“Garlic”
Prized for at least 5,000 years, garlic has long been known to reduce blood cholesterol levels. It is also an immune stimulant and anti-biotic.
The strong odour of garlic is due to sulphur containing compounds, which are responsible for most medicinal properties.
Latin Botanical: Allium sativum
Common Name(s): Garlic
Family: Liliaceae
Part(s) Used: Bulb
Qualities: Hot (Holmes) Dry & Pungent (Ody)
Constituants:
- Volatile oil – containing alliin: when the plant’s tissues are crushed this comes in contact with an enzyme called allicinase that converts it to allicin, which then forms the odorous volatile diallyl disulphide (Mills, 1991 p 414)
- Hormone type substances
- Glucokinins
- Germanium
- Mucilage
- Contains B vitamins & Minerals
- Flavonoids
“…in men oppressed by melancholy it will…send up… many strange visions to the head: therefore, inwardly, let it be taken with great moderation” – Nicholas Culpeper, 1653
Actions:
- Antipathogenic (esp respiratory & digestive tract) – “Russian penicillin” (Mills)
- antiviral
- antibacterial
- antiseptic
- Hypocholesterolaemic & hypolipidaemic
- Reduces clotting of blood platelets
- Vasodilatory
- Expectorant
- Anti-inflammatory
- Antihistamine?
- Anthelmintic
Indications:
- Ulcerous sores
- Prophylactic for infectious diseases
- Pathogenic organisms in the GIT (without little effect on beneficial flora) – dysentery, typhoid, cholera, bacterial food poisoning
- Worms
- Bronchial infections
- Oral thrush, dental infections, throat infections tonsillitis – crush clove in mouth
- Enhance immune defences
- High cholesterol
- High blood pressure
- Blood sugar dysregulation
- Anti-tumour
SUMMARY:
- Cloves used mainly for infections – especially of the respiratory & digestive system.
- Used for fungal conditions – such as thrush
- Good long-term remedy for cardiovascular problems
- Helps regulate blood-sugar levels – use in type 2 diabetes
- Used topically for skin infections and acne
Contraindications/Cautions:
None known
- VERY HEATING and can irritate the stomach
- DO NOT take therapeutic doses during pregnancy/lactation – can cause digestive upset and heartburn. Babies may also dislike taste in breastmilk
Dosage:
1 clove tds (Hoffmann) – acute One clove per day – chronic
Combinations: With echinacea for microbial infections
OTHER USES:
- FRESH CLOVE: Rub on acne or mash & use on warts & verrucas or to draw corns
- Eat crushed cloves (crushing activates) 3-6 daily for acute conditions. Useful for severe digestive disorders and infections
- JUICE: Drink for GIT disorders or CV conditions
- MACERATION: Steep 3 to 4 cloves in water or milk overnight and drink liquid next day – to treat worms/parasites
- CAPSULES: any ‘deodorised’ pills/capsules will be less effective
OTHER ARTICLES/REFERENCES/WEBSITES:
Antioxidant Capacity of Garlic – 2012 Article
References:
Ody, Penelope (1998). The Herb Society’s Complete Medicinal Herbal. Milan: Dorling Kindersley
Materia Medica 