take a sip of your honey-and-cider-vinegar concoction, and finish off the rest when you wake up.

  Cider vinegar for varicose veins

  Many of our patients suffer from varicose veins. Being arthritic, many of them become overweight. Movement is so painful that they stand or sit much of the time. The circulation becomes poor and, as a result, the blood in the veins becomes very sluggish. The surface veins can also become affected and often they can be very painful.

  Sometimes there are distended veins in the lower bowel. These are called piles. Sometimes they come outside the rectum and often, too, they bleed. It is important for the sufferer to have a good diet and vitamin C, vitamin E and lecithin to aid the blood flow.

  Varicose veins can become inflamed, causing pain. This is called phlebitis. A large, painful lump can be felt in the leg-vein and, sometimes, ulcers can develop. Sometimes, the patient is advised to wear a tight stocking. In my opinion, this is the wrong line of treatment as it can hinder circulation. One patient who came to the clinic had suffered with a varicose ulcer for years. A plaster of Paris had been put on the leg from knee to ankle. The patient was in extreme pain. I removed the plaster and found that a lot of fluid had collected in the ankle. I dressed the ulcer with cream containing vitamin E and royal jelly, and a crepe bandage – not too tight – and, with dietary advice, the ulcer had healed in two weeks.

  I advise my patients to use the following cider-vinegar treatment for their varicose veins. Cup the hand, pour in neat cider vinegar and massage the legs upwards three times daily. It takes time, sometimes months, but some of the results are amazing. Cider vinegar taken internally (two teaspoonfuls in plenty of water, three times daily) thins the blood and prevents it from clotting. In my opinion, this is much better than the half-aspirin prescribed for blood which is too thick.

  Cider vinegar for constipation

  Constipation is the failure to pass solid waste-matter, known as stools or faeces. There are many causes of this, but basically they can be grouped into three types: dietary deficiencies; mechanical obstruction to the passage of food along the bowel; or faulty bowel-habits.

  (a) Dietary deficiencies

  The waste-matter is the indigestible part of food. If the diet is low in vegetable fibre (found in fruits, bran and vegetables) there may be insufficient bulk of waste in the bowel to form more than the occasional stool. Starvation also causes constipation.

  (b) Mechanical obstruction

  Mechanical obstruction can occur because of narrowing of the bowel-tube by inflammation or tumour. Such a condition usually requires an operation to remedy it.

  (c) Faulty bowel-habits

  Faulty bowel-habits (e.g. retention of faeces, lack of daily exercise) are usually the main cause of constipation. A good diet, containing plenty of fruit and vegetables (raw if possible), is necessary. Two teaspoons of caster oil, to which has been added one teaspoon of cider vinegar, every morning before breakfast, should produce normal bowel-movement in a very short time. All refined and processed food should be eliminated from the diet. All tea, coffee, sugared and fizzy drinks should be avoided.

  Constipation is all about the elimination of waste-matter and toxins. The constipated person is liable to succumb to all sorts of diseases because of the re-absorption of toxins from the bowel into the bloodstream. A purified body is a healthy body, fit and able to do the work for which it is destined.

  Using complementary treatments safely

  There are many complementary therapies available today, and many people turn to one or other of these therapies when they find that orthodox medicine has failed them. There are many reasons why people forsake their GP and set out to help themselves. Many television programmes have been broadcast relating, for example, to arthritis and orthodox treatments for it; a number of books have also been published setting out the side effects of drugs. The public are becoming very aware, and unfortunately some people are losing faith in the medical profession.

  I run a very successful clinic for arthritic patients – but I like my patients to have been diagnosed as having arthritis before they contact me. This means that, first and foremost, they contact their GP. I do not presume to diagnose their condition. On their first appointment, the X-rays and blood tests, which have been carried out in the GP’s surgery and at the hospital, are a valuable source of information to me.

  So many of my patients suffer with so many different conditions – and are on drugs for these conditions – that it is imperative that they are properly diagnosed in the first instance. I practise nutritional therapy, which works very well when used correctly. There are times when I should like to give a particular vitamin or mineral supplement, but because of the patient’s history or diagnosis I cannot safely do so. For example, if I have a patient with poor circulation, my thoughts turn to a dosage of 800 International Units of vitamin E – so good for poor circulation – until on further investigation, I learn that my patient has a heart condition, so I must not exceed 400 International Units. Another example is vitamin D, which promotes calcium absorption, but too much of which can become toxic.

  The saying, ‘You are what you eat’, is very true – though in my opinion, ‘You are what you absorb’, would be more accurate. In the nutritional field, many vitamins and minerals are not absorbed unless they are taken in conjunction with another. For instance, iron cannot be absorbed if vitamin C is not taken with it; vitamin E works well if taken with selenium; calcium will not work without vitamin D.

  Having practised nutritional therapy for years, I should like to emphasize that, in my therapy at least, a correct diagnosis from the GP is invaluable, and should always be sought primarily. In addition, we often seek to work with GPs. In my clinic, treatment consists of diet, exercise and supplementary nutrition. The treatment varies from patient to patient, according to individual needs and, if necessary, we liaise with the patient’s doctor. As a rule, the doctor proves very helpful and usually carries out any tests required. Many people have heart-trouble, angina, high blood pressure, thyroid problems, and many more conditions where the GP’s help is invaluable.

  Sometimes patients come to my clinic having already tried several of the alternative therapies which are currently available. In my opinion, the reason that patients do not get results is that they often do not give the therapy enough time. I tell my patients not to expect an overnight miracle: it will not happen. The treatment has to be practised every day until all signs and symptoms have cleared, and then for three months afterwards.

  It is vital that the treatment is carried out as directed, and that the practitioner is kept fully informed of any irregularities arising during treatment – (e.g. weight-change, diarrhoea, constipation – any symptoms unusual for the individual) so that adjustments may be made as time goes by.

  I like my patients to keep in touch with the hospital and their consultant rheumatologist, for two reasons. First, as a rule, the consultant
does occasional blood tests which are very informative for him and for me. Second, in the vast majority of cases, those blood tests prove to my patients that their health has taken a turn for the better. It is very encouraging for patients to compare the results with those of previous blood tests, and to find improvement. Then they really know that they are on the road to recovery.

  When the patient has been cleared of all signs and symptoms of their arthritis, we prescribe a reduced nutrition programme for the rest of their lives. They may go back to a normal diet, continuing to take a reduced quantity of their cider-vinegar drinks. The programme is designed to keep down the acid-levels in the body – ensuring the patients are free of arthritis, in other words. It works very well.

  In my opinion, most diseases are constitutional in character – that is, disease only attacks people whose bodily condition is poor as a result of poor diet and/or wrong living. Strict diet, fresh air, and all measures for building up the body, are required. Sun and plenty of fresh air are excellent, as are Epsom-salt baths, along with any necessary extra treatment which the therapist considers necessary to bring about good health.

  I always advise my patients to inform their doctors that they are taking my cider-vinegar treatment for their arthritis. A lot of doctors seem not to know what a wonderful treatment it is for arthritis and for dissolving the uric acid in the body. They often confuse it with cider or with malt vinegar, both of which are extremely acidic and can be very injurious to the patient.