Garlic (allium sativum) is packed full of health-promoting power. It’s famous for being one of our most powerful natural health allies. It can be used in poultices and teas or in direct applications. Or you can enjoy more of it in all your favorite foods. In fact, nearly everyone would benefit from a generous boost of garlic in the daily diet, because it…
- is a potent antibiotic, antiviral, antifungal and immune-boosting herb
- can be used to treat wounds, infections and sties
- improves circulation
treats ulcersattacks cold germs and flu virusesprevents and treats respiratory and throat problems, such as chronic bronchitis, sinusitis, sore throat, tonsillitis and pneumocystis pneumoniaalleviates allergy symptomsretards inflammatory reactionscan be used directly to treat burns and insect bites and stingstreats earaches and ear infectionshelps prevent altitude sicknessis effective at treating breastfeeding-related mastitis with the added bonus of not introducing antibiotics into baby’s milkhelps babies nurse betterreduces high cholesterol levelshelps control blood sugar levelslowers high blood pressurehelps prevent ischemic stroke (If you’re concerned about hemorrhagic stroke, avoid anti-clotting herbs.)helps prevent heart disease and heart attackshelps prevent angina and congestive heart failurereduces ventricular tachycardia and fibrillation of cardiac arrhythmiatreats athlete’s foot and other fungal infectionstreats vaginal yeast infections (candidiasis), thrush and vaginitishelps prevent some types of cancerhelps prevent migraineshelps treat both types of herpes virustreats pinworms, roundworms, giardia (an amoeba) and other parasitic infectionscontains more blood-thinnning anticoagulants (9) than any other herbmay help slow physiological aging and age-related memory losshelps prevent opportunistic infections of AIDS, and may inhibit spread of HIV in the bodyhelps reduce the leg pain associated with peripheral vascular diseasefights tuberculosis and enhances the action of standard antibiotics in fighting off tuberculosis bacteriaLearn more about how and why garlic is such a nutrition powerhouse in the following resources:
Basic garlic nutrition info
Really in-depth garlic nutrition info (from James A. Duke, Ph.D.)
Keep Cholesterol in Check (from the Mother Earth News Amazin’ Archive)
The Green Pharmacy by Dr. James A. Duke, Ph.D. (Rodale, 1997; available at Mother Earth Shopping)
Dr. Duke’s Essential Herbs by James A. Duke, Ph.D. (St. Martin’s Paperbacks, 2001)
Garlic: The Science and Therapeutic Application of Allium Sativum and Related Species by Heinrich P. Koch, Ph.D. (Williams & Wilkins, 1996)
10 Essential Herbs for Lifelong Health by Barbara Heller (E-book available from Mother Earth Shopping)
Growing and Using Garlic by Glenn Andrews (E-book available from Mother Earth Shopping)