Just a Spoonful of Vinegar Makes the Medicine Go Down

It's rather ironic that yesterday I rambled on about the numerous positive attributes of a good moldy cheese, and today I find myself scrubbing everything down with a stiff-bristled brush and vinegar for fear of mildew. I guess alluding to less than appealing bathroom sanitation yesterday has given me a temporary case of mycophobia (or the fear of mushrooms, mold, and the like). But no matter the reason for my irrational fit of shower scrubbing, I found inspiration for today's blog post on the back of a bottle of disinfecting cider vinegar.

You see, cider vinegar has been used for thousands of years as an all-natural cure-all, treating everything from upset stomach to arthritis. And though I think I'll probably consult my doctor first before bathing in the stuff to treat that next sunburn, I think it is fascinating to see all the uses cider vinegar producers have found for their product over the years. In fact, just to share some of the list with you, cider vinegar has been used to treat: leg cramps, control appetite, relieve coughing, reduce sore throat pain, improve memory, remove corns, treat burns, cure the common cold, and prevent foreign accent syndrome (a medical condition in which the sufferer's accent changes to that of another language). Ok, so I made that last one up. But it is interesting nonetheless.

Of course, I wouldn't advise you to start chugging bottles of cider vinegar to clear up that acne. But I must admit, I have a new respect for that tart little bottle of vinegar. And perhaps it deserves a more prominent spot in my refrigerator, as a reminder of its medicinal properties. After all, one can never tell when one will develop a case of Alice in Wonderland Syndrome (a medical condition in which the sufferer perceives his or her surroundings to be shrinking or growing) and need a quick swig of vinegar to bring everything back down to size.