How to stop a cold fast! There’s nothing worse than that feeling you get when you know a cold is setting in.
Whether it starts with sneezing, a runny nose, sinus pressure, or just feeling run down, we have things to do and don’t have time to be sick!
STOP a cold naturally:
Last year, while I was pregnant and could no longer take any of the “good” cold drugs, I started researching natural remedies. Now, I didn’t want to just “lessen” the symptoms or get over colds “more quickly”, I wanted it GONE. This is when I discovered the incredible benefits of Apple Cider Vinegar
Just mix two tablespoons with a glass of water or drink it straight (I also add a little apple juice to help camouflage the taste, it is a little strong at first, but you get used to it!) Take it every 4-6 hours and by the next morning your symptoms will be gone…REALLY.
Completely gone.
Now, I know you are thinking “sounds too good to be true.” But I assure you, it works. I’ve even turned my skeptical husband into a believer (along with many friends and family.) Plus, at $4 a bottle (cheaper than most over the counter remedies), you don’t really have anything to lose!
Notice a couple of things, though:
1) The type of Apple Cider Vinegar MATTERS to stop a cold:
When purchasing your apple cider vinegar make sure to get the kind “with the Mother”…gross…I know…but this makes ALL of the difference in stopping a cold.
Almost every grocery store carries it by the regular vinegar now. Bragg
And in case you are wondering what the “mother” is, here is a quick explanation from Askville.com: “The mother is made up of the yeasts and fermentation byproducts that are produced when the cider ferments to vinegar, and you should shake the bottle up to evenly distribute it before you use it. The big commercial companies filter it out, because it makes the vinegar look like it’s growing something–which indeed it is.”
2) Why it works to stop a cold: Keeping your body alkaline
One hypothesis is that apple cider vinegar works so well because it helps to balance your body’s pH. When we’re sick our bodies naturally become more acidic. Unfortunately, if you’re using bottled water to rehydrate, most generic brands are acidic as well. When you’re trying to kick a cold QUICKLY, it may also help to drink an intentionally alkaline water like Essentia that has a pH of 9.5 (very alkaline). I’ve seen it at many gas stations now and of course on Amazon.
Adding lemon to your water can also help achieve the same effect. Aim to drink 3/4 – 1 gallon of water per day while you’re kicking this thing!
3) Sleep is VERY important to curing a cold quickly, too
Did you know that even one poor night’s sleep can depress your immune system functioning by up to 30 percent? When you feel any kind of illness coming on, its important to get as much rest as possible.
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4) You CAN pair it with other cold medicines
If your cold has already progressed and you’re feeling miserable, you CAN definitely pair it with other cold relief medicines. Because sleep is so important when you’re sick, if you need to take a cough suppressant or sleep aid, its safe to combine with the apple cider vinegar. Also, the sooner you take the Apple Cider Vinegar (at the very onset of symptoms) the more effective it seems to be.
Also, please note that IT DOES NOT TASTE GOOD! You’re drinking vinegar after all…if you drink it straight it has the tang of a strong alcohol, this is why I generally dilute it with a glass of water and add in a little apple juice if we have it in the house. (And you do get used to it fairly quickly!)
For kids: This has helped my kids stop a cold as well, but getting them to drink it can be a little bit of a challenge. In my research, 1teaspoon – 1tablespoon is plenty for a young child and I usually put it in apple juice for them.
5) Another way to drink it
Many have commented that they add it to warm water with lemon and honey (both are also helpful ingredients for getting healthy fast). Drinking it warm doesn’t appear to negate any of the benefits of the apple cider vinegar.
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Does it REALLY work for EVERYONE?
Its been almost a year since I originally posted this and we’ve received A LOT of comments both on here and through social media. There have been many, many positive reports that it works exactly as stated, and for those who it didn’t work quite as quickly (perhaps due to a previously weakened immune system) have shared that they progress through the stages of a cold MUCH more quickly (2 or 3 days as opposed to the typical 7-10) and that the symptoms aren’t as severe.
