Vinegar Fridays

TGIVF!

It's been a fun week! I love giveaways, and this one was really wonderful. Thanks to all the sponsors who added such great gifts to the prize package. And thanks to all of you who made this first year an amazing one. Congratulations, again, to Nicole Olcese, the winner of the first annual blogiversary giveaway!

Somewhere along the line this year, Vinegar Fridays was born. On this particular VF, I thought we'd address some mood issues, since this is a tough time of year for many. Whether you're sending your little one off to kindergarten for the first time or missing your teenager who has headed off to college, the empty nest, even if it's just for a few hours a day, can take some adjusting to. Of course, September brings on renewed grief, anger and anxiety for many struggling with the memories of 9/11.

On a personal note, my husband died on September 10, 1989 after a flash fire/explosion due to negligence on the part of Neville Chemical Company. Ninety-eight percent of his body had third degree burns on it and he lived for twenty-three hours in that state. For many years after that, my Septembers were wrought with panic attacks and depression...results of post traumatic stress disorder. I endured a few weeks of nightmares each year and eventually had to go on Ativan to help me through it. If only I'd known about the miracle of vinegar back then.

Here are some conditions where relief may be found with common household vinegar:

Angina -- Most often, this condition is caused by a lack of blood and oxygen getting to the cells of your heart muscle. The reason? Emotional upset of some kind. The image that comes to my mind is of Fred Sanford grasping his chest and crying, "I'm coming to join you, Elizabeth." If you can't relax your way out of an attack of angina, try this herbal remedy:

Brew a cup of chamomile tea and add a teaspoon of apple cider vinegar. Add honey to flavor the tea. Sip the tea instead of heading to the ER. Of course, you can't just assume it's angina and not a heart attack, so be smart about it. Like I always say, use your common sense.

Why does this work? Well, it seems that vinegar can act as a mild sedative. Researchers at Yale University discovered that just the smell of spiced apples can ward off panic attacks and lower stress levels in some people. Which leads us to the next condition.

Anxiety -- Instead of reaching for beer or a bloody Mary at the end of a stressful day, opt for this calming cocktail:  Add one tablespoon of apple cider vinegar to one cup of boiling water. Simmer for two or three minutes and then add a cinnamon stick and some honey. Again, chamomile can help here as well, so don't be afraid to add a tea bag of chamomile to ease the anxiety even quicker.

Depression -- As the days start to get shorter and winter peeks around the corner, seasonal affective disorder may threaten to throw you, or someone you love, off balance. A craving for carbs may be the direct result of this. Stave off the cravings by downing a cup of hot water with a teaspoon of apple cider vinegar added to it. After a couple of days of this, you'll be feeling better than ever!

Insomnia -- Absolutely nothing can wear us down more than insomnia. Getting enough sleep is crucial in order for us to function properly throughout the day. So whether your unpaid bills are swirling around in your head or you're wondering what your young adult child is doing on his or her college campus, you just might find this vinegar remedy to escort you into dreamland.

Add about three teaspoons of apple cider vinegar to a cup of honey and take a teaspoon as needed.

Of course, one reason for not getting a good night's sleep could be related to menopausal hot flashes. So, here's a recipe for relief: Add a tablespoon of ACV to an eight-ounce glass of iced spring water and sip it. This is a good cocktail for any time of the day or night when hot flashes try to get the best of you.

If night sweats are interrupting your rest, give yourself an ACV sponge bath before hitting the sheets.

I often wake up at night because of terrible muscle cramps in my feet and legs. A nice remedy for this is a concoction of two teaspoons of apple cider vinegar and a teaspoon of honey added to a glass of distilled water. Drink this mixture three times a day to stave off night cramps.


That's it for this Vinegar Friday. I hope these tips help you have a relaxing and restful weekend as summer winds down.

Keeping it green and healthy with vinegar,

Hana