Garlic (Allium sativum) is used to flavour many savoury dishes but you may not know what garlic can do for your health. The bulb and compounds prepared from it possess many pharmaco-dynamic properties. Garlic extract offers a significant, protective action against some diseases.
Garlic can be used as a carminative, antimicrobial, expectorant, and stimulant. Some even say it has aphrodisiac qualities.
Anti-Cancer Action
Eating garlic regularly reduces your risk of esophageal, stomach, and colon cancers. It is able to reduce the formation of carcinogenic compounds. Animal and in vitro studies have also shown that the sulfur compounds in garlic, inhibit the growth of different types of cancer-especially breast and skin tumours.
Circulatory Effect
Many scientific studies have shown that garlic supports the cardiovascular system. This is down to several factors. It may lower cholesterol and triglyceride levels in the blood, inhibit platelet stickiness, and increase fibrinolysis, which results in a slowing of blood clots forming inappropriately.
It is mildly anti-hypertensive so can lower your blood pressure and also has antioxidant properties. The effects on small blood vessels and circulation probably are responsible for the suggestion it acts as an aphrodisiac. Blood flow is obviously important for a successful erection.
High Blood Pressure
Garlic can be an effective remedy to lower your blood pressure. Blood pressure and tension are reduced because garlic helps maintain the normal function of small arteries. It can alter the heart rhythm and slow your pulse.
Antimicrobial Action
Garlic has antibacterial, antiviral, and anti-fungal activity. Garlic appears to be roughly 1 % as effective as penicillin against certain types of bacteria. So you shouldn’t regard it as a substitute for antibiotics, but it can offer support against some bacterial infections. The growth of Candida albicans, that causes yeast infections, is inhibited by garlic. Many people find that taking garlic has long-term benefits if you suffer with recurring yeast infections.
Whooping Cough
You can use syrup of garlic as a remedy for whooping cough. Take five drops two or three times a day.
Digestive System Disorders
Garlic is good for the digestive system, has a beneficial effect on the lymph system, and helps eliminate waste matter. Peristaltic action and the secretion of digestive juices is increased and the formation of gas in your digestive tract is reduced.
It has an antiseptic effect and is an excellent remedy for infectious diseases and inflammations of the stomach and intestine.
Garlic produces marked effects on the intestine and is excellent as a worm expeller. It has also a soothing effect on the various forms of diarrhea. Garlic has the ability to destroy harmful bacteria in the intestines without affecting the normal biotome of beneficial gut organisms.
Problems such as colitis, dysentery, and many other intestinal upsets can be successfully treated with fresh raw garlic or garlic capsules.
Crushed cloves of garlic can be added to water or milk and taken for all types of disorders of the digestion. If however you don’t like raw garlic you can take garlic capsules.
One garlic capsule taken three times a day will usually correct mild cases of diarrhea. This can be increased to 6 capsules for more persistent cases.
Skin Conditions
Garlic is helpful in a variety of skin conditions. Pimples may disappear without scarring when rubbed with raw garlic several times a day. Even adults that suffer with a very persistent form of acne, have found it can be healed with garlic. This external use of garlic helps to clear the skin of spots, pimples, and even boils.
You can make the process more effective by taking garlic orally as well. This will help purify your blood and help clear your skin from the inside.
A regular course of three garlic capsules per day should help to clear minor skin infections quickly.
How to take garlic for your health
You will get the most benefit from taking garlic raw. Cooking destroys some of the health benefits of garlic. However some people do not like the taste or the smell that it leaves on your breath. If you can’t bring yourself to take raw garlic then there are other options.
These days garlic capsules are readily available in chemists and health food shops. An average dose of two to three capsules a day will help lower your blood pressure and be good for your general health.
Grow your own garlic
If you are happy to take garlic itself rather than capsules then consider growing your own. It is easy to grow in the garden. Just break the clove in to individual bulbs and plant them pointy side up. You could have a permanent supply of garlic. Now you know what garlic can do for your health you may well want to consider growing your own.