I’m not alone:
Reader’s Digest recently acknowledged these same findings, along with several other benefits. So, as long as you have it in the house, you might as well enjoy many of the other benefits as well:
– Remedies heart burn
– Helps muscles recover more quickly post work-out
– A natural cure for shingles when used topically and taken internally
– Cures a sore throat
– Detoxifyies your body
My mom recently learned of the benefits for heartburn, she began taking it daily the week of Christmas just to make sure she didn’t get sick during the busy holiday. After a few days she told me that she realized she hadn’t had any heartburn since she began taking it. It is safe to take daily if you suffer from acid reflux. WebMD also shares that some medical studies have proven apple cider vinegar to help with:
– Diabetes by helping to regulate blood sugar
-Obesity: apple cider vinegar helps you feel full
-Lowering Cholesterol
-Clearing Skin
But of course, use your best judgement if you have an existing medical condition or are taking any medications–I am not a medical professional…just a mom ;)
And, rest assured that I stand no financial gain from this recommendation to stop a cold. I just know what it is like to have young children in daycare and school and to feel like we are “always” getting sick. So bottoms up! You don’t have time to be sick! Let this help :)
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I don’t typically believe in any sort of natural cures or preventatives for sickness, but this year, just for the heck of it, I started drinking organic ACV every time I started to feel a little ill, and I haven’t been sick, yet. I mainly decided to start occasionally taking ACV for the probiotic effect, but since so many claim it prevents sickness, I figured I’d try it.
It works on my hair its growing like a weed,I will try for my cold nothing to lose.
ACV Works!!!! My boyfriend was awfully sick for days; he didn’t go to work for days, and looks horrible still as he recovers. All he took throughout the sickness was nightquil. We live together and sleep in the same bed, so I figured I’d get sick too. When I started feeling the throat itchiness and muscle soreness I started by gargling ACV, then drinking a tablespoon with 4 oz of warm water and a bit of honey. I’ve just been drinking ACV twice a day and the sore throat is about completely gone on day 2, haven’t gotten a fever since starting the ACV, muscle soreness and fatigue went away almost immediately.
This site is awesome. I really believe you have found a cure for the common cold 😊. I previously was one who whenever I would get a cold it would last at least 7-10 days. Sometimes longer and I was so sick for days. But since reading this post over a year ago. Maybe even two years ago I would have had at least 5 colds try to infect my body since then and every time I take a tablespoon of apple cider vinegar in a tall glass of water at the very onset. I chug this at least every 1-3 hours and sometimes I don’t get the cold at all. Most times just for 2-3 days and a very mild form of it. I have even used it on my twin babies. They are 10 months. I put only about 20 small drops in their 300ml bottles of milk and a few in their morning fruit when they are sick. I have seen my daughter really sick and her cold gone in 24 hours. My son’s took 3 days but still that’s amazing for babies. Thank you so much xx
Yesterday while I was at work my i started feeling bad all of a sudden. Then my throat started getting sore. It really hurt to swallow anything. That night I warmed 8oz of water im the microwaved and then added a tbsp of acv and a tbsp of honey and sipped on it until it was gone. Took a ibuprofen for my throat pain and went to sleep. The next morning I was completely healed! I’m not lying!! :-) It worked wonders!
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There is no evidence whatsoever that vinegar does anything for a cold. This is an old internet myth that’s been floating around for the last two decades and it’s been heavily promoted by the Bragg vinegar company claiming vinegar Ph will somehow interfer with a cold virus and kill it. This is nonsense. If you consume vinegar it’s neutralized in your intestines by enzymes in the pancreas which buffers everything entering the intestines to a 7.45 Ph. The body keeps a constant Ph balance of 7.45 to 7.5 level using several methods. One is to exhale acids through your carbon dioxide, the other is through your kidneys which filter out any unnecessary acids through the urine, and thirdly, the pancreas, which neutralizes acids. Anything outside of a 7.45 to 7.5 Ph range in the human body will either make you quite ill or if your ph level drops below 6.9 you will most likely die.
