It appears the Italians may be on to something.

Long regarded for their lower than average mortality rate (including less incidence of heart disease and cancer), Italians may be benefiting from more than general healthy lifestyles.

Could it be that the use of an abundance of herbs on pizza and in spaghetti sauce over in the old country is the secret to a life devoid of illness? Could the answer simply be the oregano generously sprinkled into and onto their delicious suppers?

More specifically, it could be the use of oil of oregano, grown in the Mediterranean region.

This herbal extract has properties that practitioners of natural remedies claim will aid or prevent a multitude of maladies.

Cultivated from mountaintops, the oregano flowers are processed for their main ingredient - carvacrol -- and oil of oregano (at 75 to 85 per cent strength carvacrol) is available at many stores and pharmacies.

It usually comes in a liquid form, and users say between three to six drops in a small glass of water is the ideal application. But do be warned - if you have an aversion to Buckley's Mixture, oil of oregano is also an "acquired taste." Strong and bitter, it's a grin-and-bear-it experience, but one that will grow on you.

B.C. Institute of Technology is at the forefront of natural product research. The school states that according to Health Canada, 71 per cent of Canadians use some form of natural health product as part of their health-care regimen, including vitamins and minerals, herbal remedies, homeopathic medicines, traditional medicines, probiotics, and other products like amino acids and essential fatty acids.

Whether an NHP is taken in the form of a bulk plant substance, capsule, tablet, liquid extract, or food format, it needs to be safe, effective and of high quality.

For this reason, it is important that analytical methods are developed to determine the integrity of NHPs sold for consumption.

The research conducted at BCIT's Natural Products Research Group (NRG) involves investigation into a variety of NHP issues. These include the determination of toxic components and contaminants, the quantification of "marker" compounds, and the analysis of medicinal preparations used in clinical studies.

Finding that perfect elixir for you or your family's needs is always a challenge. Whatever you choose as a natural supplement, use due diligence and research it first, or speak with a naturopathic expert.

Helen Peterson