Vinegar is some seriously powerful stuff, and most people have it in their own homes. A few weeks ago, The New York Times printed a report about a highly effective cervical cancer screening method whose secret is vinegar. The procedure, developed by experts at Johns Hopkins in the 1990s, was endorsed last year by the World Health Organization. In this procedure, vinegar is brushed on the cervix and precancerous cells turn white. Quicker, easier, less expensive, and more accessible than the traditional Pap smear, the vinegar treatment is simply amazing!

But vinegar isn’t just useful in gynecologists’ offices–you can also use it right in your own home! And no, I don’t mean in only in the kitchen. Vinegar is a fabulous ingredient to use for BEAUTY and WELLNESS too. Here are a few vinegar tips:

• Add apple cider vinegar to your bath and soak for 15 minutes to help with itchy skin or aching muscles.
• Use vinegar as a facial toner or astringent. Mix together equal parts vinegar and warm water and apply to a clean face.
• Mix equal parts vinegar and hand cream to soften dry, chapped winter hands.
• Make nail polish last longer by soaking fingertips for one minute in 2 tsp. vinegar mixed with 1/2 cup warm water before applying polish.
• To condition hair and improve cleanliness and shine, rinse hair with 1 tbsp vinegar after you shampoo.
• Add one tablespoon of white vinegar to a gallon of warm water and soak your feet for 20 minutes nightly to cure toenail fungus.  You will know the fungus is gone when  your cuticles grow back.  Cuticle growth only occurs after the nail fungus is gone.  Magical!
• Mix equal amounts of white vinegar, rubbing alcohol and warm water (cold water will cause dizziness!) and apply one dropperful into each ear after swimming to prevent swimmers’ ear.  NOTE:  Do NOT do this if you have previously broken your ear drum, think you might have broken your eardrum, have had a recent upper respiratory infection, have sudden hearing loss, or note liquid draining from you ear.  In those situations, or in any other situation of concern, be sure to see an Otolaryngologist (ear, nose and throat specialist) first to be certain that this treatment is safe for you to use.