Vinegar in a petri dish will kill a cold virus. It also kills a cancer cell, but vinegar also kills human cells in a petri dish too. Furthermore a cancer cell will eventually die on its own in a petri dish after 3 days, so does this mean if you get cancer you do nothing? No, because what happens in a petri dish and what happens in your body are entirely different and unfortunately pseudoscientists take this information and spin it around so they can sell supplements and other products.
So far the only possible medical ailment vinegar has shown to improve in scientific studies is a slight reduction is a glycemic spike if vinegar is eaten with starchy foods. It’s very temporary though, lasting a half an hour or so. Vinegar possibly blocks the absorption of starches into the intestines which accounts for the lower glycemic level. However, this is NOT a cure for diabetes but I wouldn’t put it past vinegar manufactorers to claim vinegar cures diabetes because that’s how pseudoscientists spin information around to sell their products. Yup, sure is.
Sure, no research has been done for many natural things (pharma companies would not see their pockets getting full with the cash). Perhaps, ACV is another wife’s tale legend, but this treatment was known to my great grandmother back in the beginning of last century (over than the the stated 2 decades). And for some reason since starting drinking ACV every morning as a tonic I have stopped having colds and touch wood “cold free” for years. Makes you wonder, as the ACV DOES really stops the cold on its tracks. So, I do not care that there is no “scientific” bullshit behind the ACV, I see the results and as you have rightly said nobody knows the PK and the PD of the ACV in the body, so ….keep calm and carry on drinking ACV. Chin chin!
“scientific bullshit” really? Because screw science and all the years and years of constant research, let’s all believe this random person trying to push their vinegar product as a miracle cure for only $4!!!
Don’t pay any attention to the, ” science doesnt prove this!” nonsense. Even a sensible doctor wouldnt tell you, ” it doesnt work”. But that the studies either havent been done or they couldn’t prove it. Mayne even ..Studies are inconclusive maybe. But unless studies HAVE proven it doesnt do anything at all. No one should be on a soap box claiming its a farse with no proof whatsoever AND if (thousands?..millions?) of people have found it to work with no harm. That proves it has an effect! Yes, even in science effect.
That being said Ive been taking acv for colds for about 9 years. Always helps.
What would the science lovers suggest you take? Cold syrup?..but dont DOCTORS (even those that would once recommend them) tell you not to give that to children anymore? Yes. Because it can actually make cold symptoms worse!
” Over-the-counter cold and cough medications in young children. OTC cold and cough medications may cause serious and even life-threatening side effects in children. Talk with your child’s doctor before giving any medications.”
– Mayo Clinic
But wasnt it proven it help? Just goes to show you how “science” is always changing. Theyll laugh at you today and take it back in 50 years after they have enough gall to say they were wrong.
Apple cider vinegar works. I had a cold yesterday and feel so much better today. I put 5 tablespoons in a glass of water.. I’m impressed.
Is experience proof enough for you? So you just believe everything scientists tell you? Your comment sounds super silly to be honest. I’m sure Bragg’s is making a whole lot more money (at $4/bottle) than the drug companies that push drugs that most need insurance to be able to afford. Anywho, I was already feeling ill for a day when I found this article and decided to try the suggestion. Personally, I’ve always preferred to toughen out a cold than to take anything for it. But I’m no longer single and prefer to enjoy my lover every chance I get so I decided to nip this sh*t in the butt (but still without drugs). Yesterday while I drank the mixture, I still felt crappy. I was so whiny telling my boyfriend I expected to take one sip and for a miracle to happen. Not quite – but yesterday I drank the mixture 4 times throughout the day and today I feel great! I slept for about 10 hours and woke up feeling almost brand new. Because I felt so crappy yesterday I barely ate and I believe this is why I don’t feel 100%, but I’m going to continue the drink mixture today and I’ll be sure to get some good food in my system :). Thanks @ithinkwecouldbefriends for the recommendation!
