Wild Oregano Oil: Not Just Another Italian Spice== By Hillary Sole

Most plants that we eat give our health a good boost. Garlic, most commonly used as a spice in dishes, is also known for its medicinal value. Garlic is known to be a natural antibiotic. It prevents the growth of microorganisms such as fungi and viruses, thus preventing infections. Another plant, the oregano, a spice most famously used in Italian dishes, also has the same medicinal value as the garlic.
The extracts from the Wild Oregano plant called the wild oregano oil is as well a natural antibiotic. It prevents the growth of microscopic organisms such as fungi, bacteria, parasites and viruses.
The human body has natural anti bodies. When attacked by foreign microbes, these anti bodies our body produce are released to attack the invaders. When our natural anti bodies can not fight these organisms, we rely on antibodies either from plants or micro organisms developed by our scientists and medical researchers.
Studies have shown that the wild oregano oil is effective in boosting our immune system. Simply put, it makes our immune system stronger in fighting these harmful foreign microbes thus making us less vulnerable to catch diseases and infections such as colds and flu, etc. Infections in our bodies are most commonly caused by bacteria, fungi, parasites and viruses. If your immune system is weak, the more chances there is for you to get sick once you get in contact with these microbes. The oregano oil helps your immune system toughen up, and get rid of these unwelcome microbes. So if you are always getting the colds or always down with the flu, the wild oregano oil can be good for you.
In the fight against infections, wild oregano oil is known to have anti bacterial, anti virus, anti parasitic and anti fungal property. This means that it is a broad spectrum antibiotic. It also has analgesic and anesthetic property making it as a natural pain reliever as well as an anti inflammatory property that helps in reducing soreness or swelling. Most of us have experienced a headache or a toothache. Studies have shown that the wild oregano oil can be used to relieve us from the pain caused by headache and toothache because of its anesthetic or analgesic property. It is effective in treating tooth ache as it not just addresses the pain but as well helps in getting rid of the bacteria causing the pain. Imagine that! For a simple green leaf plant, it sure has great healing powers.

Learn more about the health benefits of the wild oregano oil. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Hillary_Sole

Health Benefits Of Garlic - Four Reasons Why You Should Include Garlic In Your Diet By Karen Lee Leong

Garlic, an essential ingredient in many cuisines, not only enhances the flavor of many dishes but also provides a host of well documented health benefits as well. Touted as a 'nature's wonder drug', nature's antibiotic, nature's penicillin, it can be easily incorporated into your daily diet either raw or cooked with meals or as supplements. A daily dose of garlic is a great natural remedy to improve your health. Being pungent in flavor and warm in nature makes it especially good as an autumn, winter diet supplement. Crushing garlic releases allicin, the main active medicinal sulfur compound of garlic.
1. Anti-bacteria, antiviral and anti-fungal properties- Good for preventing and treating lung infections. It has been traditionally used to treat coughs and colds. Eating the raw herb or taking garlic capsules may help to prevent catching the flu during the flu epidemic. Boiling the bulb in vinegar and taking one or two cloves daily is a traditional Chinese remedy for lung abscess. Having antibiotic properties makes it suitable for treating intestinal infections but without damaging the healthful intestinal flora. Due to its antiseptic and anti-fungal properties, it can be used effectively to treat fungal infections like athlete's foot or ringworm. Crushed raw garlic applied topically on the infected area might cause slight irritation. A better option might be garlic gel with the added advantage of being odorless. Taking garlic on a daily basis combats infections[another example is recurrent yeast infections] and boosts the immune system.
2. Beneficial to the cardiovascular system- It helps to prevent platelets in blood from sticking together, lessen the risk of blood clot formation and enhances the removal of plague from the blood vessels thus benefiting the heart. It helps to prevent hardening of arteries by reducing fatty deposits on its walls and lowering high blood pressure and can be used to suppress production of harmful LDL cholesterol in the liver. Taking garlic capsules to assist in lowering high blood pressure might be more suitable than the raw herb with its pungent and spicy flavor and its warm nature, which might be too stimulating for people with high blood pressure. Aged garlic extract being rich in antioxidants, is beneficial to the cardiovascular system.
3. Anti-cancer properties-In places where consumption of garlic is high, there is a notable decrease in the risk of stomach and colon cancer. Flavonoids found in the bulb gives it its anti-cancer properties. It is a very rich source of selenium which is needed to produce the potent antioxidant enzyme glutathione peroxidase, a carcinogen inhibiting substance.
4. Digestion - The herb stimulates the stomach lining to be more active in producing digestive enzymes, aiding in the digestion of food especially fatty foodstuff.

It is advisable to seek expert medical advice before starting on garlic supplements especially if you are on anticoagulant drugs or going for surgery.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Karen_Lee_Leong