Garlic - The All Round Cure For Ills


by Byron Branfield - Date: 2007-03-16 - Word Count: 520 Share This!

Garlic is not only useful for flavoring your meals when cooking; it is also used in many over-the-counter herbal remedies and old wives concoctions throughout the world. The ancient Egyptians put garlic on a pedestal and worshipped it for its medicinal value, while Greek athletes would chew it to give them vitality and strength. Garlic has even been portrayed as a vampire deterrent.

Today many herbal stores sell garlic in capsule form and it claims to help and ease many illnesses and medical problems when taken on a regular basis. The most common reasons that millions of people pop a garlic pill daily is to help ward off coughs and colds, clearing bacterial infections and keeping the heart healthy. The good news is that you won't get garlic breath when you take garlic in capsule form.

Uses of garlic

Garlic is, without a doubt, the number one most popular herbal cure all of all times due to its centuries old reputation and healing qualities. A recent study has shown that if you eat between ½ to 1 clove of garlic per day or take the equivalent in capsule form then it can help to reduce your cholesterol level by 9%. It is thought that garlic can help to keep the elasticity in the veins of older people and it also helps to keep to the blood pressure low.

Another study into its effectiveness of reducing the risk of breast, stomach and colon cancers is currently underway and the American heart association is now recommending the use of garlic to ward off the onset of heart disease.

One of the main ingredients in garlic that is of particular value when it comes to matters of the health is allicin, this is a sulfur compound that is known to attack and destroy many different types of bacteria. Due to this, it is thought to protect the immune system. Recent studies have proven that it in fact it is effective in preventing recurrent yeast infections as well as in the treatment of ear infections.

Garlic is also used in many remedies for those who suffer from respiratory problems such as asthma, bronchitis and restricted airwaves. Garlic can be taken in capsule form, liquid or it can be inhaled after being crushed in hot water. The latter is the most effective form for soothing irritated and swollen airways in those who have asthma and bronchitis. It is also used in a wide variety of both herbal and traditional cough medicine and is thought to be particularly helpful when it comes to removing phlegm.

Garlic is also taken alongside several traditional medications such as blood thinners, antibiotics, antifungal and steroids as it intensifies the effects of such medication. However if you are currently taking medication given by your doctor then it is important you get their advice before supplementing your medication with garlic.

Garlic can be bought in convenient capsule form at any pharmacy or herbal store or it can be purchased from supermarkets and eaten raw or cooked. However stick with between 1 to 5 cloves per day as anymore not only can leave your breath smelling but could also give you flatulence.


Related Tags: herbal remedy, alternative healing

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