I woke up with an oncoming cold this morning. I will have to pick up some ACV after work. I personally love the taste and smell of vinegar but don’t have it around all the time because of concerns of the acid eroding my teeth. I do have some ACV tablets. Wonder if they would work?
That’s a good question, I haven’t tried the tablets and haven’t heard others mention it on here, but imagine you don’t have anything to lose! Let us know if you think they help :)
They definitely did work! I took one tablet after each meal (3 a day), and actually felt a lot better the next day. I still had a very mild oncoming cold feeling for a few days, but it never got worse and now I’m all better. It definitely worked better than zinc or those dissolving vitamin tablets. Awesome! :)
Just to clarify, I took 3 tablets a day for several days (3-4 days) until all of my symptoms were gone.
Ok I felt a cold coming on, then saw this on day 2. I ran to target and picked up a bottle. Now 2 days after purchasing I feel just about back to normal! It’s amazing!! But it is HORRIBLE to drink! I could not water it down and drink 6-8 oz combined, so I have moved to a 2 TBSP shot of it followed by some juice. If you are skeptical of this, as I was…TRY IT!! It really does work!
Help I feel it coming on, I talk the mother every morning ( little shot glass ), can I take more? how many times a day? Thank you
Oh yes, you can take it every two hours if you can handle it :) Also, drink lots of water, get as much sleep as possible and avoid sugar (it suppresses your immune system–can be difficult this time of year!)
This Bragg brand ok for breastfeeding since its unpasteurized? Thanks!!
In my research I could never find any cases of negative effects on pregnant woman and took it successfully throughout my four pregnancies. But of course, I’m not a doctor!
Think I’ll try this for a cold I feel coming on. I’ve used ACV with mother to stop a gallbladder attack within 20 minutes of drinking the stuff. It was truly a miracle, worse pain, horrible feeling ever! I was drinking it sporadically after that and have had no recurrence.
Is this OK to use it you might be getting laringitis? My throat is super sore, would this make it hurt more?
Yes, definitely! My husband is prone to sore throats when he gets sick and this helps to clear it up.
OK than you, I’ll keep taking it, think I caught it to late though cuz it’s not gone yet. Hope it goes away soon, I’m going to Europe tomorrow!
I read your article and started drinking the vinegar mixed with Apple juice. I started feeling much better even though I only used 1 tablespoon of vinegar. I come back to your site to see how much it said and realized I wasn’t talking enough. I feel better anyway. Next dose I will use 2 tablespoons. Thanks so much for your post.
Oh I’m so glad to hear this and good to know that a lesser dosage can be effective as well, THANK YOU for sharing!
ACV is the best. As far as my kids (& me), I add 2 tsp raw organic honey to AVC, 1/2 tsp cinnamon, dash of ginger, warm 1/2 cup distilled water. All natural stuff & they love it. If too acidic for them, add 1/2 tsp baking soda to neutralize acid. Great article and I will give them more often when sick. God Bless.
THANK YOU for sharing this recipe, I often struggle with getting the kids to drink it even though I know that it will help them! This should taste much better, thank you for sharing!!
Update: Walmart now carries White House Apple Cider Vinegar, unfiltered, unpasterized, “Mother” 32 oz. Just like Braggs’ – in vinegar isle. Super cloudy, but its got all the good stuff in it. I’ve tried both, to me they are the same. White House is listening to their customers.
Thanks Rhonda, that is great to hear! I’ve also been seeing a Heinz brand with the mother :)
Is it ok to put the 2tbsp of Apple Cider Vinegar in warm water too? I noticed you said that you add yours to cold water…wondering if warm water with honey and lemon juice is ok too?
Yes, definitely! I don’t necessary prefer it warm, but my brother mixes it with lemon and honey all of the time, it doesn’t seem to matter if you take it warm or cold :)
We take ACV tablets with our daily vitamins. That way we don’t have to deal with the taste (you only taste it if you leave them on your tongue too long)
My two cents, I saw this ppst and decided to try it since I was having a cold and sinus problem coming out from a cough and chest congestion a couple of weeks ago I didn’t want to be sick again so I tried yesterday when I got home and today in the morning too I felt so relieved to see my sinus headache gone and my cold disappear. Im a firm believer and Im recommending to my friends and coworkers as well very happy. Thanks for posting this and to the person who sared on pinterest.
