What Are the Benefits of Mother of Vinegar?

by Cindy Anderson

Overview

Mother of vinegar is a substance made up yeasts and bacteria that act as a vinegar starter. While it is rarely used by itself for anything but making vinegar, some alternative health supporters claim that raw, organic apple cider vinegar, which still contains the mother of vinegar, has certain beauty and health benefits.
Texture and Appearance

Mother of vinegar is the cloudy, slimy substance at the bottom of a bottle of vinegar. It is harmless, but some vinegar makers strain it out because of its appearance. Natural cider vinegars will retain the substance.

Beauty Benefits

According to Melanie Grimes, RS Homeopathic (NA), raw apple cider vinegar can be mixed with shampoo to act as a scalp cleaner and encourage hair growth. If diluted with water and applied to the face, it may also cure acne.
Weight Loss

Some believe that apple cider vinegar can increase metabolism to aid weight loss. For this benefit, you are supposed to mix two teaspoons of the vinegar into a glass of water and drink it before meals.
Increased Energy

For this benefit, the recipe is similar to that for weight loss, with the addition of honey. Website Pioneer Thinking suggests stirring together 2 tsp. of apple cider vinegar and 2 tsp. of honey into a glass of warm water, and drinking it before meals.
Nutrients

Grimes claims that apple cider vinegar includes many vitamins and minerals, including rich amounts of Vitamin C, smaller amounts of A, B1, B2, B6 and E, and minerals including potassium, calcium and magnesium.
Making Vinegar

The primary benefit of mother of vinegar is, of course, that you can use it to make your own vinegar at home. "Mother" is sold at stores specializing in wine-making ingredients and at some health food stores. Resource 1 provides a link to a site with a vinegar recipe.