The Medicinal Uses of Olive Oil

Olive oil has been used for centuries in the Mediterranean regions not only as a preservative for a food's scent and flavor, but also for its many health benefits. It's no secret that olive oil is probably the healthiest of the vegetable oils, with the highest amount of mono-unsaturated fat and antioxidants that are both essential and effective for raising good (HDL) cholesterol and keeping bad (LDL) cholesterol under control. Extra virgin olive oil is the best of the best, as it is derived directly from the olive and left unprocessed, thus retaining all of its healthy nutrients. This is also the only vegetable oil that is able to be consumed directly.

Aside from controlling cholesterol levels and thus aiding in the prevention of heart disease, olive oil is also gentle on the stomach - not only is it digested extremely well, but it actually has healing effects on problems such as ulcers and the formation of gallstones. Some research has also shown it to be very beneficial in the prevention of colon cancer.

Of course, olive oil is also great for a multitude of other issues and ailments. Some of the most common problems it can help ease and solve are listed below.

- Olive oil has been shown to have the same anti-inflammatory properties as an NSAID painkiller. Its mono-unsaturated fatty acids along with the antioxidant properties of oleocanthal works at fighting inflammation and lessening the severity of the pain associated with it. In this it's great at helping arthritis, and even mild cases of asthma. Unlike NSAIDs, however, olive oil generally poses no dangers or side effects.

- If you ever have a cough that just won't seem to go away, especially when it comes on at night or when you're laying down, a tablespoon of olive oil can help soothe it as well as any itch or pain in the throat. The lubricative effect helps extinguish this and usually lasts a few hours before you may need to take another spoonful.

- A common temporary remedy for an earache is warmed olive oil. You can either apply warm olive oil to a cotton swab and brush it on the ear's inner lining (not too far inside), or apply it to a cotton ball and very carefully put it a little ways inside your ear. The lubricative and warming effect should help provide relief from the pain for some time. However, those with ear problems such as a perforated ear drum should not try this remedy.

- Olive oil is an age-old remedy around the Mediterranean for constipation. Where over-the-counter medicines for constipation can sometimes makes things worse, olive oil just uses its natural lubricative effect to allow for easier passage. It's suggested to take a tablespoon in the morning and then another after your evening meal, or just take a spoonful once every few hours. This coupled with drinking plenty of water should help clear up the problem in no time.

- One of the most common treatments to stop snoring is to take a spoonful's worth of the oil before bedtime. It will lubricate the throat and generally helps to prevent snoring issues.

- Olive oil is also great for diaper rash. You can either use it as it is, or mix with a few drops of water to give it a more creamy, easier to spread texture. Make sure the area on the baby's skin is clean and dry before applying, but once it's on there it should work right away to provide gentle relief.

Using this oil for the above problems can be preferable to other, more conventional methods. A couple of the reasons have been mentioned, such as olive oil in comparison to the further issues that over-the-counter laxatives may cause, or in comparison to NSAID medication which can be dangerous and give unfavorable side effects. Aside from this, it's also generally a low-cost everyday remedy, and many of us already have it in our kitchen cupboards for cooking. If not, now you know some of the reasons to buy a bottle or two!