Does Vinegar Stop Periods? Why This May Not Be A Good Idea

Bottle of apple cider vinegars lays next to glass of apple cider vinegar and apples

Some may find themselves desperate to stop or delay their period during the summer or important life events. Some people may have also heard about potential natural solutions such as baking soda, various teas, essential oils, nutrition plans, or drinking vinegar. Are there natural solutions that are able to help achieve this goal? And is vinegar the only ally when it comes to one’s menstrual cycle?

Although some women swear that drinking vinegar can stop a period, there is not much scientific proof that supports the claim.

However, vinegar has many health benefits. Find out how to use vinegar as a possible menstrual stopper, its benefits, and its downsides. We will also bring you other interesting ideas for natural solutions that may be the right alternative for you.

Can Drinking Vinegar Help With Your Period?

A wine glass with vinegar in it

Bear in mind that the data one can find on vinegar delaying a period is anecdotal at best. People often discover natural remedies that work so well for them but might not seem to work for someone else. This may be due to their reproductive health, underlying conditions, blood type, or absorption of a specific nutrient.

Women who use and recommend drinking vinegar to aid with flow often recommend drinking one teaspoon of water for about 10 days before their predicted period.

A common usage of vinegar is for its role in detoxing one’s body. Along with the blood leaving one’s body during the menstrual cycle, toxins are released as well. To aid this process more, it may be possible to drink vinegar to alleviate and help with reproductive health. Since using vinegar as a detox technique is not necessarily a long-lasting solution, it may make sense to try it during those 3-7 days.

Make sure to always consume vinegar with water and not on its own, except if it’s in your salad! Also, always be sure to consult the appropriate health professional when considering detoxing or less common eating patterns.

Does Vinegar Stop Periods?

Vinegar may sometimes normalize menstrual cycles in young girls and women who suffer from hormonal imbalances. If anything, vinegar may help support menstrual health but will likely not magically stop a period from occurring.

Menstruation  is a natural bodily process that occurs as a result of hormonal changes. Vinegar, like other home remedies, shouldn’t be considered a safe or reliable means of stopping a period.

Other more medical methods like birth control pills or hormonal IUDs can be used to regulate or control the timing of periods. However, these should be used under the guidance of your healthcare provider.

Apple Cider Vinegar for Period

While apple cider vinegar won’t actually stop your period, it can be beneficial as a natural remedy to help alleviate some menstruation symptoms. Keep in mind that the effectiveness of apple cider vinegar for period relief also isn’t yet scientifically proven, and everyone’s individual experience can differ.

Here are some ways women have found relief from their period with apple cider vinegar:

  • Cramps: When mixed with warm water, the apple cider vinegar can help relieve menstrual cramps. The acidity of the vinegar is what is believed to help with muscle cramping.
  • Irregular Periods: Others believe that apple cider vinegar helps regulate menstrual cycles, but again, this claim does lack scientific evidence.
  • Heavy Bleeding: Again, despite scientific evidence, some believe that apple cider vinegar can help reduce heavy menstrual bleeding.
Read also:  Lilac Essential Oil: Benefits, Uses & Side Effects

How Does Apple Cider Vinegar Control Heavy Bleeding?

As mentioned above, apple cider vinegar is sometimes used as a natural remedy to help control heavy menstrual bleeding, but more research is needed to confirm its overall effectiveness.

Here is how it is suggested it works, though:

Alkalizing Effect: Some believe it helps balance the body’s pH levels, making the blood less acidic. This can reduce excessive bleeding. However, our bodies also have a natural mechanism they use to maintain our pH balance, so we really don’t know how much of a part apple cider vinegar plays in this.

Nutrient Content: Apple cider vinegar contains tons of vitamins and minerals, including iron, which can ultimately play a role in blood clotting. Some also believe it helps boost nutrition levels, which helps reduce heavy bleeding.

Anti-Inflammatory Properties: Something with anti-inflammatory properties can potentially help alleviate menstrual symptoms, including heavy bleeding you may experience.

How to Use Apple Cider Vinegar for Heavy Periods

If you want to try apple cider vinegar for heavy periods, make sure to dilute it first. If not, the acid in the vinegar can cause damage to the teeth, throat, and stomach. Mix one to two tablespoons of apple cider vinegar with a large glass of water (at least 8 to 12 ounces). This dilutes the vinegar.

When it comes to frequency, some drink this mixture twice a day, starting just a few days before a period is expected. Others just recommend drinking it during a period.

Finally, since the taste isn’t all that pleasant and can be pretty strong, several people recommend sweetening the vinegar and water mixture with honey or another natural sweetener.

The Benefits of Drinking Apple Cider Vinegar for Menstrual Cramps

A woman experiencing menstrual cramps holds a rubber hot water bladder atop her stomach area

Not only is apple cider vinegar known for its anti-inflammatory properties but it is also known for anti-spasmodic properties as well. These work together to fight menstrual cramps and their intensity. It also contains alkalizing properties, which can help with inflammation and cramps.

How to Stop Your Period for a Night With Vinegar

Want to learn how to stop your period for a night with vinegar? Unfortunately, there is no evidence that this will work. Instead, you will need to consult with your healthcare provider, as there are hormonal birth control pills and other medications, as mentioned before, that can be used to stop periods before they start or make them lighter.

Why Drinking Vinegar for Your Period Is Not a Good Idea

It is important to note that you should not drink vinegar on its own for a long period of time. Why? Vinegar is acidic. It can cause erosion of tooth enamel and contribute to inflammation of your digestive tract. So, take caution when using this method.

