Apple cider vinegar was one of the first psoriasis “home remedies” that I was introduced to when I began my holistic health journey years ago. At the time, developing a new outlook on food and health was a lot to take in, so finding simple effective habits that I could include in my day to day life was somewhat of a relief.
So, does apple cider vinegar help psoriasis? Using apple cider vinegar to help treat your psoriasis is a very simple practice that could lead to some substantial results. Consistent use of ACV over a long period of time can help to restore the fundamental function of your gut and revitalize your digestive health. Although it is not going to cure your disease, it can prove to be very effective in building a strong foundation for healing your gut related skin issues.
WAYS TO USE ACV FOR PSORIASIS
There are two ways that you can use apple cider vinegar for psoriasis. You can mix it with water and drink it, and you can also apply it topically. While I do believe that the real sustainable benefits come from consuming it, applying ACV topically is also one of the most effective natural topical treatments you will come across.
How do you go about drinking apple cider vinegar? It’s simple. Add 2-3 tablespoons with a tall glass of water and drink it on an empty stomach. You can do this 1-3 times a day before meals. Some people are turned away by the taste. But honestly, if you mix it with enough water, the taste won’t be overwhelming. Either way, you will get used to the taste in time. Suck it up for the benefits.
To use ACV topically, you simply pour some onto a cotton ball and apply it to your skin. You can also mix a cup or two into your bath water for a full body soak. It may sting a bit at first if applied to open sores, but it will soon leave your skin feeling cool and soothed while also reducing flaking and itchiness. Applying ACV topically is not going to give you any real long term clearance, but it can definitely play a roll in reducing some of the uncomfortable symptoms that come along with psoriasis.
SKIN HEALING BENEFITS OF ACV
Gut Health
In my opinion, the most powerful benefit of ACV is it’s positive influence on digestive function. There has been a lot of buzz around probiotics in recent years as they have become a popular supplement in the health community. Apple cider vinegar is actually know to be a prebiotic, which means that it feeds the natural probiotics living in your gut. Drinking ACV can do wonders for ensuring the performance of these fundamental digestive building blocks that we call probiotics.
ACV is very high in acetic acid which can extremely helpful in ensuring optimal digestion, especially if you have low stomach acid (which many people with psoriasis do). Drinking 2-3 tablespoons mixed with water before meals will supply your stomach with digestive enzymes and a proper acidity level that will give your system a great boost into the digestion process. If you are trying to heal yourself of skin disease, the most important thing you have to worry about is fixing your gut health.
Nutrient Retention
Nutrient retention is another benefit that can not be overstated when talking about healing your digestion. Your gut needs nutrients in order to heal. If you are not absorbing enough of the nutrients from the food you’re eating, then you are going to have a hard time healing regardless of how clean your diet is. Vital micronutrients that are found in fruits and vegetables are essential in repairing your intestinal walls and I would advise that you do everything possible to ensure that they are being digested properly.
With that in mind, sticking to a clean diet full of plant foods in itself will also aid in nutrient retention. By adding the right foods to your diet and eliminating the wrong ones, you are making a major step in improving your nutrient retention. So while ACV may not be absolutely essential for everyone, it will undoubtedly give the digestive process a powerful boost in retaining nutrients.
Anti-fungal
Apple cider vinegar is also praised for it’s anti-fungal properties. If you have been impacted by skin disease, it is very likely that you have developed intestinal fungus such as candida. Drinking ACV every day on an empty stomach can help kill off some of this fungus. In order to completely kill off the candida that has inhabited your gut, you need to stop eating foods that contain simple sugars and bad carbohydrates that feed the candida. Pair this discipline with a consistent apple cider vinegar drink regimen and you have a great fungus killing combination.
ACV can also be applied topically to assist in eliminating fungus. Foot fungus is very common issue that can hinder your holistic healing. Mix one cup of ACV in a bucket of water and soak your feet for up to 30 minutes. As I mentioned earlier, you can also pour a cup or two into a bath and bath in it to treat your whole body. This can help alkalize your skin and can even help treat yeast infections.
WHAT KIND SHOULD YOU BUY?
Out of all of the ACV brands you can find, there is one that seems to be the brand of choice for just about anyone who uses it. That brand is Bragg. Bragg organic apple cider vinegar is widely available and is a sure fire choice if you are looking for the real deal. You can certainly try out some other brands if you’d like, but just about every bit of ACV literature you will find will point to Bragg. Click here to order on Amazon.
DRINKING LEMON WATER TO HELP TREAT PSORIASIS
Adding freshly squeezed lemon to your water is another simple habit that can produce some great digestive benefits. Similar to apple cider vinegar, lemon water has properties that will help build a strong gut foundation. By adding fresh lemon to your water, you are effectively alkalizing your water and therefor improving the overall function of your digestive system.
When healing skin disease, it is important that you keep your body in an alkaline state as often as possible. Disease cannot survive in alkaline environments as it thrives in acidic environments. If you maintain an alkaline environment within your body, your skin disease will inevitably diminish in time.
Another pro of adding lemon to your water is that it tastes great. Odds are you have had lemon in your water at some point in the past, so you are probably aware of the refreshing taste that comes along with it. Embrace this taste and make it a habit to drink as much lemon water as you want every day. As with ACV, lemon water is most effective on an empty stomach.
CONCLUSION
At the end of the day, developing habits that will benefit your digestion is a major factor in natural healing. While ACV and lemon water are both great healing tools, do some additional research and learn different ways to optimize digestion. There is no end in being a student of holistic health. As time goes on, you will learn more and more on the subject which will keep your overall health in a constant state of progression.
