Ask the Rabbi

Taking something not kosher for my skin

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Rabbi David Sperling

Shevat 26, 5781
Question
Shalom, I have an ongoing skin infection and usually, the only thing that helps this infection and makes it go away after a few days is taking Apple cider vinegar in water glass. My parents are non observant (yet...hoping....) and they this time, bought apple cider vinegar that is not kosher. It’s not like the whole house is completely perfectly kosher, sadly it is not, but I try to avoid taking non kosher anything as much as I can.... I’ve been avoiding using it for over a month now, I’ve been trying a lot of topical cream on the infection hoping it’ll go away....but nothing is working, and the infection is still strong.... I was wondering which option do you think would be better out of the two that I have: taking non kosher vinegar in water, or taking a supplement made of condensed garlic. This likely isn’t certified kosher either, but I know that sometimes there are more opinions on supplements vs food items. The only two advantages the vinegar has is we already own it (my parents would have to spend $50 to get these garlic supplements for me...I do feel guilty about that) and that we know the vinegar has already made it heal while we’ve never tried the garlic before. It would make more sense to use the vinegar first, but it isn’t kosher... Any help would be greatly appreciated. I know that we’re not supposed to do Haznacha, and I’m really really trying not to. I’m putting the cream and oil on it multiple times each day, and I’m carefully monitoring it and cleaning the area, I just wish I could treat this in a kosher option... Thank you very much for your help,
Answer
Shalom, Thank you for your question. If you take the cider vinegar in a form that is not considered food, then for medical purposes it is permitted. If drunk in a way that is unusually bitter, that most people would not drink for pleasure, then it would be allowed. I do not know if the apple vinegar itself is usually drunk as is, or if it is already considered as not a regular drink. If needed you could add something to the vinegar to make it bitter. May you have a complete healing.
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