Long before our father even thought of opening Organico one of the first ‘health’ products I remember him getting excited about was Cider Vinegar. He used to make us drink it any time we complained of a ‘funny tummy’ - and it was so effective that we all still take it and suggest it to our friends in similar situations. There are hundreds of claims made for Cider Vinegar, and there are also people who say that those claims are all complete rubbish. Personally I don’t agree with either of these positions - I don’t think that cider vinegar is a cure for all ills but from using it over the last 37 years I can say it certainly works for a few things.

If your digestion is normally good but you have temporary discomfort - maybe you ate too much, or had too rich a meal, or feel a little nauseous - then a tablespoon of cider vinegar in a large glass of water can work magic. Sip it slowly.

If you have gout, it could be worth trying cider vinegar - my father used to swear by it! Gout can be caused by a diet too high in acid-forming foods and cider vinegar is said to balance out acidity in the body. You would need to drink a tablespoon in a large glass of water daily for a few weeks and see if your condition improves. There are a few different natural remedies for gout so call in to Organico if you want further suggestions.

If you suffer from an itchy scalp cider vinegar used in your rinsing water can be very soothing. It is also good for helping remove head lice eggs as it is said to melt the wax that binds the eggs to the hair shaft. Wash out an old shampoo bottle and put a tablespoon of vinegar and fill it up with water and use a squirt when you rinse your hair for a week or so and see if you like the results.

I have used cider vinegar as a gargle for sore throats - again about a tablespoon in a large glass of water. I sometimes use hot water and add local honey to this mixture and sip it as an alternative to hot lemon and honey when I have a cold coming on. I also know a few people who take it daily (without the honey) and claim that the number of times they get sick with colds has hugely reduced.

We have a tablet called Apple Cider 600 that is sold as a diet aid - it is said to help speed up metabolism and break down fat. It can be handy if you find the taste of the vinegar too strong!

I would hesitate to say cider vinegar cures all joint pain, but certainly a lot of people come into Organico who have joint pain and stiffness and have been recommended to try taking cider vinegar by someone who found it useful. We would normally suggest it alongside other treatments and dietary adjustments.

Cider vinegar is also said to be good for spots and acne - but I have to say I haven’t personally tried this out! Do let me know if you have any feedback on this subject.

It can also be a good hangover cure...not that I would have EVER had a reason to use it for that of course!

One caution though - the acidity of cider vinegar mixed with the sugar in honey can be a problem for your teeth so do try to brush right away after drinking it - or at least rinse your mouth out with fresh water right away.

As with so many things, there are different forms of cider vinegar and some are certainly more effective for health reasons than others. What you want to look for is a bottle that is cloudy with the ‘mother’ of vinegar, a jelly-like substance that gives cider vinegar it’s unique health properties. Some companies filter this out believing that consumers want a clear clean looking vinegar, but the more authentic companies are leaving the mother in. This is also an indicator that your cider vinegar is raw which is important as you want all the enzymes active and pasteurization can kill these off. Sometimes it does mean the last dregs in the bottles are a bit unappetizing but there is actually nothing wrong with them!

Of course you also want an organic product - given that organic apples are SO superior to the non-organic varieties and that apples are a highly-sprayed crop it makes sense to look for organic. Also, thankfully, it’s not dear even when it is organic and nice and cloudy...in fact it may be one of the cheapest health aids ever!