Apple Cider Vinegar Pills For Arthritis

Arthritis is a condition that causes stiffness and a loss of mobility in the joints. It's painful and can leave your joints bent and distorted. Some arthritis sufferers look to natural remedies like apple cider vinegar pills. No studies have been done to verify their efficacy and vinegar pills may actually cause additional health problems.

Apple Cider Vinegar

Apple cider vinegar is an ingredient in countless home remedies for conditions like high blood pressure, rashes, acne, excess weight and indigestion, according to Net Wellness. However, apple cider vinegar is still used primarily in cooking as a flavor additive and as an ingredient in salad dressing. There is no single ingredient in vinegar that can be linked to having an effect on arthritis as of 2011.

Natural Arthritis Remedy

Apple cider vinegar, and subsequently pills, became linked with the possibility of helping arthritis in the 1950s in "Folk Medicine" by D.C. Jarvis, M.D. According to the book, apple cider vinegar helps to relieve arthritis pain and reduce inflammation. The typical remedy involved taking two tablespoons of apple cider vinegar a day, though you could dilute it in a cup of water. You can even add honey to it to improve the bitter taste, according to Jarvis.

The Problem with ACV Pills

To avoid the bitter and unpleasant taste of apple cider vinegar, some people try to take apple cider vinegar pills instead. However, this may provide unfavorable side effects. According to the University of Arkansas, apple cider vinegar pills often don't contain the same amount of apple cider vinegar as listed on the labeling and in some cases don't contain vinegar at all. This makes it easy to either receive an incomplete dose or to overdose. Side effects of apple cider vinegar and vinegar pills alike include throat irritation, esophageal burning, and stomach upset.

Ineffective Treatment

As a cure or even a pain reliever for arthritis, apple cider vinegar pills are ineffective. According to Judith Horstman of the Arthritis Foundation, apple cider vinegar is a completely useless treatment and bears no connection to arthritis remedies. Even so, drinking diluted vinegar or taking vinegar pills are unlikely to have a negative effect on arthritis symptoms, says the University of Maryland Medical Center.

Apple Cider Vinegar Pills for Arthritis