Raw apple cider vinegar is touted as an aid to weight loss and a potential complement to traditional diabetes treatment. But these uses require ingesting the vinegar. Used externally, the vinegar my also be helpful for a number of ailments. Many of these uses are based on tradition and anecdotal evidence, however. If your condition is serious--or worsens--consult your doctor.
Nail Fungus
Anecdotal reports suggest that using a raw apple cider vinegar foot bath every day can mitigate, resolve or prevent the growth of nail fungus. The Mayo Clinic notes that no formal studies suggest that it can cure this common and troublesome condition. However, the antimicrobial and anti-fungal properties that are naturally present in unpasteurized, raw apple cider vinegar are promising.
Try soaking your feet every day to see if it helps your condition. If the soaking irritates your skin, the Mayo Clinic suggests soaking every other day. If the condition does not resolve or worsens, talk to your doctor, though be aware that nail fungus takes months to show improvement.
Pubic Lice
This embarrassing, sexually transmitted condition may be resolved with the use of vinegar. The Mayo Clinic suggests that after shampooing with a lice treatment, you use vinegar to speed up the treatment. The acidic properties of apple cider vinegar make it ideal for ridding your hair of nits--the eggs laid by the live lice, and often the most troublesome part of contracting lice. Nits stick to the hair shaft, but apple cider vinegar's acidity helps dissolve the glue, making it possible to remove them.
After the shampooing treatment, use a rag soaked in apple cider vinegar and run it down the hair shaft. Discard the rag after use in a sealed plastic bag to prevent the nits from sticking to furniture, garbage cans or pets that might walk by a discarded rag. If your hair is too short for this method, the Mayo Clinic suggests soaking your hair in vinegar and then combing the nits out.
Itching
Raw apple cider vinegar is purported to relieve the itching of poison ivy, poison oak, eczema and sunburns. The acidic properties are believed to help kill off any oils or unfriendly bacteria that may be causing the itching.
To use the vinegar in this fashion, fill a lukewarm (not hot) bath and add 2 to 4 cups of raw apple cider vinegar. Soak for 15 to 20 minutes, rinse off and towel dry.
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