I was taking apple cider vinegar and honey mixed half and half for a cough it worked also loss weight .
I try and add a couple of capfuls to a glass of water every morning. When I had a sore throat it was suggested to me, to gargle with it. It was horrible, however, it helped my throat and it has not bothered me anymore. I still have sinus drainage from a cold and a slight cough, but over all I’m doing much better.
Refined, virgin coconut oil, lemon juice, and raw honey mixed together is also good for a cough and a cold.
Heinz now bottles ACV with ‘the mother’. Not easy to find, but I’ve gotten it at Walmart. Seems to work as well for far less $$.
Well I was getting the usual sore throat; so I told the wife, I think I’ ll check the web to see what the latest “miracle” cold remedy is ! I was skeptical about it clearing the sore throat over night, BUT IT DID !
Yesterday drove 30 miles to find a store selling this. Took a dose at 9:15 p.m., but didn’t feel like getting up between 5:15 a.m. – 9:15 a.m. to take a second dose. Took a second dose at 2:00 p.m. So far feel no better.
Well, I am EXTREMELY PROVOKED! Noticed the first cold symptoms on Saturday the 14th. Slept all day on Sunday. When I still felt bad searched the internet for treatments and on Tuesday drove 35 miles to pick up Raw, Unfiltered APPLE CIDER VINEGAR with “The Mother.” I have taken the two tablespoons religiously every 8 hours since Wednesday and now on Friday am not only no better but am MUCH WORSE! Not only still coughing and sneezing but now my ears are all stopped up! It hasn’t been this bad or worse that I can remember in 17 years! Both times the ear congestion happened after I took a shower and then went out because I absolutely had to be somewhere I could not go without showering first. Perhaps that caused it. Anyhow, the only thing that helped last time was seeing a doctor for antibiotics! By the way one friend has known of the vinegar for years, another found out about it at the same time I did and says it really helps!
Great information here! I have struggled with this for some time and need to be better
There is a company in Alabama called, “Joggin In Jug”. It is apple juice and grape juice and is sold at some stores or can be bought from the web site and delivered to your home. It simplifies the process because you only take 2 tsp. a day and the grape juice makes it more tasty plus grape juice has benefits of its own. It was developed by a gentleman who at age 50 was disabled from arthritis. He remembered his grandmother’s arthritis “toddy” that she took daily. He took the toddy daily and recovered from arthritis. In a attempt to share his good health, he started selling it to his friends. Now it is a huge operation. Today that gentleman is 85 years old and going strong.
All righty. Let me just say. THIS WORKS GREAT! I felt a little fever at work yesterday, and just a tinge of being achy. This seemed to be a good test for me. I did 2T of ACV, 1T lemon juice, 1T honey and 1t cinnamon. Microwaved for 10 seconds. I felt much better in about 20 minutes. This morning I figured a second dose wouldn’t hurt (even though I felt fine). When I got to work 15 minutes later, I had an upset stomach. (all that acid, you see) Do NOT take this on an empty stomach. I had a package of peanut butter crackers and I’m back to 100%.
For those worried about your tooth enamel, you can use a straw, but you still would be better served to swish a baking soda/water solution in your mouth, then spit! You don’t want to lose all that awesome cold-fighting goodness!
I also use Braggs but have read and heard that it is unsafe to be taken straight out of the bottle, that you should always dilute with at least 4oz of another liquid. It strips the enamel of your teeth and harms your esophagus.
I mix my apple cider vinegar with a little V8 juice….tastes a little like a “Bloody Mary”. The V8 juice takes the bite out of it, makes for a smoother drink.
is this safe for babies under one year of age
adding raw honey to the acv totally changes the taste. My 14yr old who hates the taste of honey actually liked the combination of the two. I gave it to her for a cold and it helped with her allergies as well. honey and acv has so many health benefits (including weight loss, anti bacterial, anti inflamitory, helps restore pH) the list goes on and on and it tastes good too! The Bragg brand makers actually have a recipe booklet you can order.
