What is garlic?
Garlic (Allium sativum ) is not only a culinary herb and a vampire deterrent, it is also a powerful herbal remedy. Thousands of studies over the years have proven the many benefits of this herb.
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Garlic's most popular uses include lowering cholesterol and reducing blood clot formation in narrowed arteries. It's antibiotic effect also helps relieve the symptoms of upper respiratory infections. It can also lower one's risk of developing atherosclerosis.
Key actions
Stimulates immune system
Reduces skin and chest infections
Reduces blood clotting
Treats thrush
Antibiotic and antidiabetic
Lowers blood pressure and risk of heart disease
Expectorant
What does garlic do?
Garlic can be taken daily in the tablet form or freshly crushed cloves. Unfortunately, you will reap the most benefits from garlic if you eat it raw and in large amounts.
It stimulates the immune system, helps reduce skin and chest infections and reduces blood clotting. Garlic is recommended by herbalists in the treatment of hypertension, blood clots and all forms of infection.
How does it work?
The active ingredients in garlic include allin and allicin. Allin gives garlic its characteristic taste and the sulphate, allicin gives garlic its infamous odour. Allicin is responsible for the cholesterol-lowering, anti-microbial and anti-blood clotting effects of garlic.
Indications
Cancer
Preliminary studies have found that garlic may actually help prevent cancer as it stimulates the immune system and disturbs the growth of malignant cells.
Garlic can be used as an adjunctive treatment to boost the immune system of cancer patients and can also prevent side effects from chemo- and radiotherapy.
Chest infections
Garlic helps treat any type of chest infection. Also make use of it in the treatment of colds and flu and ear infections. It also reduces catarrh (increased mucous or phlegm-producing conditions). Taken with conventional antibiotics, garlic supports their healing action and prevents unwanted side-effects.
Circulation
By thinning the blood, garlic can help reduce your risk of circulatory problems, strokes, thromboses and heart disease. Garlic reduces high LDL-cholesterol (the "bad" one) and dilates peripheral blood vessels, which, in turn, lowers blood pressure.
Diabetes
Garlic also helps regulate blood sugar levels and can therefore help with late-onset diabetes. Garlic may lower your blood sugar levels, decreasing your need for insulin. Before taking garlic and insulin together, consult your doctor and then monitor your blood sugar carefully and report any changes to your doctor.
Digestion
Garlic can also be used to treat digestive infections, such as gastroenteritis and dysentery. The herb also helps eliminate intestinal parasites.
Skin conditions
Rub fresh cloves directly onto skin to treat acne and minor infections.
It also treats:
Herpes infections such as: cold sores, chicken pox and genital herpes. Garlic can also alleviate all gastrointestinal infections, including peptic ulcers. Use garlic to treat urinary tract infections and upper respiratory tract infections (including colds, flu, bronchitis and sinusitis).
Garlic can also help with Candida, thrush and spastic colon and can loosen the mucous that blocks the airways.
Dosage
Chopped garlic in cooking reduces cholesterol and boosts the immune system. Have three to four grams of freshly crushed garlic a day (this amounts to roughly one large clove).
Pearls are supplements that contain garlic oil and can be taken to increase resistance to infection. Take eight milligrams daily.
Take four garlic tablets a day for high blood pressure and bronchitis. Make sure that tablets are standardized to contain at least 1,3 percent allicin.
Possible side effects
Stomach upset, intestinal problems, heartburn, bad breath and body odour. The last two side effects can be disguised by taking parsley with the garlic.
Are there any potentially dangerous herb-drug interactions?
Do not take garlic if you are on anticoagulant (blood-thinning) medications, such as warfarin and heparin, because it could cause excessive bleeding. Also avoid garlic if you take aspirin regularly.
Garlic may also decrease the effectiveness of immunosuppressants and HIV protease inhibitors.
Garlic may lower your blood sugar levels, decreasing your need for insulin. Before taking garlic and insulin together, consult your doctor and then monitor your blood sugar carefully and report any changes to your doctor.
Cautions
Stop using garlic at least seven days before any surgery.
Do not use while breastfeeding.
Seek the advice of a medical professional before giving it as a medicine to children under 12.
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