Vinegar as Medicine and For Cosmetics
Lise
You might be shaking your head at this title, and I really don't blame you. Not too terribly many years ago, I would probably have scoffed a little at the idea of using vinegar in anything cosmetics related.
I mean, seriously?
It's vinegar!
Think salad, think cooking, but cosmetics?
But before you dismiss this pungent liquid from your cosmetics ingredients list, let's take a closer look at some of vinegar's uses and capabilities.
Historic Vinegar
Vinegar has been used for centuries for health and well being. You might have heard of the historically famous 4 Thieves Vinegar: a vinegar brew with a selection of carefully chosen herbs.
As the story goes, this herbal-infused vinegar functioned as an antibacterial guard for 4 plundering thieves during the plague. They doused themselves in the mixture (and perhaps drank some too) to stave off bacteria as they ruthlessly (and successfully) robbed plague victims without becoming ill.
When they were finally caught after a lengthy spree of robbing the sick and dying, the authorities were amazed they had been able to survive without catching the plague themselves and demanded to know their secret. They promised to share if they were granted some leniency.
And after revealing their recipe, they were subsequently executed for their crimes.
Is this story true? No one knows.
I imagine you're curious, so here's what is claimed as the most historically accepted version of this magical concoction.
Classic Four Thieves Vinegar
| Ingredient | Amount |
|---|---|
| White wine vinegar | 3 pints |
| Wild Marjoram | handful |
| Juniper Berries | handful |
| Meadowsweet | handful |
| Wormwood | handful |
| Sage | handful |
| Elecampane Root | 2 ounces |
| Angelica | 2 ounces |
| Rosemary | 2 ounces |
| Horehound | 2 ounces |
| Cloves | 50 |
| Camphor | 3 grams |
The method for making it was described in few words.
Add ingredients to liquid
Allow to brew for 7 days, then strain
I couldn't help but smile at the lack of continuity of these measurements. Ounces, grams and 'handfuls'.
Nonetheless, the combination of herbs with this common liquid has been the basis for several beneficial uses throughout history.
Among other things, it has been tested and studied as an antibacterial agent that helps aid wound healing. (links below).
Vinegar for Hair
It has been common knowledge for ages that a vinegar rinse helps remove any last remains of shampoo and provide a healthy shine to the hair.
Does it work?
Yes, indeedy.
And if you check this link to the Korean Institute of Science and Technology, you'll find vinegar has shown promise as a hair-growth-boosting ingredient in a study (using rodents).
It's quite fun to see science catching up with grandma's old haircare tips, wouldn't you say?
What About Now
In this day and age, vinegar is just as useful and multifunctional as it has always been. There are numerous bonuses to working with vinegar. Not only is it widely available, but it can be made from a plethora of sources and is so pocketbook friendly, you can allow yourself to splash out a bit in the experimenting department.
Vinegar can be a very useful component of cosmetics. Transformed into a tincture, it can function as a colorant, fragrance (yes, you read correctly), pH adjuster, and even more.
Which brings me to the picture at the top of this post. That, my friends, is an example of vinegar transformed. What you are looking at is the aftermath of a hibiscus-vinegar squeezing pH performance of multicolored magnificence that demanded to be photographed and shared with you.
Do Tell
Have you ever used a vinegar hair rinse? Did it make your hair shiny?
More About Vinegar
Medicinal Uses and Antiglycemic effect, ncbi, Medscape General Medicine (LINK)
Assessment of antifungal potential of apple cider vinegar, Iraqi Scientific Academic Journals (LINK)
Evaluation of Stability in Purified Wood Vinegar for Hair Growth, Korea Institute of Science and Technology Information (LINK)
Effect of Apple Cider Vinegar on the Healing of Experimentally Induced Wounds... Reasearchgate (LINK)
Wound Healing Through the Ages, Indian Journal of Plastic Surgery (LINK)
The History of Vinegar and of its Acetification Systems, (article) Archives Des Sciences, 2009, 62: 147-160
Four Thieves Historic Anti-plague remedy, Kitchen Doctor (LINK)
Four Thieves Vinegar by Kami McBride (LINK)
PS: in the LisaLisa Club members area there is a section on making (and using) vinegar tinctures. If you think you’d like to join us, click the picture below to read what’s in it for you.