Really 99% work for diet too after i drink this cider Apple in 2 month i loss of my wight about 4 kg, i drink two time at day morning and evening before meal, and one more also can used to make beauty skin, for tonic just add a green tea is so lovely all mh friend say amazing and become alot my friend take this for diet plus beauty skin to women heathy and save money,thank
I have a question if that is ok to post on here? You said that you dilute it with water but also that you mix it with juice. Do you always do both of these or one or the other? Do you dilute with water and then mix with juice? Just trying to get it straight before I try. I know if it tastes bad I will not take it no matter how well it works so I want to get it right. Thanks for the post!
If this is truly unpasteurized, pregnant women shouldn’t consume it, right?
Been looking for this since I arrive here in the UK. Not available. I used this before for my tummy =(
My kids take this, usually with no problem at all. We add as teaspoon of raw honey! It really is awesome!!
If it works I will fix up an I.V. drip ~
Cool! Hubby swears by zinc tables to reduce the severity of colds, but zinc makes me sick. I’ll try this. Can’t hurt, right?
I found this product at WAL-MART today! Its a large bottle. Thanks for sharing. Going home to try right now.
I have heard amazing things about apple cider vinegar, but I am happy there are also other ways of treating a cold, not fond of the taste. One up point is that there are no side effects, and it is safe for most people to take. Thanks for sharing on Real Food Fridays, stop by and share again.
2 tablespoons for adults?
Yes! Twice per day until your symptoms are gone :)
Came across this link just in time. Started getting sick over the weekend and was gonna try to go to the doc… Think I will go the health food store instead ;)
It works.
My pastor even mentioned it in a sermon last week!
I try to remember to drink this once a day – sick or not! And usually, it’s “NOT!”
Good article. Raw apple cider vinegar has so many health benefits if people would only learn to use this natural remedy. I twitted and pinned your article. Visiting from Embracing the good life Pin It Party
I’ll have to keep this in mind the next time I’m feeling sickly! I already keep the Bragg’s ACV on hand (and apparently a “shot” a day aids in fat loss?), so I’m glad I have this cheap and natural home remedy in stock. Thank you for sharing!
Oh, this is just what I need right now! The kids are fighting bad colds and my throat just started getting sore… Got to find some of this stuff!
I don’t know how old your kids are, but I generally have to sneak it in with some apple juice to get them to take it! And 1 tablespoon is plenty for kids in my research :)
I have never heard of this – it sounds great! My OH is always getting colds at the mo and he is a singer – he NEEDS some of this. Thank you for linking to PoCoLo x
Well, I woke up with a cold, and I am going to try this! I hate popping pills that create other symptoms for me, so this looks do-able. Thanks for sharing. Found you at the Pin-it Party.
Thanks for joining in. Wish I had read this last week, I have a nasty cold at the moment. I wonder if I can find that type of vinegar in the UK health stores, I will buy and have it in the house, anyway! linking in from #PoCoLo
Hi – Visiting from the Get Inspired Pinning Party. I have pinned this, because I am willing to try just about anything to prevent a cold! But I have to ask – what does “with the mother” mean? I have never hear that before.
It really does work! I’ve only been sick once in the past 1 1/2 years (even being pregnant when your immune system is slightly compromised) and that was with a stomach bug, however, I did take the vinegar when others around me started getting sick, and my symptoms were way less severe and I recovered much more quickly than the others.
As for the mother: “The mother is made up of the yeasts and fermentation byproducts that are produced when the cider ferments to vinegar, and you should shake the bottle up to evenly distribute it before you use it. The big commercial companies filter it out, because it makes the vinegar look like it’s growing something–which indeed it is!”
I have heard about this before and I know there are so many good things about using the vinegar. Thanks for sharing, have a great day.