Vinegar is not scientifically proven to be able to delay or stop your period, so in case you have issues with nausea, acidic reflux, gastritis, or GERD, you might want to exclude vinegar from your diet to avoid triggering acute episodes.

Many alternatives help normalize menstrual cycles, but precautions should still be taken. While they may positively interact with the reproductive system, something else could be getting harmed. Natural remedies, if recommended by a health professional, can have a great effect on the body.

Read also:  Will Balsamic Vinegar Go Bad? A Guide For Each Type

As long as period symptoms are considered normal, your period is a natural thing that occurs once a month if you are healthy (1). Using medication to delay one’s period too often is dangerous, so women tend to reach for something natural they already have at home.

Before using any alternative foods from the pantry, inform yourself of their possible side effects. What works for someone else may be dangerous for your body. Stopping one’s period is known to be unhealthy if done too often.

How Long Might Vinegar Delay Your Period?

Realistically, there is little you can do to control your period. If you don’t use medication or birth control pills, there is no way of being sure you can delay or stop a period (2). If a period has already announced itself dramatically, you will likely not be able to postpone it at that point.

Vinegar does very little, although some women feel the benefits more than others. Some claim drinking vinegar can delay their period for a few days, but no more than that. However, it won’t work if you decide to drink vinegar the day before its arrival; you should prepare days in advance.

What it may do for you is allow the blood to clot faster, which helps those painful symptoms you may be all too familiar with – cramps. White vinegar baths may help balance the pH of your skin and promote healthy skin to avoid infections and irritations.

If you have no conditions that can be threatened by the use of vinegar, as discussed with your doctor, it may be safe to try this method.

What Home Remedies Are Better Alternatives for Potentially Stopping Your Period?

If you wish to try something natural besides vinegar, there are a few additional alternatives. Bear in mind that only certain medicines and hormonal birth controls are medically recognized ways of stopping your period. It is a natural process, after all.

However, some women are victims of very long and painful periods or bleed multiple times a month. If you are experiencing symptoms of an unhealthy cycle, you may want to contact your doctor. Using home remedies to assist you is simply an optional, additional form of help.

Home remedies for menstrual relief in the form of a powder, cream, and liquid are placed next to each other

Here Is a List of Options:

  • Lemon juice – Drinking lemon juice has many well-known benefits. It is a source of vitamin C, which helps support good blood health and heart health (3) and functions as an antioxidant. It is great for your skin and hair, even if it does not delay your period. It is completely safe to use.
  • Gelatin – Mixing gelatin with warm water is said by some to help delay one’s period for a few hours. This is one of the more popular DIY options when it comes to postponing your cycle for a short time. Be careful not to drink too much gelatin, as it may cause digestive issues.
  • Exercise – Excessive exercise can lead to missed periods, but it is not exactly a healthy way to delay your period unless you are a professional athlete. Moderate exercise may help regulate one’s cycle, alleviate cramps, and reduce your flow.
  • Papaya – Drinking unripe papaya juice may be beneficial and is said to delay your period. You should not consume it while you are on your period. While it is safe to use, it is not scientifically proven to work.
  • Herbal tea – Drinking teas that contain chamomile (4) or Valerian root (5) can calm you down, ease cramps, and possibly delay your period. Valerian root helps fight insomnia and anxiety, while chamomile helps you maintain healthy digestion and works as a natural antidepressant that can come in handy during your period.
  • Cucumber – It is crucial to stay hydrated during your period, especially if your flow is considered heavy. You are losing water and some of the nutrients, so consider drinking more water, eating food that contains water, or taking iron supplements. Cucumber is said to work as a cooling system for your body, which may help delay your period for some time.
  • Watermelon – Eating watermelon may help avoid bloating since it hydrates the body and supports healthy water weight regulation. It is a great way to stop water retention, which often leads to cramps and digestive disturbances. It may also reduce your sweet cravings, which lead to cramping and hormonal imbalance. It is argued watermelon can help your period pass more quickly and lightly.
  • Bananas – Bananas are possibly the best natural food for trying to avoid cramps. Eating a banana a day while menstruating, and even during PMS (6), can help support good mood health. They also support your body’s ability to fight bloating and add potassium and vitamin B6 to your diet. Some women swear by them when it comes to delaying and shortening periods.
Read also:  Hinoki Essential Oil: Benefits, Uses & More

These foods should be used to better your diet and support a healthy menstrual cycle rather than to delay it. Your period should not be late all the time, but it can happen due to illnesses or a stressful time in your life. You probably don’t want to make yourself ill just to avoid a period.

Does Vinegar Stop Periods FAQ

Does vinegar stop periods immediately?

Vinegar does not stop periods that have already started or are due the day after. It is possible, considering experiences with drinking vinegar, that it may delay your period for a short time. However, it is not scientifically proven to work.

What can I drink to stop my period immediately?

Taking certain medications, your gynecologist prescribes or using hormone birth control are the most certain ways to stop or delay your period. If you want to experiment with home remedies, cucumbers, lemon water, and gelatin may work for you.

How can you stop your period for a night with vinegar?

You cannot take a day off once your period has already begun.

Vinegar is, unfortunately, not a magical potion that can stop your period when needed. Using these natural remedies may help you to reduce your pain and shorten your period, but not stop it or pause it on command.

Sources:

  1. https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/womens-health/in-depth/menstrual-cycle/art-20047186
  2. https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/birth-control/in-depth/womens-health/art-20044044
  3. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11412050
  4.  https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3600408/
  5. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4394901/
  6. https://www.acog.org/Patients/FAQs/Premenstrual-Syndrome-PMS