Vinegar is a primary ingredient in many popular home remedies. According to the book "1,801 Home Remedies," vinegar's high acid content makes it a formidable enemy to bacteria that causes infections. Vinegar also reacts with many chemical bases to produce neutral water and salt. This reaction can eliminate burning and itching that occurs as a result of common skin irritations.
Inflammation
Vinegar neutralizes pain-causing substances that get into the skin as a result of insect bites and stings. If you have a rash or sunburn, vinegar can also cool the area. "1,801 Home Remedies" recommends mixing 1 tbsp. vinegar with 1 tsp. cool water, then soaking a cotton ball with the solution and dabbing it on the affected area. It may sting when it's first applied, but the vinegar should start to reduce the pain and swelling within 30 minutes.
Headaches
Vinegar compresses are an old-fashioned remedy for headaches. According to "1,801 Home Remedies," doctors aren't sure why vinegar can ease headache pain, but it does have a proven effect. Soak a clean, soft rag in white vinegar and tie it tightly around your forehead. Leave the rag in place for 20 to 30 minutes at a time, removing it sooner than that if your skin feels itchy or irritated.
Nausea
The acid in vinegar can soothe nausea by giving your stomach the extra boost it needs to digest food properly. When you're experiencing nausea, acid reflux or indigestion, that can indicate that your stomach doesn't have enough acid present naturally to do its job. "The Complete Idiot's Guide to Household Solutions" says you should mix 1 to 2 tbsp. apple cider vinegar with 8 oz. water. Sip the mixture to halt your nausea.
Nosebleeds
According to "The Complete Idiot's Guide to Household Solutions," the acidic fumes that vinegar gives off can stop a nosebleed. Soak an old cotton cloth or clean gauze in white vinegar and place it over your nose. Let it rest there until the nosebleed stops, occasionally replacing the compress with a fresh cloth or gauze if needed.
Insect Repellant
White vinegar makes a suitable homeopathic insect repellent. The strong scent is enough to keep bugs away from your skin, as insects generally don't like overly acidic hosts. Soak a cotton ball in vinegar and apply it to exposed areas that are particularly vulnerable, such as wrists, elbows, ankles and knees. Reapply the vinegar as needed to keep insects away.
References
- "1,801 Home Remedies"; Editors of Reader's Digest; 2004
- "The Complete Idiot's Guide to Household Solutions"; Cherie Moore; 1998
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