• A bottle of balsamic vinegar has both culinary and medicinal value.Monkey Business Images Ltd/Valueline/Getty Images
  
  Aged for years in barrels made from oak, cherry, mulberry, ash or acacia woods, balsamic vinegar is a gourmet gift that can be used in both the kitchen and the first aid box. Balsamic vinegar has an age-old tradition in Italy, with its first recorded appearance being in 1046. Today, in addition to being used as a piquant dressing for salads, it has its uses as a natural remedy for a variety of ailments.
  
  

Controlling Infection

• Use balsamic vinegar and water to prevent infection in your dog's ears.dog image by Mat Hayward from Fotolia.com
  
  Balsamic vinegar has been used for centuries for its antibacterial, antifungal and antiviral properties. Using a diluted mixture of balsamic vinegar and water, the solution can be applied directly to your skin and used for the treatment of wounds and infections. Apply the solution twice daily to finger nails and toe nails to reduce or prevent fungal infections. Equally, use a similarly diluted solution to dab in your pet's ears to control fungal infection. Take care not to flood the ears, but rather carefully dab the surface of the inner ear
  
  

Controlling Digestion

• Balsamic vinegar aids digestion.food. bread & balsamic olive oil. nutrition image by L. Shat from Fotolia.com
  
  Balsamic vinegar can also be used to aid your digestive system. When ingested, it promotes the production of pepsin in your body and converts protein into amino acids. This aids in the digestive process and can be introduced into your diet to prevent problems with indigestion and to improve your metabolism. Incorporate balsamic vinegar into your daily diet by dipping bread into it or adding it as a tasty dressing to your daily helping of salad.
  
  

Other health benefits

• Balsamic vinegar is a useful antioxidant.flaschenkorken image by covado from Fotolia.com
  
  Balsamic vinegar is said to increase energy and to be a useful revitalizing tonic. In ancient times, balsamic vinegar was said to have powerful medicinal properties, not least of which was to prevent transmission of the plague.
  
  It is also said to be useful in reducing body pain and has been traditionally use to control pains ranging from labor pains to a sore throat. Today, balsamic vinegar is also said to have antioxidant properties, to be an effective immune booster, to aid in the prevention of both heart disease and cancer and slow down the aging process. It can also reduce blood sugar levels and is a much healthier alternative to mayonnaise and other, richer salad dressings.
  
  It also helps to lower your fat and calorie intake, which can aid in lowering cholesterol levels as well as weight reduction.