The Health Benefits of Vinegar: Real or Imagined

This fascinating review describes the history of vinegar to be "as colorful as it is practical," stating that, "Hippocrates (c. 420 BC) used vinegar medicinally to manage wounds and Cleopatra (c. 50 BC) dissolved precious pearls in vinegar and offered her love potion to Anthony. Sung Tse, the 10th century creator of forensic medicine, advocated hand washing with sulfur and vinegar to avoid infection during autopsies." Interestingly, vinegar "teas" were used by US medical practitioners of the late 18th century for ailments ranging from dropsy to poison ivy, croup, and stomachache,[1] as this was before the production and marketing of hypoglycemic patented medicines.