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Garlic

Botanical name: Allium sativum

Actions: Alterative, antibacterial, anticatarrhal, antifungal, antiparasitic, antiseptic, antispasmodic, antisyphilitic, antivenomous, antiviral, aromatic, carminative, cathartic, cholagogue, depurative, diaphoretic, digestant, disinfectant, diuretic, emmenagogues, expectorant, hypertensive, hypotensive, immuno-stimulant, nervine, rubefacient, stimulant, stomachic, sudorific, tonic, vulnerary.

Parts used : Bulbs

The leaves are long, narrow and flat like grass. The bulb (the only part eaten) is of a compound nature, consisting of numerous bulblets, known technically as 'cloves,' grouped together between the membraneous scales and enclosed within a whitish skin, which holds them as in a sac.

The flowers are placed at the end of a stalk rising direct from the bulb and are whitish, grouped together in a globular head, or umbel, with an enclosing kind of leaf or spathae, and among them are small bulbils.

Medical uses and benefits of Garlic

• Garlic is one of the great blood cleansers.
• It has antiseptic, antiparasitic, antibacterial, antiviral, antifungal properties.
• Especially good for intestinal parasites.
• A great immune enhancer.
• Stimulates the action of the liver and gallbladder.
• In olden days, Garlic was employed as a specific for leprosy. It was also believed that it had most beneficial results in cases of smallpox, if cut small and applied to the soles of the feet in a linen cloth, renewed daily.
• Excellent for colds, flu, bronchitis and any congestive conditions.
• Great for yeast infections of all types.
• Garlic can be too strong and pungent for fruitarians.
• Stimulates digestive enzymes.

Cautions

• Raw garlic is very strong, so eating too much could produce problems, for example irritation of or even damage to the digestive tract.
As with almost anything, there are a few people who are allergic to or otherwise intolerant of garlic. Low level allergies can result in heartburn, flatulence, etc.